Accessibility links

Tovia Smith Tovia Smith is an award-winning NPR News National Desk correspondent based in Boston.
Tovia Smith 2010
Stories By

Tovia Smith

National

Missing Soldier's Loved Ones Hold On to Hope

Family and friends of captured U.S. soldier Alex Jimenez are holding on to their hopes that he will be found alive, even though al-Qaida linked militants have released a videotape claiming the soldier has been killed. Jimenez has been missing since May 12, when his Humvee was ambushed.

Missing Soldier's Loved Ones Hold On to Hope

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/10741218/10741219" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

National

Looming Legal Fight Clouds Gay Marriage Milestone

Thursday marks the third anniversary of legalized gay marriage in Massachusetts. But even as gay rights advocates celebrate the nearly 10,000 same-sex couples who've officially tied the knot, they are gearing up to fight a measure that might end same-sex marriage altogether.

Looming Legal Fight Clouds Gay Marriage Milestone

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/10221380/10222184" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

National

For Some, Civil Unions Gain Second-Class Stigma

In the three years since gay marriage became a reality in Massachusetts, interest in — and enthusiasm for — civil unions has dropped off sharply in the four states that allow them. Many gay couples now view civil unions as an unacceptable substitute for marriage.

For Some, Civil Unions Gain Second-Class Stigma

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/10239467/10239468" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

National

Marriage Causes Shift in Gay Culture

Three years after gay marriage become legal in Massachusetts, gays and lesbians are becoming more accepted into mainsteam America. But many in the gay community say marriage threatens to make gay culture lose its edge.

Marriage Causes Shift in Gay Culture

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/10231431/10231432" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

National

Teenager's Home Abortion May Spur Charges

A Massachusetts teen who ended a pregnancy with a do-it-yourself abortion may be charged with murder/homicide. The Dominican immigrant took a drug commonly used to treat ulcers to end her pregnancy — a practice commonly used in other countries. Authorities say the charges will hinge on how far along her pregnancy was.

Teenager's Home Abortion May Spur Charges

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/9213707/9213709" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Politics

Gov. Patrick Finds Setbacks After Fast Rise

Despite being in office for only a few months, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has been forced by a series of embarrassing political missteps to scale back his public schedule. Patrick's landslide victory made him the nation's second elected black governor, and he was widely regarded as a rising star.

Gov. Patrick Finds Setbacks After Fast Rise

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/8939289/8939290" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Law

Critics Challenge Familial DNA Testing

DNA results from a crime scene often don't lead to an exact match. Some investigators use DNA to find near-matches that could lead to a suspect. Critics say this practice, called familial DNA testing, invades the privacy of innocent people.

Critics Challenge Familial DNA Testing

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/7641971/7641972" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

The College Admissions Game

Opting Out of College for a Blue-Collar Life

More high-school graduates are heading to college these days. But more college students are also dropping out. To many, the figures reflect a growing pressure for kids to follow the college track, even when they might be better suited to other options.

Opting Out of College for a Blue-Collar Life

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/7504120/7504148" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

The College Admissions Game

Quirky Essays a Window to Future Success?

Tufts University is trying to spot the future leaders in its vast pool of applicants by assigning optional essays on offbeat topics. Other colleges are doubtful of the experiment, but watching with interest.

Quirky Essays a Window to Future Success?

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/7384490/7447651" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Education

Harvard Poised to Name Woman President

Harvard University is expected to name its new president Sunday. For the first time in 370 years, that person is likely to be a woman. Drew Gilpin Faust is slated to replace Larry Summers, who resigned from the post last year.

Harvard Poised to Name Woman President

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/7344357/7344358" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

National

Publicity Stunt in Boston Reveals Generational Divide

Two men in Boston pleaded not guilty to charges Thursday that they planted devices around that city that prompted a day-long security scare. The devices turned out to be part of a publicity campaign for a TV show. Younger adults say the police overreacted.

Publicity Stunt in Boston Reveals Generational Divide

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/7126130/7126131" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Middle East

Carter Faces Critics on Middle East Book

Former President Jimmy Carter confronted critics of his views on Israel at Brandeis University on Tuesday. Carter responded to charges that his book Palestine Peace Not Apartheid is unfair to Israel.

Carter Faces Critics on Middle East Book

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/7000889/7000892" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Race

Patrick Takes Office in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick is sworn in as the second elected black governor in U.S. history. He took the oath of office with a Bible given to John Quincy Adams by survivors of the slave ship Amistad.

Patrick Takes Office in Massachusetts

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/6727728/6727729" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Politics

Massachusetts' Romney Puts Name in Ring

Outgoing Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney files papers to form his presidential exploratory committee. The important first step allows Romney to raise money for his presidential bid. He enters a field of likely Republican candidates that includes Sen. John McCain and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.

Massachusetts' Romney Puts Name in Ring

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/6718689/6718690" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript