NPR Top Stories
Hail St. Mary's: Gaels Pull Off Another NCAA Upset
St. Mary's surprised Villanova, 75-68, as second-round action got under way in the NCAA men's basketball tournament. Butler staved off an upset bid by Murray State in another second-round game and underdog Ohio University trailed Tennessee late in their contest. Five more games are on tap Saturday afternoon and evening.
House Opts For Straight Vote On Health Bill
Democratic House leaders say they've got the votes to pass a landmark health-care overhaul Sunday. And they're confident enough of getting an overhaul done that they've agreed to set aside the controversial "deem and pass" strategy. Host Guy Raz checks in with NPR's Julie Rovner on the latest maneuvering on Capitol Hill.
How Americans Feel About Health Care Maneuvers
As the health care issue reaches a crescendo in Washington, Sarah Varney of member station KQED looks at how the debate is playing out across the rest of the nation.
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Fallows On The News: Health Overhaul, Immigration
News analyst James Fallows of The Atlantic magazine talks with host Guy Raz about the big stories of the week, including the final push for a health care overhaul and what's likely to be the next big issue for Congress: immigration.
Democrats Drop Disputed Health Bill Strategy
House leaders abandon the "deem and pass" parliamentary maneuver that would have enabled Democrats to approve the Senate version of the bill without a straight up-or-down vote. The move comes as the House Rules Committee was meeting to set terms for floor debate and a final vote Sunday.
Huge Sandstorm Burns The Sky Over Beijing
The strongest sandstorm so far this year hit the country's north, delaying some flights at Beijing's airport and prompting a dust warning for South Korea's capital. China's expanding deserts now cover one-third of the country because of deforestation, urban sprawl and drought.
Mom-And-Pop Site Busts The Web's Biggest Myths
You'd think it would take an army to truth-squad the rapid-fire rumors of the World Wide Web. But at Snopes.com, that task falls to husband-and-wife myth debunkers David and Barbara Mikkelson.
Lunar Rover Is Spotted For First Time In 37 Years
Video game developer Richard Garriott bought the broken Soviet lunar rover at an auction in 1993 — this week, thanks to new photos released by NASA, he's been able to see it on the moon for the first time.
Letter: Lehman's Accounting Tricks Possibly Illegal
A Lehman Brothers whistleblower warned his bosses that accounting gimmicks the bank used before its collapse may have been illegal, his lawyer said Friday.
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Pope Blasts Irish Bishops, Orders Investigation
Pope Benedict XVI rebuked Irish bishops Saturday for "grave errors of judgment" in handling clerical sex abuse and ordered a Vatican investigation into the Irish church to wipe out the scourge.
Hoyer: 'We're Going To Have The Votes'
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer says there are representatives who have not publicly indicated that they will support this legislation, but will step forward to give it the 216 necessary votes for passage.
Jail Hosts Exclusive SXSW Concert
At the South by Southwest Music Festival this week in Austin, Texas, one of the most exclusive events was an unofficial, invitation-only concert at the Travis County Correctional Complex. Member station KUT's David Brown reports on an initiative called 'Jail Guitar Doors.'
Week In Review With Juan Williams
Washington was swept up in drama this week as the health care debate finally came to a vote. Obama also signed his jobs bill, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton traveled to Russia. Host Scott Simon reviews the week's news with NPR News Analyst Juan Williams.
Catholics Torn On Health Care Abortion Language
The Catholic bishops have lobbied hard to get Catholic members of Congress to oppose the current health care bill because of language it says could allow some federal funding of abortion. The Catholic hospital group differs on the interpretation of the abortion language and the relative importance of the rest of the bill.
Oops, Taliban Arrests Derail Secret U.N. Talks
The arrest of senior Afghan Taliban figures in Pakistan ended secret talks between the Taliban and the United Nations, according the former head of the U.N. mission in Kabul. U.N. representative Kai Eide, who stepped down this month, says the capture of more than a dozen Taliban members, some through joint U.S. Pakistan operations, effectively derailed the possibility of continuing dialogue about settling the war in Afghanistan. But Pakistan says there was no intention to sabotage anything.
Obama Rallies: 'We Have Waited Long Enough'
President Barack Obama packed the Patriot Center at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Friday for one more health care rally. Speaking to students in a swing state, Obama hoped to put a bit of his campaign magic on the legislative drive to overhaul the nation's health care system.
Immigration Calls To Beleaguered Democrats
A big rally demanding comprehensive immigration reform is expected Sunday, but don't expect much action from Congress on the issue. Comprehensive reform is not a winner in an election year for Democrats; they'll have to give it a nod, but they are unlikely to take it on along with health care, financial regulations and jobs.
House Majority Leader Says Dems Have The Votes
President Obama has a sure vote in Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the House Majority Leader, who is trying to rally and convince any wavering Democrats. Host Scott Simon talks to Hoyer about the revised health care bill.
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Flooded S.D. Town Tries Life As An Island
As parts of South Dakota struggle with flooding due mostly to extremely heavy snowmelt, some residents are struggling to stay in their towns. Roads leading into the town of Claremont, population 500, are under water and residents are using tractors and ATVs to access their town. Jenifer Jones of South Dakota Public Broadcasting reports.
Victors In Iraqi Elections Include Suspected Murderers
For all the talk of unity and reconciliation, many Iraqi citizens are in for a shock when the new parliament swears in. Several of the winners, including top vote-getters, are believed to have committed mass murder during Iraq's sectarian civil war. One of the names bandied about as a compromise candidate for prime minister allegedly managed a secret prison where Sunnis died by electric drill. Another is a famous death squad leader. With the results finally crystallizing, it's not at all clear that this election will heal any of Iraq's wounds.


