Latin America
4:45 pm
Wed May 2, 2012

Cuba's New Mantra: Viva Private Business

Originally published on Wed May 2, 2012 6:26 pm

Socialism has been Cuba's official economic policy for more than a half-century, and some 85 percent of the Cuban workforce is employed by the state.

But that is changing fast. Communist authorities say that nearly half of Cuba's economic activity will shift to the private or "non-state" sector in the next four or five years.

Those plans signal a new urgency to Cuban President Raul Castro's economic reforms, and one reason is that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the island's biggest benefactor, is battling cancer and facing re-election in October.

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Europe
4:21 pm
Wed May 2, 2012

In Greek Election Campaign, Anger Trumps Civility

Originally published on Wed May 2, 2012 6:26 pm

Greeks will vote Sunday in what is expected to be the most fractious parliamentary election in decades.

People are so divided that no party is expected to get enough votes to form a government. Voters blame politicians for bankrupting the country and then selling it out to international lenders, who forced the government to impose painful austerity measures in exchange for billions of euros in bailout loans.

This election is an early one; the economic crisis forced out the previous elected government led by George Papandreou.

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The Salt
4:15 pm
Wed May 2, 2012

Lard Is Back In The Larder, But Hold The Health Claims

Credit Steven Depolo / Flickr.com
Could you taste the lard in a freshly-baked crust?

What secret ingredient makes the pie crust so crisp and flaky? If you're from the Midwest, you may have guessed: Lard. The pig fat reviled for decades as supremely unhealthy is undergoing a lipid rehabilitation by American chefs and home bakers.

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Law
4:11 pm
Wed May 2, 2012

DOJ Looking Into Mont. Sexual Assault Complaints

Originally published on Wed May 2, 2012 6:26 pm

Transcript

ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:

The Justice Department has launched an investigation into how sexual assault complaints are handled in Missoula, Montana.

As NPR's Martin Kaste reports, news of the inquiry has shocked the town.

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Monkey See
4:03 pm
Wed May 2, 2012

Studios To Movie Fans: Take Our Clips, Please

Credit AP
Robert Duvall and Al Pacino in a scene from The Godfather Part II.

Originally published on Wed May 9, 2012 10:44 am

Maybe you needed a good cry, but you were at work and didn't have easy access to your DVD of "The Notebook." So, you searched for that heart wrenching break-up scene on YouTube and let the tears flow freely.

Could be, nostalgic for times past when "real" men wore suits and drank bourbon, you were itching to watch Humphrey Bogart tell Ingrid Bergman, "Here's lookin' at you kid."

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The Two-Way
3:46 pm
Wed May 2, 2012

Former NFL Player Junior Seau Is Dead; Possible Suicide

Credit Elsa / Getty Images
Junior Seau in 2009, when he played with the New England Patriots.

Originally published on Wed May 2, 2012 4:36 pm

San Diego's Union Tribune reports that former NFL linebacker Junior Seau "has died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at his beachfront home."

It adds that:

"Chargers chaplain Shawn Mitchell said he was notified of the death and is on his way to be with family members."

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Newt Gingrich
3:40 pm
Wed May 2, 2012

Gingrich Formally Ends Campaign, 'A Truly Wild Ride'

Originally published on Wed May 23, 2012 11:06 am

What to say about Newt Gingrich that Newt Gingrich hasn't already said about Newt Gingrich?

Employing his admittedly "grandiose" ideas, Gingrich said all that he could to will his candidacy for president past low expectations. He arguably did, managing to resurrect his political career (at least temporarily), help focus the zeitgeist of conservative voters and even briefly wear the mantle of front-runner.

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The Two-Way
3:19 pm
Wed May 2, 2012

It's Official: Newt Gingrich Bows Out

Originally published on Wed May 2, 2012 4:31 pm

Saying "I never could have predicted either the low points or the high points," former House Speaker Newt Gingrich just officially suspended his bid for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.

He's been leading up to this for more than a week. Tuesday, he posted a video to say goodbye to his supporters.

Update at 4:30 p.m. ET. Romney On Gingrich:

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Shots - Health Blog
3:14 pm
Wed May 2, 2012

A Step Forward For Gene Therapy To Treat HIV

Credit PLoS Biology
HIV particles assemble at the surface of a white blood cell called a macrophage.

Millions of people around the world are living with HIV, thanks to drug regimens that suppress the virus. Now there's a new push to eliminate HIV from patients' bodies altogether. That would be a true cure.

We're not there yet. But a report in Science Translational Medicine is an encouraging signpost that scientists may be headed in the right direction.

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The Two-Way
2:44 pm
Wed May 2, 2012

Student Left And Forgotten In Holding Cell For Five Days Gets Apology

Daniel Chong, a California college senior who "was left alone in a federal holding cell for five days with no food or water," now at least has an apology from the Drug Enforcement Adminstration.

That likely won't make up for having to drink his urine to survive, as Chong spoke of to reporters on Tuesday.

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