Search results for

Commentator Kristine Holmgren says that she is concerned about the effect that the new welfare reform bill will have on the poor families at her church and around the country. She says the bill's supporters, who assume that private charities will increase services to offset welfare cuts, haven't taken into account one important factor. After 10 years of working with the poor, Holmgren says, she has learned that the poor are proud -- maybe too proud to ask for help from people in their communities, whom they have to face every day.

Linda talks to Ann Reilly Dowd, Washington correspondent for Money Magazine, about the record high credit card delinquency reported today by the American Bankers Association. During the April-June quarter of this year, credit card payments overdue 30 days or longer rose to 3.66 percent of the total accounts, higher than it has ever been since the association began collecting data in 1974. During that same period, banks suffered $3.8 billion in losses on credit card and consumer loans, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is probing the alleged unprovoked killings of 24 civilians last November by U.S. Marines in the insurgent hotbed of Haditha, Iraq. According to news accounts, the killings were in retaliation for the death of Marine Lance Cpl. Miguel Terrazas, Jr.

A group of anesthesiologists discusses reports that patients who are put into a deeper sleep during surgery are more likely to die within weeks, or months. Experts in the field say that while people over 65 may be at a greater risk, tens of thousands of deaths may be preventable by taking the findings into account. NPR's Richard Knox reports.

Agriculture accounts for 11 percent of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Press freedom advocates around the world have decried this week's raids on the BBC — in which journalists and accountants alike were questioned, and had their phones and laptops searched.

The two-pill treatment prevents a pregnancy from continuing weeks into the process and accounts for half of all abortions in the U.S.

Nuclear currently accounts for 20 percent of our electricity production.

A new report on the Beslan school seizure contradicts an earlier account. More than 300 people were killed two years ago when Chechen militants seized the school. Russian officials have said that the blasts and fire began when hostage-takers set off bombs. But a report from a Russian lawmaker says security forces started the blasts when they fired grenades at the school.

A recent wedding in Maryland was proceeding in the traditional way until it was time to kiss the bride. Then groom reached into his pocket for his cell phone to update both his Twitter and Facebook accounts — announcing his marriage. Tweeting completed, the minister concluded: "It's now official on Facebook. It's official in my book. You may kiss your bride."