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Law
9:00 am
Thu March 29, 2012

Who Writes Our Laws?

Trayvon Martin's death has put a spotlight on Florida's "stand your ground" law. The American Legislative Exchange Council uses that law as a model and encourages other states to adopt it. Host Michel Martin speaks with Lisa Graves of the progressive watchdog Center for Media and Democracy. She says ALEC is fueled by corporate interests.

Shots - Health Blog
8:52 am
Thu March 29, 2012

Just Say No To The 'Cinnamon Challenge'

Credit Maxim Khytra / iStockphoto.com
A spoonful of cinnamon is a great idea for apple pie. Eaten straight? Not so much.

Do not take the "cinnamon challenge." Don't let anyone you know take it, either.

And don't take our word for it. Instead, heed the warning from the folks who run the country's poison control centers.

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Europe
8:41 am
Thu March 29, 2012

Vatican Leaks Raise Questions Over Finances

The Vatican has launched a rare criminal investigation to uncover who is behind leaks of highly sensitive documents that allege corruption and financial mismanagement in Vatican City.

The documents also shed light on purported infighting over the Vatican Bank's compliance with international money-laundering regulations.

A television show in late January on an independent network first revealed letters addressed last year to Pope Benedict XVI from the then-deputy governor of Vatican City, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano.

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The Salt
8:32 am
Thu March 29, 2012

What Foodies Heard During This Week's Supreme Court Arguments

Credit J. Scott Applewhite / AP
The broccoli was flying this week in the Supreme Court.

Originally published on Thu March 29, 2012 8:57 am

There were plenty of weighty questions bandied about during this week's historic oral arguments on the future of the health care law — which our colleagues over at Shots did an excellent job covering. But we here at The Salt couldn't help noticing that when the Supreme Court justices talk, they let the food metaphors fly.

By now, you've probably heard the most famous of these: the broccoli question. If the government can mandate you to have health insurance, can it also force you to buy broccoli?

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Afghanistan
8:13 am
Thu March 29, 2012

Dreams Of A Mining Future On Hold In Afghanistan

Originally published on Fri May 17, 2013 2:27 pm

Afghanistan faces the daunting prospect of a drastic reduction in foreign aid, which currently makes up about 90 percent of the country's revenue. Some have seen an economic life raft in geological surveys that indicate huge deposits of copper, iron, uranium and lithium in various parts of the country. But multinational mining firms have been slow to invest in Afghanistan — not least because of questions about stability after American troops draw down.

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