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Education
3:31 am
Wed March 27, 2013

A Hot Topic: Climate Change Coming To Classrooms

Credit iStockphoto.com
For the first time, new nationwide science standards recommend teaching K-12 students about climate change.

Originally published on Wed March 27, 2013 1:29 pm

By the time today's K-12 students grow up, the challenges posed by climate change are expected to be severe and sweeping. Now, for the first time, new nationwide science standards due out soon will recommend that U.S. public school students learn about the climatic shift taking place.

Mark McCaffrey of the National Center for Science Education says the lessons will fill a big gap.

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Sports
10:03 pm
Tue March 26, 2013

It's Been An Ugly Year For College Basketball

Credit Aaron Hewitt / AP
This photo illustration released by Adidas shows the uniforms for NCAA basketball teams (from left) University of Cincinnati, University of Kansas, University of Notre Dame, Baylor University, UCLA and the University of Louisville.

Originally published on Wed March 27, 2013 4:40 am

There once was a wise old basketball coach named Arad McCutchan who led the Evansville Purple Aces to five national championships in the small-college division, dressing his Purple Aces in bright orange T-shirts. I've been reminded of this recently as a number of grubby athletic directors have sold out to the sporting goods companies, allowing their teams to be costumed in the most hideous outfits.

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Same-Sex Marriage And The Supreme Court
7:49 pm
Tue March 26, 2013

DOMA Challenge Tests Federal Definition Of Marriage

Credit Karen Bleier / AFP/Getty Images
A pro-gay-marriage protester stands in front of the Supreme Court on Tuesday, the first of two days of oral arguments on challenges to laws that limit the definition of marriage to unions of a man and a woman.

Originally published on Wed March 27, 2013 1:15 pm

After weeks and months of public debate and speculation about the legal fate of same-sex marriage, the second round of arguments takes place at the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday.

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Same-Sex Marriage And The Supreme Court
7:33 pm
Tue March 26, 2013

At Arguments, Supreme Court Takes Halting Steps Into Gay Marriage Issue

Credit Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP
People file into the Supreme Court on Tuesday for the court's hearing on California's Proposition 8, a voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage.

Originally published on Wed March 27, 2013 5:58 pm

At the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, the moment had finally arrived. After four years of litigation in the lower courts, the Supreme Court was hearing a challenge to California's ban on same-sex marriage. But minutes into oral arguments, it became clear that the justices may not give either side the clear-cut victory it wants.

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Health
7:33 pm
Tue March 26, 2013

Expanded Definition Of Disability Created Million Dollar Opportunity For Lawyers

Originally published on Wed March 27, 2013 5:58 pm

Transcript

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

It's ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News. I'm Audie Cornish.

All this week, we're reporting on a remarkable increase in the size of the country's disability programs. Fourteen million Americans now receive a monthly disability check from the government. The number has roughly doubled every 15 years. As we've reported, there are many, complicated reasons for the increase. There's also one, very simple one: Congress. In 1984, Congress changed the definition of disability. Lawmakers broadened it, and made it more vague.

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Politics
7:12 pm
Tue March 26, 2013

Proposition 8 Case Has High Political Stakes For Both Parties

Originally published on Wed March 27, 2013 5:58 pm

Transcript

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

We'll learn what the court decides to do about DOMA and California's Proposition 8 sometime this summer. Its options vary widely. But no matter what the result, there will be political implications.

NPR national political correspondent Mara Liasson joins us to walk through some of them.

And, Mara, first, let's talk briefly about this really sea change in public opinion now in favor of same-sex marriage. Could the court reverse that tide in any way?

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The Two-Way
6:46 pm
Tue March 26, 2013

Myanmar Imposes New Curfews Amid Anti-Muslim Violence

Credit Khin Maung Win / AP
A man walks amid debris of buildings destroyed during ethnic unrest between Buddhists and Muslims in Meikhtila, about 340 miles north of Yangon, Myanmar, on Monday.

The government of Myanmar has imposed a dawn-to-dusk curfew in three townships amid growing anti-Muslim violence that is drawing closer to the main city of Yangon.

Violence against Muslims has been a major problem in the country as President Thein Sein introduces democratic changes after decades of military rule.

Here's more from The Associated Press:

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The Two-Way
6:40 pm
Tue March 26, 2013

Gun Store Owner Says He's No Longer Selling Mark Kelly A Rifle

Credit Joshua Lott / Getty Images
Former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly attend a news conference on March 6, 2013 in Tucson, Arizona.

Originally published on Wed March 27, 2013 9:09 am

A gun store owner in Arizona says he is refusing to sell Mark Kelly a semi-automatic rifle.

Kelly, along with his wife Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head during a shooting rampage at an event with her constituents, have become advocates for stricter gun controls. Kelly posted on Facebook that he had bought an AR-15. He said he didn't have possession yet, but he was planning on turning it over to Tucson Police once he did.

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Shots - Health News
5:45 pm
Tue March 26, 2013

Employers Try To Spur Healthy Behaviors With Health Plan Rewards

Credit Ric Feld / AP
Chick-Fil-A employees Jennifer Cummins, right, and Joshua Figaretti work out in the gym during lunch at the company's corporate headquarters office in Hapeville, Ga. Increasingly employers are offering health plan incentives to encourage healthy behaviors from workers.

Originally published on Tue March 26, 2013 6:24 pm

As employers try to nudge employees toward healthy behaviors, a growing number are taking aim at the medical expense accounts linked to the health plans they offer their workers.

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The Two-Way
5:40 pm
Tue March 26, 2013

Indian Political Row Over Sri Lanka Spills Over Into Sport

Credit Aijaz Rahi / AP
The Kolkata Knight Riders celebrate their win against the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League final in Chennai, India, on May 27, 2012. Citing security concerns, the IPL announced Tuesday that it won't feature Sri Lankan players in the city.

Originally published on Tue March 26, 2013 6:23 pm

A political dispute in India over relations with Sri Lanka has spilled over into the country's national pastime: cricket.

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