U.S. News and National Top Stories : NPR

Katrina & Beyond

Holes in Monitoring System Let Lemons Get Resold

January 31, 2006 • An estimated half-million cars were flooded in hurricane zones this year. Unsuspecting buyers around the country are likely to end up with lemons, because there's no effective system for keeping track of those cars. And there's evidence that insurers have blocked efforts to create one.

Holes in Monitoring System Let Lemons Get Resold

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Obituaries

Coretta Scott King Dies at Age 78

January 31, 2006 • Coretta Scott King, known to many as the first lady of the civil rights movement, has died at age 78. The widow of Martin Luther King Jr., King became the symbol of the movement after his assassination in 1968. She led the fight to have her husband's birthday made a national holiday.

Coretta Scott King Dies at Age 78

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Guilty Verdicts Reached at Enron Trial

Prosecutors Lay Out Case in Enron Fraud Trial

January 31, 2006 • During the opening day of the Enron fraud and conspiracy trial, federal prosecutors present their case against former executives Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling. Defense lawyers also give their opening statements. The energy giant collapsed in 2001 -- the largest bankruptcy in U.S. history at the time.

Prosecutors Lay Out Case in Enron Fraud Trial

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Law

Senate Confirms Alito as Supreme Court Justice

January 31, 2006 • Samuel Anthony Alito Jr. became the nation's 110th Supreme Court justice on Tuesday, confirmed with the most partisan victory in modern history after a fierce battle over the future direction of the high court.

Alito's Supreme Court Nomination Confirmed

Alito Confirmed as Newest Supreme Court Justice

January 31, 2006 • After a 58-42 vote in the Senate to confirm his nomination, Samuel Alito is sworn in as the Supreme Court's 110th justice. It was one of the smallest margins of victory in recent history for a Supreme Court nominee, and it reflected a deep partisan divide over Alito.

Alito Confirmed as Newest Supreme Court Justice

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Technology

Enron Trader Tapes Available on the Internet

January 31, 2006 • Audio tapes that show how Enron executives manipulated the energy market and drove up prices won't be allowed in the ongoing trial of former Enron executives Kenneth Lay and Jeffery Skilling -- but they're already available on the Web, thanks to a previous lawsuit.

Enron Trader Tapes Available on the Internet

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Business

Understanding 'The Wal-Mart Effect'

January 31, 2006 • Charles Fishman, author of The Wal-Mart Effect, talks about how Wal-Mart became the largest company in world history. He claims that the retail giant has such power that it affects everyone's daily lives, whether they shop at or do business with Wal-Mart.

Understanding 'The Wal-Mart Effect'

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Politics

Energy, Health Care Central to Upcoming Presidential Address

January 31, 2006 • President Bush delivers his fifth State of the Union address Tuesday night. The president is expected to talk about ways to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, and control rising health care costs. Other key topics will include the war in Iraq, Iran's nuclear program and last week's Palestinian elections.

Energy, Health Care Central to Upcoming Presidential Address

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Obituaries

The Life and Legacy of Coretta Scott King

January 31, 2006 • Coretta Scott King died Monday night, in bed at a holistic health center in Mexico, just south of San Diego. She was 78 years old. King took up the torch of human rights, founded the King Center for Non-Violent Social Change, campaigned to establish her husband's birthday as a national holiday, fought to protect his image, and came to be regarded as the matriarch of the civil rights movement.

The Life and Legacy of Coretta Scott King

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Economy

Challenges Await New Federal Reserve Chair

January 31, 2006 • Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan will preside over his last interest-rate meeting Tuesday after more than 18 years in the post. Waiting in the wings is his successor, economist Ben Bernanke. Steve Inskeep talks with David Wessel, deputy Washington bureau chief of The Wall Street Journal.

Challenges Await New Federal Reserve Chair

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Politics

Penn. Legislators Who Granted Pay Raise Under Fire

January 31, 2006 • Last summer, the Pennsylvania legislature granted itself a major pay increase. The middle-of-the-night move spawned outrage, and eventually the raise was abolished. But the anger that started with the raise has spawned a movement to unseat the incumbents who approved it in the first place.

Penn. Legislators Who Granted Pay Raise Under Fire

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Guilty Verdicts Reached at Enron Trial

Opening Statements to Begin in Enron Trial

January 31, 2006 • Opening statements are scheduled Tuesday in the federal fraud and conspiracy trial of former Enron executives Ken Lay and Jeff Skilling. Both are accused of lying about Enron's financial health. The energy company collapsed in 2001 after revelations of hidden debt and inflated profits. Ed Mayberry of member station KUHF reports.

Opening Statements to Begin in Enron Trial

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Politics

State of Union Used to Launch New Themes, Programs

January 31, 2006 • The Atlantic Monthly's James Fallows discusses how President Bush has used his annual State of the Union address in the past. Rather show what the government has done, the president has used the speech to launch new programs, such as the war on terror and his ill-fated Social Security reform.

State of Union Used to Launch New Themes, Programs

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Iraq War Tops Public's Hopes for Annual Speech

January 31, 2006 • Robert Siegel visited Topeka, Kan., last week to find out what issues people wanted to hear President Bush address in his State of the Union speech. The Iraq war was the most frequent answer, followed by health care and economy.

Iraq War Tops Public's Hopes for Annual Speech

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Alito's Supreme Court Nomination Confirmed

Alito to Change High Court's Configuration

January 31, 2006 • Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's first day on the bench will be when the court reconvenes on Feb. 21. He won't be able to participate in any case in which he hasn't heard arguments, which means an eight-member court will issue some decisions.

Alito to Change High Court's Configuration

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