50 Wonderful Things From 2016
Corrected on 2016-12-31 00:00:00
A previous version of this post misspelled Cameron Esposito's first name as Carmen.
NPR corrects significant errors in broadcast and online reports. Corrections of errors will be made in audio archives, written transcripts and on the website. To report an error, please use our corrections form.
A previous version of this post misspelled Cameron Esposito's first name as Carmen.
A previous version of this post misspelled Brittany Murphy's first name as Britney.
A previous version of this story misspelled Asia McClain's name as McLean.
A previous Web version of this story gave an incorrect name for the Loving case. It is Loving v. Virginia, not Loving v. the State of Virginia.
The original version of this story said Le Canard Enchainé had no website. The newspaper has a minimalist webpage that summarizes articles and offers contact information, but it does not provide full articles.
Correction: The name Dassault was previously misspelled as Dassaut.
A previous version of this story misidentified Cedars-Sinai Medical Center as Cedar-Sinai.
An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the company named by Donald Trump as OneWorld. It is OneWeb.
We incorrectly say that llama dung is an important fuel for heating homes in places such as Nepal. While dung is an important fuel around the world, in Nepal it mostly comes from yaks.
A previous Web version of this story incorrectly said that Laquan McDonald was unarmed. In fact, he was carrying a knife.
Previously posted Dec. 28, 2016: A previous Web version of this story incorrectly said that in September Chicago had surpassed last year's total of about 740 killings. The correct number is 470.
In the audio of this story, as in a previous Web version, we say that NCAA President Mark Emmert announced the new playoff format. In fact, it was the commissioners of that playoff system who made the announcement.
An earlier version of the Web summary for this story stated incorrectly that Jaime Harrison was an early supporter of Hillary Clinton. In fact, he was neutral throughout the primary.
An earlier Web version of this story misreported the amount of time that people above the poverty line lose services if they miss a payment. The story said they would be cut off for three months. They actually are cut off for six months.
In the audio of this story, as in a previous Web version, we misidentify Justin Ruben, a parent at the Generation Listen event, as Justin Krasner.
A previous version of this story misspelled Cicely Tyson's first name as Cecily.
A previous Web version of this story was unclear about when the album Faith was released and when it won a Grammy — 1987 and 1989, respectively. Also, "Freedom '90" is the name of a song on the 1990 album Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, not the name of the album, as the previous version reported.
An earlier headline and Web summary for this story did not make it clear that Casey Affleck was accused of sexual harassment, not sexual assault.
An earlier version of the text of this story incorrectly identified Thembinkosi Fanwell Ngwenya as Katlehong Matsenen.
A previous version of this story incorrectly stated Lockheed Martin's goal on cost per aircraft. The correct number is $85 million, not $85 billion.
The previously embedded link to a "New Orleans Black Santa" Facebook page refers to a different New Orleans Black Santa than the one mentioned in the story. That incorrect link has been removed.
A previous version of the story misspelled Bruce Karstadt's last name as Kardadt.
At the end of this conversation, this week's attack on a Christmas market in Berlin is referred to as a bombing. In fact, as is said several times during the report, it was a truck attack.
In an earlier version of this story, we said that Philadelphia Eagles offensive guard Evan Mathis tweeted a photo of a $64,000 dinner bill that he left for his newest teammates to pay. Mathis did tweet such a photo, but later he admitted that his claim was a hoax.
A previous version of this story listed Logan Richardson's album title as Lift. The correct title is Shift.
In the audio of this story, Nancy Chapman says the liquid inside a coconut is coconut milk. In fact, as the Web version notes, a coconut contains coconut water, not milk.
In the audio of this story, as in a previous Web version, we state that Mark Rothko withdrew from a project after learning his paintings would be hung in the Four Seasons restaurant in Manhattan. In fact, he knew all along that the works would be used in the restaurant but changed his mind about having them displayed there.
A previous version of this story misspelled a reference to Bernie Olivas' last name as Olivias.
A previous version of this story said Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette is actively fighting a federal court order to deliver bottled water to Flint residents. The attorney general's office is fighting the court order, but Schuette is not involved.
An earlier version of this story referred to a 2001 incident in which a U.S. Navy plane was forced down by China after colliding with a Chinese fighter jet. In fact, the plane made an emergency landing.
In the audio of this story, as in an earlier Web version, we mistakenly say that about 700 African-American students who live outside of Gardendale's city limits would be able to stay in the city's school system. If the judge approves creation of the new district, there would be about 700 African-American students in the district. But only 300 of those students would be from outside the city's limits.
A previous headline incorrectly said 20th Century Women will open on Christmas Day. The actual date is Dec. 28.
In the audio of this story, as in an earlier Web version, we mistakenly refer to Layton, Utah, as Clayton, Utah.
A caption on a previous version of this story misidentified the city in which Dominika Tamley was riding a train. She was in Chicago, not in Washington, D.C.
A previous caption stated that Shadow the dog belonged to Rep. Bill Foster. The dog does not belong to Foster and is an office dog.
An earlier version of this story stated incorrectly that it takes just over eight seconds for sunlight to reach Earth; in fact, it takes 8.3 minutes.
A previous Web version of this story labeled the American College of Pediatricians an "anti-LGBT group." That is not an accurate description because the group holds opinions on a wide variety of issues.
An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that a Mr. Coffee machine took just 15 seconds to brew a pot. In fact, it took just 15 seconds for the coffee to start flowing.
In a version of this report that aired on some stations just after 8 a.m. ET, we referred to Tel Aviv as Israel's capital. But, as the CIA World Factbook notes, "Israel proclaimed Jerusalem as its capital in 1950."
In a previous Web version of this story, we misrepresented Elizabeth Herdes as a critic of pipelines. She is a lawyer who focuses on pipeline safety.
A previous headline and summary misspelled James Woolsey's name as Woosley.
A previous version of this story said Craig Watts produces chickens for Perdue. He no longer works with the company.
A previous headline misspelled Aleppo as Allepo.
In the audio of this story, as in a previous Web version, we incorrectly give J. Matthew Cobb's last name as Scott.
During this interview, Susanne Rust is asked about the Rockefeller family's views of Exxon Mobil's efforts to combat climate change. It should have been noted that the Energy and Environment Reporting Project at Columbia University, which Rust directs, receives financial support from the Rockefeller Family Fund and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.
We prematurely aged Steve Karmen; he is actually 79, not 80. We also incorrectly said Karmen informally crowned himself the "king of jingles." Karmen tells us that the accolade was not his own invention but came from an article in People magazine.
In an earlier version of this story, Corey Lewandowski's name was misspelled Cory and Bret Stephens' name was misspelled Brett.
An earlier version of this story said the age of the Earth is 13.7 billion years. In fact, that is the age of the universe, not the Earth.
During this segment, John Glenn is mistakenly called the first man to orbit the Earth. In fact, on Feb. 20, 1962, Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth. Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was the first man to orbit the planet, on April 12, 1961.
Earlier versions of this story and the caption said Lechuguilla Cave is the deepest cave in the continental U.S. In fact, it is now the second deepest cave. Tears of Turtle Cave in Montana was recently surveyed to a deeper depth than Lechuguilla Cave in New Mexico.
A previous version of this story misspelled Patricia Aguilar's last name in some instances as Aquilar.
In an earlier version of this report, we said John Glenn was the first American to go into space. He was not. Alan Shepard was the first American to do that. Glenn was the first American to orbit the Earth.
The original version of this review misspelled Benj Pasek's last name as Paske.
We incorrectly say the U.S. has two divisions in the region of Poland and the Baltic states. Those are actually brigades.
An earlier version of this story stated that no one believed the story of the sunken submarine for decades. That was Will Lehner's experience. He says the people he told the story to didn't believe him. But there were records and reports about the submarine and its sinking.
A previous caption incorrectly referred to Elon University as Elon College.
We say that Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto studied at Harvard for four years. However, according to the registrar, records show that Yamamoto withdrew shortly after the start of his first semester in 1920 and did not return.
A previous version of this story misidentified a television show as Dr. Kim. In fact, the show is Dr. Ken.
We incorrectly say the pipeline is designed to transport half a million gallons of oil per day. It is actually 470,000 barrels per day.
A previous version of this story said the Dakota Access Pipeline was to run about half a mile south of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. In fact, the intended route was north of the reservation.
A previous version of the story misidentified the author of the Angry Asian Man blog as Jeff Yang. In fact, the blog's author is Phil Yu.
A headline on this story previously stated that Richard Stengel was leaving his post as undersecretary for public diplomacy and public affairs. In fact, Stengel has not publicly announced any departure plans.
A previous version of this story incorrectly said John F. Kennedy was assassinated on Nov. 23, 1963. He was actually killed on Nov. 22, 1963.
A previous caption misspelled Pinz-N-Needlez as Pinz-N-Neddlez.
A previous Web version of this story described the International Gemological Institute as a nonprofit research institute. It is actually a commercial testing lab.
A previous version of this story said opponents of the rule change had taken no action until the day before implementation. In fact, there was an attempt to hold a Senate vote on the measure in September, which failed. Additionally, the last name of DOJ Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell of the Criminal Division was incorrectly given as Crawford.
A previous version of this story incorrectly referred to Nikki Haley as President-elect Donald Trump's choice to be U.N. secretary. Haley is actually his choice for ambassador to the U.N.
A previous caption incorrectly spelled Halima Aden's first name as Hamila.
A previous Web version of this story stated that John Walke believed that the U.S. Circuit Court Of Appeals for the District of Columbia was "friendly" to the Clean Air Act. In fact, he believes the court is committed to upholding the act.
A previous version of this post said former Officer Michael Slager testified that Walter Scott "grabbed a bat — a bat or a club" from a car as he and another officer pulled him out of the vehicle. In fact, Slager was referring to a previous incident that did not involve Scott.
A previous version of this story incorrectly reported that Paul Ryan's health proposal ties the size of insurance tax credits to people's incomes. In fact, Ryan's plan offers uniform tax credits based on age.
A previous version of this post misspelled the name of Brazil's Chapecoense soccer team as Chapocoense.
A previous version of this story misspelled Mohamed Farah's first name as Mohammed, Horsed Noah's first name as Hoarsed, and Abdul Razak Ali Artan's first name as Adbul.
An earlier version of this story said the plan was announced on Nov. 18. In fact, the dig began on Nov. 25.
A previous version of this post incorrectly said Elizabeth Fee, a nursing home patient, died in January 2012. She was admitted to the facility that month, but died in February 2012.
An earlier version of this post mistakenly referred to Grambling State University as Gambling University.
In the original broadcast of this story, the following quote was included, but not identified: "We had warned Fidel — I personally met with him — that any further military intervention on Cuba's part in Africa ... would ... make it impossible for us to move forward on normalization of relations. And that's, of course, exactly what happened." That was a sound cut of Robert Pastor, an adviser to President Jimmy Carter, that was mistakenly included in the story. We have removed it.
Subsequent to posting, NPR reached two officials with the Clinton campaign. They are not supporting the recount effort. They are participating in it.
A previous Web version of this story incorrectly stated that Layla Salih's first visit to Nimrud was 15 years ago. In fact, it was 25 years ago.
A previous headline and Web introduction incorrectly spelled the name of the Plimoth Plantation as Plymouth.
A previous version of this story misspelled Bobby Thomson's last name as Thompson and gave Vin Scully's first name as Vince.
A previous version of this story incorrectly identified the main character's home island as Te Fiti. It is in fact Motonui; Te Fiti is the name of the goddess to whose home Moana journeys over the course of the film.
A previous version of this story incorrectly reversed the roles of actor Jeremy Renner and his character, Ian Donnelly.
Previously posted Nov. 23: A previous version of this story said the Heptapods are inky and loop-shaped. Actually it's their language that is inky and loop-shaped. Additionally, heptapods were incorrectly called hectapods in some references.
We say in this story that Warren Beatty directed Shampoo, which is incorrect. Hal Ashby was the director.
A previous version of this post misspelled member station WVXU reporter Tana Weingartner's name as Tara.
A previous version of this story incorrectly attributed a quote about making plain sweet potato to Jessica Greene. It was her mother who said she was making the dish.
An earlier version of this story mistakenly referred to Victor Trevino as Kanye West's publicist. Trevino is a spokesman for entertainment company Live Nation.
In the audio version of this story, Kellyanne Conway says this year's election results mean just four states will have both Democratic governors and Democratic-controlled legislatures. In fact, there are six such states: California, Delaware, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Oregon and Washington.
An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated Sharon Jones was born in Savannah, Ga. She was actually born in Augusta, Ga.
During this conversation, Paul Butler mistakenly refers to Sen. Jeff Sessions as "William Sessions." Also, Butler inadvertently says prisons are used to house federal employees instead of inmates.
In the tiebreaker game at the end of this segment, we should have accepted sheep (or ram) as an acceptable alternative answer for "goat" in the Chinese zodiac. The contestant will be given the option of returning to compete on a future episode.
A previous caption incorrectly identified Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach as the state attorney general.
We incorrectly said Sen. Debbie Stabenow is a new member of the Democratic leadership. In fact, she currently serves as vice chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee and will become chair of this committee in January.
An earlier version of this story incorrectly said U.S. farmers use 34 million tons of antibiotics a year. They use 34 million pounds per year.
A previous version of this story said a Wisconsin court ruled that Brendan Dassey must remain in prison while a decision vacating his conviction is appealed. In fact, the decision was made by a panel of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which is based in Chicago.
A previous version of this post indicated that Hillary Clinton mistakenly attributed a quote to Martin Luther King Jr. in her speech Wednesday. In fact, the attribution was correct. But the quote, "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice," notably echoes the words of 19th century abolitionist Theodore Parker.
A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the name of the Global Fund for Malaria. The organization is called the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
A previous caption misspelled Breitbart as Brietbart. Additionally, the story previously stated incorrectly that Steve Bannon made the accusation of NPR's Code Switch. It was Joel Pollak who said that.
An earlier version of this post noted incorrectly that Bert Mizusawa was awarded a Silver Star for his service in the Korean War; in fact, it was for his service in South Korea.
A previous version of this story incorrectly gave Amanda Miller's first name as Linda.
A previous version of this story said that the old tea recipe that inspired Ruth Bigelow to create Constant Comment contained cinnamon. But Cindi Bigelow says the tea does not contain cinnamon.
This post has been updated to include listener feedback and to better identify the NPR Research, Archives, and Data Strategy department.