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National

2011: An Extraordinary Year For Gay Rights

Phyllis Siegel (right) kisses her wife, Connie Kopelov, after the two exchanged vows at the Manhattan City Clerk's office. The couple were the first same-sex pair to tie the knot in New York City after the state's Marriage Equality Act went into effect on July 24. Michael Appleton/AP hide caption

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Michael Appleton/AP

It Was A Good Year For...

2011: An Extraordinary Year For Gay Rights

Among the highlights: the passage of New York's Marriage Equality Act; and the end of "don't ask, don't tell." We take a look back with Dan Savage and interview the first same-sex couple to get married in New York.

The Changing Face Of America's Chinatowns

A vendor sells seafood at a market in East Broadway in New York City's Chinatown. There was a 17 percent drop in the population of New York City's Chinatown over the past decade, and some say it's a sign that Chinatown is becoming more of a symbolic touchstone. Rebecca Sheir/NPR hide caption

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Rebecca Sheir/NPR

The Changing Face Of America's Chinatowns

For centuries, people from China have immigrated to major cities in the United States. There, many formed their own neighborhoods known today as Chinatowns. But with China's economy booming and the U.S. economy faltering, these historic neighborhoods are seeing declining populations and new demographics.

This Year In Congress: Much Drama, Little To Show

House Speaker John Boehner, surrounded by Republican House members, speaks during a news conference in Washington in December. The House initially rejected a plan to extend a tax cut for two months to buy time for talks on a full-year renewal. It later compromised — a rare event in 2011. Susan Walsh/AP hide caption

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Susan Walsh/AP

Politics

This Year In Congress: Much Drama, Little To Show

There were at least three countdowns to shutdown, there was the debt-limit fight, plus the will-they-or-won't-they drama over the payroll tax holiday. Looking at how few bills were actually signed into law this year, one might conclude this session was mostly sizzle and not much steak.

Obama's Grade In Foreign Policy 2011: 'Incomplete'

President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and members of his National Security team receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House. A classified document seen in this photograph has been obscured. Pete Souza/White House hide caption

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Pete Souza/White House

Politics

Obama's Grade In Foreign Policy 2011: 'Incomplete'

Much of global affairs lies beyond any one country's control, even for the most powerful country in the world. Still, the global landscape looks completely different from one year ago, in part due to President Obama's accomplishments.

Midwest Learns To Manufacture More With Less

Midwestern manufacturers are bouncing back — revenues are up at Chicago White Metal Casting for the second year in a row. And the company is hiring, but mainly specialists, such as die-cast machinists and the people with the skills to fix those machines. Niala Boodhoo/WBEZ hide caption

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Niala Boodhoo/WBEZ

It Was A Good Year For...

Midwest Learns To Manufacture More With Less

WBEZ Chicago

It was a good year for manufacturing, especially in the Midwest. The Federal Reserve says Midwestern manufacturing has seen 28 consecutive months of growth — at higher rates than the rest of the country. But that doesn't mean that jobs lost during the recession are returning. The jobs that are available often call for highly skilled workers.