NPR Story
1:00 pm
Fri February 3, 2012

IBEX Spacecraft Intercepts 'Alien' Particles

As it circles Earth, NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer hunts for particles streaming in from beyond the solar system. It has intercepted hydrogen, helium, neon and oxygen atoms. IBEX principal investigator Dave McComas discusses how the abundance of those atoms hints at the Milky Way's composition.

Health Care
12:56 pm
Fri February 3, 2012

Komen Issues Apology In Planned Parenthood Flap

Originally published on Fri February 3, 2012 12:57 pm

Transcript

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

NPR's Business News starts with a reversal from the Komen Foundation. The Susan G. Komen For The Cure Foundation has just announced that it will not pull its funding for Planned Parenthood after all. The breast cancer charity endured a massive backlash when it announced, earlier this week, it would no longer give Planned Parenthood money for breast cancer screening. NPR's Julie Rovner joins us to explain the turnaround. And Julie, what exactly did the Komen Foundation say this morning?

Read more
The Two-Way
12:53 pm
Fri February 3, 2012

BBC Accuses Iran Of 'Bullying' Its Persian Service Employees

Saying officials have undertaken yet another campaign of "bullying and harassment" of its Persian service staff, the BBC called on the Iranian government to "repudiate the action of its officials."

In a blog post, the BBC's Director General Mark Thompson also called on the international community to "put maximum pressure on Iran to desist in this campaign of intimidation, persistent censorship and a disturbing abuse of power."

Read more
Business
12:45 pm
Fri February 3, 2012

January's Jobless Rate Shows Spurt Of Growth

The Labor Department said the economy added 243,000 jobs in January, well beyond many economists' expectations. The unemployment rate fell to 8.3 percent.

The Two-Way
12:20 pm
Fri February 3, 2012

Rights Group Says Syrian Security Forces Detained, Tortured Children

Credit Alessio Romenzi / AFP/Getty Images
A young boy carries the Syrian-rebel adopted flag during an anti-regime demonstration in the Syrian village of al-Qsair, not far from Homs.

Human Rights Watch has a harrowing report out today about what it says is the targeting of children by Syria's government forces.

"Children have not been spared the horror of Syria's crackdown," Lois Whitman, children's rights director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement. "Syrian security forces have killed, arrested and tortured children in their homes, their schools or on the streets. In many cases, security forces have targeted children just as they have targeted adults."

Read more
BackTalk
12:00 pm
Fri February 3, 2012

Letters From Detroit

Tell Me More is back from the Motor City, but the letters are still rolling in. This week, host Michel Martin and editor Ammad Omar comb through listener feedback and hear from one woman who was brought to tears after hearing Oscar nominee Demian Bichir's favorite songs.

Barbershop
12:00 pm
Fri February 3, 2012

Shop Talk: Did Romney Slow His Roll?

The Barbershop guys discuss whether Mitt Romney put the brakes on his momentum when he said he was not concerned about the very poor. Host Michel Martin checks in with freelance journalist Jimi Izrael, civil rights attorney Arsalan Iftikhar, Sports Illustrated reporter Pablo Torre, and National Review contributor Neil Minkoff.

NPR Story
12:00 pm
Fri February 3, 2012

Something For The Fashionista Football Fan

Women make up a large portion of the National Football League's fan base. The NFL has made great efforts to better engage female fans. Host Michel Martin speaks to NFL Director of Apparel Rhiannon Madden about the women's apparel line and the "Fit For You" campaign.

NPR Story
12:00 pm
Fri February 3, 2012

Contraception Provision Sets Off Firestorm

The Obama administration reaffirmed its position that certain religious institutions have to provide health coverage that offers free contraception. U.S. Catholic bishops are vowing to fight this rule in Congress, in courts, and in churches. Host Michel Martin speaks with Laurie Goodstein of the New York Times.

NPR Story
12:00 pm
Fri February 3, 2012

Las Vegas Principal Hopes To Beat The Odds

Nevada has the lowest high school graduation rate in the country. But now a multi-million dollar federal grant is helping one district turn its schools around. Host Michel Martin speaks with a principal who spent last Saturday knocking on the doors of students who dropped out, encouraging them to come back to school.

Pages