Search results for

South Sudan's start as a new nation has been rocky. There are ethnic tensions at home and ongoing friction with Sudan, the previous ruler. The U.S. is trying to get the two Sudans talking more to each other.

The population of Montana just hit 1 million, but not all residents are celebrating. It's one of the least dense states in the nation, and they like it that way.

The Golden Globes have equally good comedy and drama masks this year. Sunday's musical or comedy contenders make up a strong bunch that could give their best-drama cousins at the Globes a run for their money come Oscar time.

Normally at this time of year, about 50 percent of the U.S. is snow-covered.These days, the figure is now more like 20 percent. It's hurting ski resorts and the local economies that thrive on seasonal winter tourism.

Americans gave more than $1.8 billion to help Haiti after a devastating earthquake ripped through the island nation two years ago. An NPR survey of 12 large charities found that while many still have a lot of money in the bank, the rate of spending has picked up over last year.

Mice and rats are the most common lab animals. That's why some influential new guidelines on how to house mother rodents and their babies have created an uproar. Some experts at research centers say there's no evidence that making costly changes will really benefit the animals.

Iran has reportedly acknowledged receiving a letter from the U.S. about the Strait of Hormuz. Its contents weren't released. Iran's threatened to close off the waterway if sanctions are imposed against its oil sales. An Iranian news agency says the letter's being studied, and the government's determining whether to respond.

Standard and Poor's has downgraded the credit ratings of nine Euopean countries including France. They face exposure to financial troubles in Greece among other places. Zanny Minton Beddoes, global economics editors at The Economist, talks to Steve Inskeep about the latest European financial troubles.

Dublin Dr. Pepper is made with pure cane sugar, and it's produced by Dr. Pepper Bottling Co. in Dublin, Texas. Dr. Pepper-Snapple Group sued. Now they've reached a deal: Dr. Pepper-Snapple bought the rights to sell and distribute the sugar-cane version in Texas.

Michelle Alexander says that many of the gains of the civil rights movement have been undermined by the mass incarceration of blacks in the war on drugs.