Search results for

In his Pulitzer Prize-winning book Guns, Germs and Steel, Jared Diamond looked back over thousands of years of human history to examine fundamental questions behind why some societies built empires while others withered. Diamond now has some new ideas for why vast economic inequalities persist.

Each workday for the past five weeks, after taking off his shoes and watch and passing through a metal detector, North Carolina Public Radio reporter Jeff Tiberii entered a small — often cramped — windowless federal courtroom in Greensboro, N.C. It's the trial of 2008 Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards. And it could be a while yet.

Solar Impulse took off from Switzerland and will lumber its way to Morocco.

When it comes to time, there is a stubborn feeling among patients that doctors are in too big of a hurry. That is troubling — and frustrating — to physicians who feel that they are already packing more into every workday and are stretched thin by paperwork.

Pennsylvania has been considered a swing state in the past few elections. Voters did elect a Republican governor and U.S. senator two years ago. But after voting for the Democrat in five straight presidential contests, is it still a swing state?

With the national convention just three months away, state Democrats are reeling from a series of setbacks, including passage of a gay marriage ban and a sex scandal within the organization. But party leaders say they're committed to making the convention a success and keeping the state "blue" in November.

Dalia Ziada said the joy of being able to elect a president is also fraught with confusion.

Charges could be filed in the case of Etan Patz, a 6-year-old boy who disappeared from his New York neighborhood in 1979. Pedro Hernandez, who was a bodega clerk when Patz disappeared, has been arrested. Audie Cornish talks to Bob Hennelly of member station WNYC.

Moscow's recent deals with foreign oil companies are designed to maintain Russia as the world's No. 1 oil producer. The biggest deal, with Exxon Mobil, would put billions of dollars toward exploiting vast oil and gas reserves in Russia's Arctic waters.

Many small-business owners have had a tough time securing credit since the start of the economic downturn. "I couldn't understand why they wouldn't be willing to give us a loan," one owner says. A new website aims to help such owners, grading banks based on the percentage of deposits that are used for small-business loans.