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Audie Cornish Audie Cornish is a co-host of All Things Considered.
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It's Law: New Mexico Green Chilies Are Special

New Mexico chili peppers are distinct, but locals in the pepper industry have been struggling to compete with the foreign pepper market. A new state law requires that only New Mexico-grown peppers are labeled as such. Danise Coon/AP/NMSU Chile Pepper Institute hide caption

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Danise Coon/AP/NMSU Chile Pepper Institute

National

It's Law: New Mexico Green Chilies Are Special

The heart of chili pepper country in southern New Mexico is the tiny village of Hatch, which bills itself the "Chile Capital of the World." A new state law aims to protect this food heritage by preventing foreign peppers from being labeled as New Mexico-grown.

It's Law: New Mexico Green Chilies Are Special

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No Stranger To Spaceships, N.M. Builds A Spaceport

The San Andres Mountains and pieces of construction equipment are reflected in the glass windows of Spaceport America near Upham, N.M., in May. Despite construction delays and difficult working conditions in a remote area of the desert, state officials say New Mexico is committed to seeing the project succeed. Susan Montoya Bryan/AP hide caption

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Susan Montoya Bryan/AP

The End Of The Space Shuttle Era

No Stranger To Spaceships, N.M. Builds A Spaceport

There's a lot of money to be made in shuttling back and forth to the space station, and several companies are competing in a new race to space. Whatever the new space vehicle is, it'll need a place to park — and New Mexico hopes it has the answer.

No Stranger To Spaceships, N.M. Builds A Spaceport

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Whither The Astronauts Without A Shuttle?

Mission Specialist Christer Fuglesang waves on a spacewalk during a 2009 shuttle visit to the International Space Station. NASA hide caption

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NASA

The End Of The Space Shuttle Era

Whither The Astronauts Without A Shuttle?

NASA is retiring its fleet of shuttle spacecraft to build something that can take humans past the moon and into deep space. That's expected to take years, leaving astronauts with some hard choices about what to do in the meantime.

Whither The Astronauts Without A Shuttle?

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Senators Grill Phone Execs On Mobile Privacy

A Verizon iPhone Mark Lennihan/AP hide caption

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Mark Lennihan/AP

Technology

Senators Grill Phone Execs On Mobile Privacy

Apple and Google representatives tell a Senate judiciary subcommittee that they give iPhone and Android users control over information that pinpoints their location. Privacy activists had complained the phones stored tracking data that could be exploited by third parties, such as stalkers.

Senators Grill Phone Execs On Mobile Privacy

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Republicans Try To 'Tweak' New Financial Rules
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images

Politics

Republicans Try To 'Tweak' New Financial Rules

Along with trying to repeal environmental regulations and the new health care law, congressional Republicans are targeting the new rules for the financial industry. The GOP says it's only proposing "tweaks" to the law governing Wall Street. But Democrats say "they're trying to nibble it to death."

Republicans Propose 'Tweaks' To New Financial Rules

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Osama Bin Laden Killed

After Bin Laden's Death, Crowds Gather In D.C.

Large crowds gathered outside the White House after news of Osama Bin Laden's death began to filter out. People cheered, waved the flag and sang "God Bless America."

After Bin Laden's Death, Crowds Gather In D.C.

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National

After Budget Vote, Freshman Rep. Faces Constituents

Rep. Renee Ellmers is a freshman from North Carolina who squeaked her way into Congress with 49-percent of the vote. Then she voted for the House budget measure that would turn Medicare into a voucher program. This week, she's home near Raleigh at town hall meetings, defending that vote and thinking about what she wants to do about the debt ceiling.

After Budget Vote, Freshman Rep. Faces Constituents

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Agency's Warning Heats Up Debt Ceiling Debate

Earlier this year, Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) helped introduce the bipartisan CAP Act, which would aim to cut federal spending by $7.6 trillion over 10 years. Mark Humphrey/AP hide caption

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Mark Humphrey/AP

The Federal Budget Crunch

Agency's Warning Heats Up Debt Ceiling Debate

For months, lawmakers have known that the nation is on the way to hitting the debt ceiling, and news that credit rating agency Standard and Poor's has lowered its outlook on U.S. borrowing only puts more pressure on the coming debate. Now, lawmakers are weighing their options in the face of another high-stakes vote.

Agency's Warning Heats Up Debt Ceiling Debate

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The Federal Budget Crunch

House Passes Ryan's 2012 Budget Plan

The House passed a 2012 budget resolution Friday in a partisan vote of 235-193 with four Republicans dissenting. The blueprint, put forward by Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, would reduce spending by trillions of dollars over the next decade, in part by overhauling Medicare and Medicaid. It's a non-starter in the Senate — but a benchmark for the conservative majority in the House, which will have to convince voters that fiscal discipline trumps a popular entitlement.

House Passes Ryan's 2012 Budget Plan

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Budget Compromise May Be A Tough Sell In Congress

House Speaker John Boehner (from left), with Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), speaks to reporters after meeting with President Obama about the deficit at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Jonathan Ernst/Getty Images hide caption

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Jonathan Ernst/Getty Images

The Federal Budget Crunch

Budget Compromise May Be A Tough Sell In Congress

Despite all the excitement over the $38 billion budget deal that averted a government shutdown last week, lawmakers really just reset the clock. Once again, they have until midnight on Friday to wrap up work on the compromise. While it's expected to pass, there's still a lot of grumbling in the GOP caucus.

Budget Compromise May Be A Tough Sell In Congress

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Budget Details Slow To Emerge, Even To Congress

Barack Obama shakes hands with tourists visiting the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., Saturday during a surprise visit a day after budget negotiations with Congress prevented a government shutdown. Getty Images hide caption

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Getty Images

The Federal Budget Crunch

Budget Details Slow To Emerge, Even To Congress

Lawmakers reached a budget agreement late Friday night to avert a partial government shutdown, but the details of what exactly they agreed to are a little murky. Lawmakers are realizing they've got a deal in hand, but not much else.

Budget Details Slow To Emerge, Even To Congress

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Politics

Lawmakers Escalate The Battle Of Blame

There are just hours to go before funding for government agencies runs out, but lawmakers on Capitol Hill still have not reached a deal on this year's budget. And instead of spending the day negotiating behind closed doors, the principal players duked it out before cameras in a escalating battle of blame.

Lawmakers Escalate The Battle Of Blame

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Politics

Finish Line Still Out Of Reach In Budget Talks

Budget negotiations continue on Capitol Hill as a government shutdown looms. Many seem to agree that House and Senate leaders are close on numbers but cannot agree on policy riders.

Finish Line Still Out Of Reach In Budget Talks

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Politics

GOP Unveils 2012 Budget Plan

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan unveils the GOP alternative to President Obama's fiscal 2012 budget plan. It includes sweeping changes in Medicare and Medicaid, plus new caps on discretionary spending. Democrats won't embrace it. But it does move the discussion onto "real money," or entitlements, and give the GOP a chance to lay out its priorities for putting U.S. fiscal affairs in order.

GOP Unveils 2012 Budget Plan

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Politics

Tea Party Pressures GOP To Focus On Spending Cuts

As negotiations on this year's federal budget continue, the Tea Party rallied on the lawn near the Capitol, aiming to buck up Republicans to stand firm for deep cuts. There's one week to go until another potential government shutdown.

Tea Party Pressures GOP To Focus On Spending Cuts

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