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Author Interviews
4:35 pm
Tue September 4, 2012

An Individualist Approach To The Hebrew Bible

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Credit Courtesy of Cambridge University Press
Yoram Hazony founded the Shalem Institute in Jerusalem in 1994. He is currently president of the Institute for Advanced Studies at the Shalem Center, and head of the institute's project in Jewish Philosophical Theology.
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By NPR Staff

Hebrew scripture is a "message in a bottle," says Yoram Hazony, and in The Philosophy of Hebrew Scripture, he tries to decipher that message. Hazony's new book makes the case for a different reading of the ancient texts — and argues that the Hebrew Bible is a work of philosophy in narrative form.

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Africa
4:35 pm
Tue September 4, 2012

Egypt's Tumultuous Times Reflected In Its Art Scene

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Originally published on Tue September 4, 2012 8:31 pm

Egypt's post-revolution art scene is documenting the country's emotional roller coaster of a transition through music and graffiti art. Since the uprising against Hosni Mubarak, small indie bands have popped up to sing or rap about the political situation in Egypt. The graffiti that lines Cairo's streets is also evolving with the transition.

Election 2012
4:35 pm
Tue September 4, 2012

Dems Capitalize On Advantage With Hispanic Voters

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Originally published on Tue September 4, 2012 4:46 pm

Hispanics were a major focus of the program at the Republican National Convention in Tampa. Democrats, beginning their convention in Charlotte, N.C., are hoping to capitalize on their current advantage with Hispanic voters.

Election 2012
4:35 pm
Tue September 4, 2012

Democratic Platform Endorses Gay Marriage

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By editor

Originally published on Tue September 4, 2012 4:44 pm

It's been a momentous year for the LGBT community. At the Democratic National Convention, delegates are voting to approve a platform that includes a gay marriage plank. This follows President Obama's announcement in May that he supports gay marriage. These developments, on top of other support from the administration, have led gay and lesbian donors to step up their contributions to the president's re-election campaign this year. Audie Cornish talked with gay delegates and fundraisers about what this year has meant for them.

Election 2012
4:35 pm
Tue September 4, 2012

Democrats Highlight Ryan's Marathon Time Gaffe

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By editor

Originally published on Tue September 4, 2012 4:45 pm

Robert Siegel and Melissa Block report that as the Democratic National Convention gets underway, the other running record of Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan is taking the spotlight. Debate over his reported marathon time has become a popular subject in the blogosphere. Ryan misstated his over four hour time as being under three hours.

NPR Cities: Urban Life In The 21st Century
4:35 pm
Tue September 4, 2012

Bridging The Gap Between Two Neighborhoods

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Credit Ed Estes / Courtesy of D.C. Office of Planning
An illustration for a park proposed for Washington's old 11th Street Bridge. If realized, the park would span the Anacostia River, linking the Capitol Hill neighborhood with lower-income Anacostia.
Credit Franklyn Cater / NPR
The concrete atop the old bridge has been stripped off. The proposed park would offer impressive views.
Credit Franklyn Cater / NPR
Scott Kratz, a volunteer adviser for the park proposal, stands in front of the old 11th Street Bridge. He's optimistic that advocates can raise the funds needed to complete the project.
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By editor

Originally published on Thu September 6, 2012 7:19 pm

Cities around the nation have tried a variety of approaches to revitalizing their urban cores. Some have turned to repurposing old infrastructure to breathe new life into neighborhoods.

One such effort is under way in the nation's capital, where the redevelopment of a bridge linking a wealthy part of the city with a lower-income one may present an opportunity — if an ambitious park plan can be brought to fruition.

A '21st Century Playground'

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Africa
3:34 pm
Tue September 4, 2012

Decades Later, South African Miners Sue Employers

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Credit Anders Kelto for NPR
Armstrong Ngutyana (left), 55, and Dumisani Mjolwa, 65, were gold miners during the apartheid era. Both worked underground for nearly three decades. They developed lung disease and were forced to quit their jobs, but received only minimal compensation. They are now part of a class-action lawsuit against South African mining companies.
Credit Anders Kelto for NPR
A team of paralegals interview former miners in a primary school in Bizana, in South Africa's rural Eastern Cape province. The legal team is screening miners to see if they have lung disease. It's part of a class-action lawsuit against South African gold mining companies.
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By editor

Originally published on Tue September 4, 2012 4:35 pm

South Africa's mining industry is under heavy scrutiny after 44 people died during protests at a platinum mine near Johannesburg. Now, the industry is facing challenges on another front: Lawyers have filed a class-action lawsuit against three of the country's biggest gold mining companies.

They're suing on behalf of miners who worked during the apartheid era and now have lung disease.

A settlement in the case — and another like it — could reach into the billions of dollars.

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It's All Politics
3:28 pm
Tue September 4, 2012

Are You Better Off? Democrats In Charlotte Say It's Complicated

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Credit Becky Lettenberger / NPR
Caroline Sink (from left), Liz McKeithen, Mary Edith Alexander and Sue Collins were handing out lemonade and cookies in front of the First Presbyterian Church.
Credit Becky Lettenberger / NPR
Bob Kunst says he's voting for Mitt Romney because he's upset with President Obama's foreign policies.
Credit Becky Lettenberger / NPR
Creola Boswell (left) and her sister Susie Collins flew to Charlotte from California to enjoy the convention atmosphere.
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By editor

Originally published on Tue September 4, 2012 5:21 pm

Are you better off than you were four years ago?

As Mark reported earlier, that's the question Republicans want Americans to ask themselves as they head to the polls this November.

The question was brought to the forefront after Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley was asked that question on CBS' Face the Nation.

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The Two-Way
3:15 pm
Tue September 4, 2012

State Must Grant Murder Convict A Sex Change Operation, Judge Rules

Credit Lisa Bul / AP
Michelle Kosilek, formerly known as Robert, in 1993.
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A federal judge in Boston today "ordered state prison officials to provide a taxpayer-funded sex-reassignment surgery to a transgender inmate serving life in prison" for murder, The Associated Press writes.

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Education
3:15 pm
Tue September 4, 2012

Can A New Building Save A Failing School?

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Research shows that students who attend school in buildings that are in disrepair score lower on state tests than students in satisfactory buildings.
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Originally published on Tue September 4, 2012 5:59 pm

When students and teachers at School 16 in Rochester, N.Y., start the new school year in a newer school building, they'll leave their old building's laundry list of infrastructure problems behind.

As teachers finish unloading boxes and setting up their new classrooms, they hope the newer, nicer digs will give students renewed pride in their school. Education experts say the move could also bring a bump to the school's flagging test scores, because better school buildings actually improve academic performance.

A Drain On Spirit And A Drain On Grades

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