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Thursday

Inspired By Russia, He Bought Influence On Facebook

Paul Smith says he wanted "take a page from the Russian playbook" to influence a California congressional campaign. Deanne Fitzmaurice for NPR hide caption

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Deanne Fitzmaurice for NPR

All Tech Considered

Inspired By Russia, He Bought Influence On Facebook

In California, a political novice is helping shape a hotly contested Democratic congressional primary by buying influence on Facebook. He says he wanted to "take a page from the Russian playbook."

Inspired By Russia, He Bought Influence On Facebook

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South Carolina Lottery Christmas Winners Won't Get Prizes

On Wednesday the South Carolina Education Lottery announced it will not be delivering more than $30 million in prizes to players with winning tickets printed as a result of a computer glitch. Fitria Ramli / EyeEm/Getty Images/EyeEm hide caption

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Fitria Ramli / EyeEm/Getty Images/EyeEm

The Two-Way

South Carolina Lottery Christmas Winners Won't Get Prizes

The state lottery commission ruled it will not pay out more than $30 million to people who bought tickets "printed in error." Gamblers will be reimbursed only $1 for each ticket.

Environment

Companies And Regulators Move Toward Full Ban On Plastic Straws To Help Alleviate Pileup

Plastic straws make up an alarming percentage of waste around the world. Bon Appetit, a large food service company, announced Thursday it is banning plastic straws in all 1,000 of its cafes across the U.S.

Companies And Regulators Move Toward Full Ban On Plastic Straws To Help Alleviate Pileup

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Navy Ad Campaign Hopes To Attract New Generation Of Young, Tech-Savvy Recruits

KPBS

All the armed services are confronting a challenging environment for adding numbers to their ranks. The U.S. is near full employment and fewer young people physically qualify.

Navy Ad Campaign Hopes To Attract New Generation Of Young, Tech-Savvy Recruits

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Politics

Trump Administration Plans To Extend Steel And Aluminum Tariffs To Canada, Mexico And EU

The Trump administration is extending steel and aluminum tariffs to Canada, Mexico, and the European Union Thursday. The move is likely to trigger retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports.

Trump Administration Plans To Extend Steel And Aluminum Tariffs To Canada, Mexico And EU

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Arquette: After Rejecting Weinstein, 'I Had A Completely Different Career'

Rosanna Arquette arrives at the 24th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Jan. 21 in Los Angeles. Jordan Strauss/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP hide caption

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Jordan Strauss/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

Arquette: After Rejecting Weinstein, 'I Had A Completely Different Career'

Rosanna Arquette, one of the first actresses to come forward regarding a sexually abusive encounter with movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, says the charges against him aren't the result of a witch hunt.

Arquette: After Rejecting Weinstein, 'I Had A Completely Different Career'

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Politics

President Trump Pardons Conservative Commentator Dinesh D'Souza

President Trump issued a full pardon for conservative commentator Dinesh D'Souza Wednesday. D'Souza pleaded guilty in 2014 to making illegal campaign contributions. NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks to Mark Osler, a former federal prosecutor, who now runs a commutation clinic at the University of St. Thomas Law School, about the decision.

President Trump Pardons Conservative Commentator Dinesh D'Souza

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National Park Service Finds Permanent Home For Cremains Left At Vietnam Veterans Memorial

The National Park Service announced Wednesday that it has found a permanent home for the cremains that had been left at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. It has arranged for a veterans group to have them interred at a cemetery in Virginia.

National Park Service Finds Permanent Home For Cremains Left At Vietnam Veterans Memorial

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Last Straw For Plastic Straws? Cities, Restaurants Move To Toss These Sippers

As awareness grows about the environmental toll of single-use plastics, retailers and regulators alike are finding ways to decrease their use. And straws have become a prime target. Barbara Woike/AP hide caption

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Barbara Woike/AP

The Salt

Last Straw For Plastic Straws? Cities, Restaurants Move To Toss These Sippers

As awareness grows about the environmental toll of single-use plastics, U.S. retailers and regulators alike are finding ways to decrease their use. And straws have become a prime target.

Last Straw For Plastic Straws? Cities, Restaurants Move To Toss These Sippers

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Report: Rural Poverty In America Is 'An Emergency'

According to estimates by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nearly a quarter of children growing up in rural America were poor in 2016, compared to slightly more than 20 percent in urban areas. Marc Romanelli/Blend Images/Getty Images hide caption

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Marc Romanelli/Blend Images/Getty Images

Report: Rural Poverty In America Is 'An Emergency'

A report by Save the Children finds the U.S. ranks 36 out of 175 nations when it comes to child poverty. Within the U.S., nearly a quarter of children growing up in rural America were poor in 2016.

Meet The Last Surviving Witness To The Tulsa Race Riot Of 1921

Ninety-seven years after the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921 took place, Oliva Hooker, 103, is thought to be the last surviving witness. Nellie Gilles/Radio Diaries hide caption

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Nellie Gilles/Radio Diaries

Code Switch

Meet The Last Surviving Witness To The Tulsa Race Riot Of 1921

Olivia Hooker was 6 at the time of the riot. Now, at 103, Hooker is believed to be the last surviving witness to what is considered one of the worst incidents of racial violence in U.S. history.

Meet The Last Surviving Witness To The Tulsa Race Riot Of 1921

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Who Is Stormy Daniels Lawyer Michael Avenatti — And Who Is Helping Him?

Lawyer Michael Avenatti is everywhere, pursuing his case against President Trump and his longtime attorney Michael Cohen. Avenatti says he has more ammunition he has yet to fire. Associated Press hide caption

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Associated Press

Law

Who Is Stormy Daniels Lawyer Michael Avenatti — And Who Is Helping Him?

The high-profile attorney has become ubiquitous on TV as he takes on President Trump and his longtime lawyer Michael Cohen. Who is paying his bills?

Who Is Stormy Daniels Lawyer Michael Avenatti — And Who Is Helping Him?

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Sears Will Close 72 More Stores, After Quarterly Sales Drop Nearly 12 Percent

Sears Holdings Corp., which operates Sears and Kmart, said Thursday that it is closing 72 more of its stores. Here, shoppers look for deals at the last remaining Sears store in Chicago before it closes this summer. Patrick Gorski/NurPhoto via Getty Images hide caption

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Patrick Gorski/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The Two-Way

Sears Will Close 72 More Stores, After Quarterly Sales Drop Nearly 12 Percent

Sears Holdings Corp., which controls both Sears and Kmart, says it has "identified approximately 100 non-profitable stores."