NPR Topics: U.S. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1003&ft=1&f=1003 NPR coverage of national news, U.S. politics, elections, business, arts, culture, health and science, and technology. Subscribe to the NPR Nation RSS feed. en Copyright 2010 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Mon, 06 Sep 2010 10:00:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif U.S. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1003&ft=1&f=1003 2010 Elections: Which Party's Going To Win? Make your forecast: Will Republicans take control of the House and Senate? Or just one chamber? Or will Democrats hold on to their majorities in both? The fall campaign kicks off in earnest today. Put your pundit hat on and do some prognosticating. Mon, 06 Sep 2010 10:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/09/06/129678652/2010-elections-who-s-going-to-win?ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/09/06/129678652/2010-elections-who-s-going-to-win?ft=1&f=1003 Make your forecast: Will Republicans take control of the House and Senate? Or just one chamber? Or will Democrats hold on to their majorities in both? The fall campaign kicks off in earnest today. Put your pundit hat on and do some prognosticating.

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]]> Officials: Obama To Back New Infrastructure Plan Administration officials say President Obama will call for new investments in the nation's roads, railways and airports that would cost at least $50 billion. Mon, 06 Sep 2010 06:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129676819&ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129676819&ft=1&f=1003 Administration officials say President Obama will call for new investments in the nation's roads, railways and airports that would cost at least $50 billion.

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]]> Why Aren't Employers Hiring? The unemployment rate rose to 9.6 percent last month, with big political implications ahead of November elections. If the job market is ever to improve, employers will have to start feeling a lot more confident about where the economy is going. So what will it take for them to create jobs? Mon, 06 Sep 2010 09:53:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129679149&ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129679149&ft=1&f=1003 The unemployment rate rose to 9.6 percent last month, with big political implications ahead of November elections. If the job market is ever to improve, employers will have to start feeling a lot more confident about where the economy is going. So what will it take for them to create jobs?

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]]> Street Parking In Washington D.C. Goes High Tech Cities are starting to update a critical public service: on-street parking. Washington, D.C. is in the vanguard of this new parking shift. Officials are working with private companies -- trying out five different technologies to collect parking revenue. Mon, 06 Sep 2010 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129676120&ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129676120&ft=1&f=1003 Cities are starting to update a critical public service: on-street parking. Washington, D.C. is in the vanguard of this new parking shift. Officials are working with private companies -- trying out five different technologies to collect parking revenue.

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]]> November's Elections Reminiscent of 1982 Elections Just two years ago, Democrats were on their way to the biggest congressional majorities in many years. Now they're struggling to stay in power. And that prompts comparisons to another president who started with a lousy economy. President Reagan's party faced tough midterm elections as unemployment topped 10 percent in 1982. Mon, 06 Sep 2010 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129676128&ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129676128&ft=1&f=1003 Just two years ago, Democrats were on their way to the biggest congressional majorities in many years. Now they're struggling to stay in power. And that prompts comparisons to another president who started with a lousy economy. President Reagan's party faced tough midterm elections as unemployment topped 10 percent in 1982.

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]]> As Clock Ticks, Lawmakers Revisit Bush Tax Cuts The debate over President Bush's 2001 and 2003 tax cuts heats up this fall as Congress considers the marginal rate reductions, estate tax relief and lower rates on investment income set to expire Jan. 1. At stake: trillions of dollars and tax-cutting reputations heading into the midterm elections. Mon, 06 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129605962&ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129605962&ft=1&f=1003 The debate over President Bush's 2001 and 2003 tax cuts heats up this fall as Congress considers the marginal rate reductions, estate tax relief and lower rates on investment income set to expire Jan. 1. At stake: trillions of dollars and tax-cutting reputations heading into the midterm elections.

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]]> Camp For Alzheimer's Patients Isn't About Memories An unusual sleepover camp brings together about 20 people who have dementia for a weekend of music, dance, reminiscing and other activities that emphasize strengths instead of losses. While the campers typically won't remember details of the retreat, it lifts their mood, camp staffers say. Mon, 06 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129607201&ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129607201&ft=1&f=1003 An unusual sleepover camp brings together about 20 people who have dementia for a weekend of music, dance, reminiscing and other activities that emphasize strengths instead of losses. While the campers typically won't remember details of the retreat, it lifts their mood, camp staffers say.

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]]> Four Days, Nights: A Girls' Coming-Of-Age Ceremony More than 90 girls have taken part in the Isnati coming-of-age ceremony on a reservation in South Dakota in the past 13 years. During the four-day ritual, the girls can't touch food or drink -- they are fed by the women in the camp. They also talk with their elders about modesty, courtship, pregnancy and suicide before graduating to womanhood. Mon, 06 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129611281&ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129611281&ft=1&f=1003 More than 90 girls have taken part in the Isnati coming-of-age ceremony on a reservation in South Dakota in the past 13 years. During the four-day ritual, the girls can't touch food or drink -- they are fed by the women in the camp. They also talk with their elders about modesty, courtship, pregnancy and suicide before graduating to womanhood.

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]]> Unions Try To Combat Lopsided Election Spending Organized labor, one of the most powerful forces in American politics, is facing a new reality. The Supreme Court ruled last January that corporations and unions may spend unlimited amounts in political campaigns. Even before that ruling, business outspent labor. Mon, 06 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129674967&ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129674967&ft=1&f=1003 Organized labor, one of the most powerful forces in American politics, is facing a new reality. The Supreme Court ruled last January that corporations and unions may spend unlimited amounts in political campaigns. Even before that ruling, business outspent labor.

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]]> Series Overview: Bush Tax Cuts And Beyond The clock is ticking on one of President Bush's most controversial legacies. The tax cut packages enacted in 2001 and 2003 will soon expire. In a new series, NPR lays out the policy and politics behind the debate to extend them, and looks at how taxes affect individuals, corporations and states. Sun, 05 Sep 2010 19:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129636881&ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129636881&ft=1&f=1003 The clock is ticking on one of President Bush's most controversial legacies. The tax cut packages enacted in 2001 and 2003 will soon expire. In a new series, NPR lays out the policy and politics behind the debate to extend them, and looks at how taxes affect individuals, corporations and states.

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]]> Next Up For The Economy: Small-Business Tax Cuts? This is an unsettled time in the American economy. Last week, the stock market rose, but so did the unemployment rate. The nation lost jobs overall, but the number of private-sector jobs was up.  One thing everyone can agree on, though: The recovery has slowed. And this week, President Obama will unveil a new economic package including tax cuts for small businesses. The price tag: as high as $300 billion. Sun, 05 Sep 2010 16:11:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129666977&ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129666977&ft=1&f=1003 This is an unsettled time in the American economy. Last week, the stock market rose, but so did the unemployment rate. The nation lost jobs overall, but the number of private-sector jobs was up.  One thing everyone can agree on, though: The recovery has slowed. And this week, President Obama will unveil a new economic package including tax cuts for small businesses. The price tag: as high as $300 billion.

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]]> Know This Man? Can You Tell Him Who He Is? Six years ago, he woke up naked behind a Burger King dumpster with no memory of who he was before. Nothing, that is, except a few brief snatches from his past and the way he spelled his first name: Benjaman. Sun, 05 Sep 2010 16:07:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129668438&ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129668438&ft=1&f=1003 Six years ago, he woke up naked behind a Burger King dumpster with no memory of who he was before. Nothing, that is, except a few brief snatches from his past and the way he spelled his first name: Benjaman.

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]]> Muslim Americans Find Their Voice Amid The Shouts In towns across the country, the voices of those who don't want mosques built in their neighborhoods are growing louder. The open expressions of hostility have become so loud in recent months, that a coalition of Muslim groups is taking steps to remind people that American Muslims are Americans -- the same as anyone else. Sun, 05 Sep 2010 15:42:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129668035&ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129668035&ft=1&f=1003 In towns across the country, the voices of those who don't want mosques built in their neighborhoods are growing louder. The open expressions of hostility have become so loud in recent months, that a coalition of Muslim groups is taking steps to remind people that American Muslims are Americans -- the same as anyone else.

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]]> Cranky Flight Attendant Can't Have His Job Back JetBlue Airways says that there will be no second exits for famed flight attendant Steven Slater -- who captured the nation's imagination with his profanity-laced loudspeaker tirade and jump down a plane's emergency chute, beer in hand. Sun, 05 Sep 2010 09:12:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129663525&ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129663525&ft=1&f=1003 JetBlue Airways says that there will be no second exits for famed flight attendant Steven Slater -- who captured the nation's imagination with his profanity-laced loudspeaker tirade and jump down a plane's emergency chute, beer in hand.

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]]> Jobs Report A Wash; Obama Opts For Half-Full Spin The latest jobs report had good news and bad news. Private job growth was up, but the economy still lost another 54,000 jobs overall last month. Host Liane Hansen talks to NPR's Scott Horsley and Yuki Noguchi about the unemployment numbers released Friday, the White House's reaction and the president's upcoming trip to Wisconsin. Sun, 05 Sep 2010 08:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129662788&ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129662788&ft=1&f=1003 The latest jobs report had good news and bad news. Private job growth was up, but the economy still lost another 54,000 jobs overall last month. Host Liane Hansen talks to NPR's Scott Horsley and Yuki Noguchi about the unemployment numbers released Friday, the White House's reaction and the president's upcoming trip to Wisconsin.

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