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Sports
3:17 pm
Fri February 1, 2013

Former Football Player Jim Brown Among The Game's Best Running Backs

Originally published on Fri February 1, 2013 5:17 pm

Transcript

MELISSA BLOCK, HOST:

From NPR News, this is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. I'm Melissa Block.

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

And I'm Audie Cornish. With the Super Bowl this weekend, football fans are renewing a perennial debate about the game's best players, but not just this year, of all time. Jerry Rice is arguably the best wide receiver. Linebacker Ray Lewis, who will play Sunday for the Baltimore Ravens, gets mentioned, alongside Mike Singletary and Dick Butkus, even Lawrence Taylor.

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Economy
3:17 pm
Fri February 1, 2013

Stock Market Rallies On Positive Jobs Report

Originally published on Fri February 1, 2013 5:17 pm

Transcript

MELISSA BLOCK, HOST:

This is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News. I'm Melissa Block.

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

And I'm Audie Cornish.

We're going to take a look now at some economic indicators, and here's one number to start, 14,000. Today, the Dow closed above 14,000 for the first time since 2007. It seems the market liked what it saw in this morning's report from the Labor Department. Employers added 157,000 jobs last month, another example of slow but steady growth in the job market.

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Religion
3:17 pm
Fri February 1, 2013

L.A. Cardinal Removed From Position For Role In Sex Abuse Scandal

Originally published on Fri February 1, 2013 5:17 pm

The Los Angeles Archbishop, Jose Gomez, has removed retired Cardinal Roger Mahony in the wake of revelations about how the Cardinal handled priest sex abuse cases. Mahony will be relieved of his remaining public duties.

Energy
3:17 pm
Fri February 1, 2013

Outgoing Energy Secretary Warns Of Dangers Of Climate Change

Originally published on Fri February 1, 2013 5:17 pm

Secretary Chu is a Nobel Prize-winning physicist who came into office with high hopes. He was selected to help the president pursue his green energy agenda and fight climate change. It turned out to be a rocky road. Some of the green companies that got big government loans, like Solyndra, ended up going bankrupt, and the president had to drop his plans to get Congress to adopt climate change legislation. Still Chu helped the country make progress in becoming more energy efficient.

Politics
3:10 pm
Fri February 1, 2013

As Clinton Bows Out, Analysts Debate Her Influence On Foreign Policy

Originally published on Fri February 1, 2013 5:17 pm

Transcript

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

That attack in Turkey came on Hillary Clinton's last day as secretary of state. She says it's another reminder that we live in complex and dangerous times.

SECRETARY HILLARY CLINTON: But I leave this department confident, confident about the direction we have set.

CORNISH: Employees crammed the State Department's lobby to see her off, and Clinton appeared wistful.

CLINTON: I am very proud to have been secretary of state. I will miss you. I will probably be dialing up just to talk.

(LAUGHTER)

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Politics
3:10 pm
Fri February 1, 2013

Republicans Divided Over Immigration Reform

Originally published on Fri February 1, 2013 5:17 pm

Transcript

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

No one is watching more closely how this latest immigration debate will shake out than our next guest.

Carlos Gutierrez was Secretary of Commerce during George W. Bush's second term. He went on to advise Mitt Romney in his recent run for president. After the election, Gutierrez founded a superPAC called Republicans for Immigration Reform, which gives you a sense of where he's coming from, and he supports Senator Rubio's position.

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The Two-Way
2:32 pm
Fri February 1, 2013

Dow Breaks 14,000 For First Time Since 2007

Credit Richard Drew / AP
Trader Frederick Reimer works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Friday.

Happy days are (or might be) here again: The Dow Jones industrial average closed above 14,000 Friday, marking the first time the stock market measure has broken that barrier at close since October 2007.

The average closed at 14,009.79. That's up more than 149 points, or about 1.1 percent for the day. The closing comes hours after the release of a new monthly unemployment report that indicated jobs grew at a faster rate late last year than previously estimated.

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Media
2:10 pm
Fri February 1, 2013

For Super Bowl Ads, More Social-Media Savvy

Credit Deutsch LA

Originally published on Fri February 1, 2013 5:17 pm

The Two-Way
2:01 pm
Fri February 1, 2013

Study: Most Gun Deaths Happen Outside Of Mass Shootings

As the debate on guns heats up, there is one thing we can all be certain of: Lots of statistics will be thrown about.

On this blog, we've already pointed to a Department of Homeland Security study on commonalities in mass shootings.

Today, we'll point you a study commissioned by Mayors Against Illegal Guns. As the name implies, the group led by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is advocating for stronger gun control laws.

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Author Interviews
1:59 pm
Fri February 1, 2013

'Schroder' Chronicles A Father's Desperate Mistakes

Originally published on Sun February 3, 2013 1:43 pm

A father embroiled in a bitter custody battle abducts his 6-year-old daughter and heads off with her through upstate New York and Vermont.

His name is Eric Kennedy and he's the desperate, complicated narrator of a new novel by Amity Gaige. Schroder is written as an explanation to his ex-wife of where he went and why he did it:

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The Salt
1:06 pm
Fri February 1, 2013

An Oscar-Nominated Guacamole: Your Friday Visual Feast

Credit PES
Fresh Guacamole, an Oscar-nominated short film by PES

Originally published on Fri February 15, 2013 10:11 am

The Two-Way
12:47 pm
Fri February 1, 2013

Hillary Clinton Formally Resigns As Secretary Of State

Credit Mandel Ngan / AFP/Getty Images
Outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton listens to her intoduction before speaking on "American leadership" on Thursday at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, DC.

Hillary Clinton formally resigned as the 67th secretary of state, just moments ago.

In a letter to President Obama, she said it was an "honor to serve."

"I am more convinced than ever in the strength and staying power of America's global leadership and our capacity to be a force for good in the world," she said.

She concluded, "On a personal note, it has been a pleasure to work with you and your team. Thank you, Mr. President, for your friendship, and for the opportunity to serve in your Cabinet."

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All Songs Considered
12:43 pm
Fri February 1, 2013

Wanna Make An Album? Start Right Now!

Credit Bob Boilen / NPR
The author, up for the "Challenge."

Originally published on Fri February 1, 2013 2:04 pm

  • Hear a song sung by Bob Boilen for the RPM Challege a few years ago

I love a deadline and every February I get one. Thanks to The Wire, a small New Hampshire magazine that started the tradition in 2006, I make an album every year. They call it the RPM Challenge, and the challenge is this: write and record an album in the time between the first and last days of February. To qualify as an album, it just needs to be 10 songs or 35 minutes of music.

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The Two-Way
12:28 pm
Fri February 1, 2013

3 Things To Say At A Super Bowl Party

Originally published on Sun February 3, 2013 10:02 pm

If you're invited to a Super Bowl party and aren't quite up to speed about Sunday's big game, join the club. This blogger's a Buffalo Bills fan and tries to kind of tune out around this time of the season because, after all, it brings back some painful memories.

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It's All Politics
11:57 am
Fri February 1, 2013

Reports: Republican Scott Brown Won't Seek Massachusetts Senate Seat

Credit Mark Wilson / Getty Images
Republican Scott Brown, shown here on Capitol Hill in 2010 not long after coming to the Senate in a special election, announced Friday that he won't run in this year's special election in Massachusetts to replace Democrat John Kerry.

Originally published on Fri February 1, 2013 12:38 pm

Former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown will not seek the Republican nomination for Senate in a special election to replace Sen. John Kerry, the Democrat who on Friday was being sworn in as secretary of state.

The decision leaves Republicans in deep blue Massachusetts scrambling to find a candidate who can be competitive in a special election just five months away.

Brown, who won a 2010 special election for the seat of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, lost the seat in November to Democrat Elizabeth Warren.

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The Two-Way
11:40 am
Fri February 1, 2013

In Interview, John Kerry Says He Was Hired Before Rice Withdrew

Credit Saul Loeb / AFP/Getty Images
The next Secretary of State John Kerry.

For those of you who keep up with the details of Washington machinations. Here's a bit of surprising news: The next Secretary of State John Kerry told The Boston Globe that President Obama offered him the State gig a week before U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice removed her name from consideration.

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Monkey See
11:39 am
Fri February 1, 2013

They Call Me ... Bruce? When Characters Outlive Their Names

Credit DC Comics
Bruce Wayne is only one of the many characters whose name makes him seem perhaps a little older than he is.

Originally published on Sun February 3, 2013 6:26 am

Look, don't get me wrong. There's nothing wrong with the name "Bruce."

There are plenty of Bruces about, and good and strong and admirable Bruces they are, contributing to society in myriad ways.

You got your Springsteen, of course. Your Campbell. Your Vilanch. Your Dern. Your ... um, Boxleitner. Your Jenner and your ... Baumgartner, was it? Baumgartner.

Bruce: A perfectly fine name. Just not as common in the U.S. as it once was, is my point.

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The Two-Way
11:13 am
Fri February 1, 2013

Taxi! Chinese Company Finds Fair Deal In London Cab Maker

Credit Pierre-Philippe Marcou / AFP/Getty Images
Black taxis drive down The Mall in London. A Chinese company rescued the British automaker that manufactures the famous cabs.

The iconic black cabs of London got a lift Friday when a Chinese company rescued the British automaker that manufactures the taxis. Zhejiang Geely Holding Group said it will pay $17.5 million to buy Manganese Bronze Holdings, which has been making the cabs since 1899.

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NPR Story
10:57 am
Fri February 1, 2013

Bill Frisell On Piano Jazz

Credit Michael Wilson / Courtesy of the artist
Bill Frisell.

Guitarist and composer Bill Frisell brings his sparkling, atmospheric sound to this episode of Piano Jazz with host Marian McPartland, in a session that originally aired in October 2007.

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The Salt
10:33 am
Fri February 1, 2013

Pig Out In The Winter Or When Money's Tight? Blame Evolution

Credit Daniel M.N. Turner / NPR
When times are tough, that prehistoric urge to splurge on high-calorie treats like M&Ms still kicks in.

Originally published on Fri February 1, 2013 3:39 pm

Has the recession made you fat?

To the long and growing list of risk factors known to increase the risk of obesity, scientists recently added a new one: scarcity.

People given subtle cues that they may have to confront harsh conditions in the near future choose to eat higher-calorie food than they might do otherwise, a response that researchers believe is shaped by the long hand of evolution.

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Economy
10:12 am
Fri February 1, 2013

Can A Housing Comeback Save Lagging Job Numbers?

The winter may not be over, but economists are looking to spring for good news when it comes to jobs. Host Michel Martin speaks with NPR Senior Business Editor Marilyn Geewax about whether a strengthening housing market could boost stalling jobs numbers.

Shots - Health News
10:02 am
Fri February 1, 2013

Are NFL Football Hits Getting Harder And More Dangerous?

Originally published on Mon February 4, 2013 5:56 am

Super Bowl XLVII will kick off Sunday with its typical bombastic fanfare: Beyonce will wow us with her live halftime show, and "space baby" commercials will overload us with cuteness.

But this year, there's a gray cloud hanging over the Super Bowl: the mounting anger about devastating injuries to players' brains and bodies.

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'It's All Politics': NPR's Weekly News Roundup
10:01 am
Fri February 1, 2013

It's All Politics, Jan. 31, 2013

Credit Saul Loeb / AFP/Getty Images
  • Listen to the Roundup

The issue in this week's podcast is about follow-through. Yes, there have been hearings on gun legislation, but what will get passed? Yes, there's a bipartisan group of senators working on immigration changes, but what will Congress ultimately do? Plus: John Kerry leaves the Senate and history is made in his (temporary) successor. And two more senators say they've had enough.

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The Two-Way
10:01 am
Fri February 1, 2013

Energy Secretary Steven Chu Will Resign

Credit Department Of Energy
Energy Secretary Steven Chu.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu will resign once his replacement has been confirmed.

Politico, which broke the news this morning, reports that Chu made the announcement in a memo to colleagues.

Politico adds:

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Monkey See
9:59 am
Fri February 1, 2013

Pop Culture Happy Hour: '30 Rock,' Getting Meta, And The PCHH FAQ

Credit NPR
  • Listen to Pop Culture Happy Hour

In case a thousand thousands of internet words haven't informed you, last night was the final episode of 30 Rock, and in addition to taking a moment to appreciate the show itself, we decided to use it as a jumping-off point for a discussion of "meta" humor — what it is, when it works, and when it just comes off like a crutch. You might be surprised to hear meta traced all the way back to childhood, but hey, that's what we're here for.

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NPR Story
9:57 am
Fri February 1, 2013

Are We Losing The Race Against Climate Change?

Originally published on Fri February 1, 2013 11:46 am

China burns nearly as much coal as the rest of the world combined--and has 300 more coal plants in the works. But China also leads the world in solar panel exports and wind farms, and has a national climate change policy in place. Is the U.S. falling behind on climate? Ira Flatow and guests discuss how the world is tackling global warming--with or without us--and what it might take to change the climate on Capitol Hill.

The Two-Way
9:56 am
Fri February 1, 2013

AP: Religious Nonprofits To Get 'Broader Opt-Out' From Birth Control Coverage

Originally published on Fri February 1, 2013 11:40 am

(The top of this post and our headline was updated at 1:35 p.m. ET.)

"The Obama administration on Friday proposed a work-around for religious nonprofits that object to providing health insurance that covers birth control," The Associated Press reports.

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Law
9:54 am
Fri February 1, 2013

Border Mayors On Frontier Of Immigration Debate

Transcript

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

I'm Michel Martin, and this is TELL ME MORE, from NPR News. Coming up, unemployment is up, the GDP is down, but economists are still kind of happy - well, as happy as economists get. NPR's Marilyn Geewax is going to interpret all that for us in just a few minutes. But first, we turn to a debate that our national leaders are finally taking up again over how to fix an immigration system that just about everybody agrees is broken.

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Faith Matters
9:54 am
Fri February 1, 2013

Rockaway Residents Undergoing Faith-Testing Times

Congress passed an emergency aid package for Superstorm Sandy victims earlier this week. But three months after the storm, many hard-hit neighborhoods are still suffering. Host Michel Martin checks back with Monsignor John Brown of St. Francis de Sales in Rockaway, Queens, to discuss how the community is recovering.

Monkey See
9:46 am
Fri February 1, 2013

Kid President Coaches Up the Entire Internet

Credit Screenshot

If you've been online in the last week, you've probably already gotten a pep talk from Kid President.

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