NPR National Stories

Boy Scots Vote To Allow Gay Members, But Not Leaders

By Kathy Lohr

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Members of the Boy Scouts of America voted on Thursday to allow gay members.

The Two-Way

5:56 pm

Thu May 23, 2013

Boy Scouts Vote To Admit Openly Gay Members

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Members of Scouts for Equality hold a rally to support inclusion for gays in the Boy Scouts of America on Wednesday.

By Scott Neuman

Originally published on Thu May 23, 2013 6:35 pm

The Boy Scouts of America has agreed for the first time to allow openly gay boys as members, but a vote of the organization's National Council left in place a ban on gay Scout leaders.

The Associated Press reports that of the local Scout leaders voting at their annual meeting in Texas, more than 60 percent supported the proposal. The policy change approved by the 1,400-member National Council would take effect Jan. 1, 2014, the organization said.

5:52 pm

Thu May 23, 2013

Head Of IRS Tax-Exempt Division Reportedly Placed On Leave

Credit Karen Bleier / AFP/Getty Images

Lois Lerner invoked the Fifth Amendment before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Wednesday.

By Scott Neuman

Originally published on Thu May 23, 2013 6:03 pm

Lois Lerner, the IRS official who oversees the branch of the agency that targeted conservative groups, has been placed on administrative leave a day after she refused to answer questions in a congressional probe of the scandal.

5:49 pm

Thu May 23, 2013

'Extremely Active' Atlantic Hurricane Season Predicted

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Hurricane Sandy churns off the Atlantic coast on Oct. 29. NOAA officials are forecasting seven to 11 hurricanes, compared with about six in a typical season.

By Jon Hamilton

Originally published on Thu May 23, 2013 7:23 pm

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Unusually warm ocean temperatures and favorable wind patterns mean the Atlantic is likely to see "an active or extremely active" hurricane season this year, say officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The agency expects between seven and 11 hurricanes and as many as 20 named storms during the 2013 season, which runs from June 1 through November.

5:42 pm

Thu May 23, 2013

Inside A Tart Cherry Revival: 'Somebody Needs To Do This!'

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Credit Dan Charles / NPR

At Michigan State University's Clarksville Research Station, researchers apply pollen by hand to tart cherry blossoms, in order to breed new varieties.

Credit Dan Charles / NPR

Mike Van Agtmael grows tart cherries on his farm near Hart, Mich.

Credit Dan Charles / NPR

Amy Iezzoni, a fruit breeder at Michigan State University, traveled to Eastern Europe and the countries of the former Soviet Union to collect many different types of cherry trees.

By Dan Charles

Originally published on Thu May 23, 2013 7:23 pm

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Some fruits, like apples, you can find anywhere. But others have gotten a little bit lost in today's global food business.

Take tart cherries, also known as sour cherries. Unlike sweet cherries, America's tart cherries are too fragile to ship very far, so most people never get to taste a fresh one.

They're typically frozen, then baked into that iconic American dessert, the cherry pie — and cherry pies aren't as popular as they used to be.

Yet the humble sour cherry is experiencing an unlikely renaissance — and the best may be yet to come.

5:41 pm

Thu May 23, 2013

Descending Into The Mariana Trench: James Cameron's Odyssey

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Credit Courtesy of Mark Thiessen/National Geographic

James Cameron traveled to the bottom of the Mariana Trench last year — a depth of nearly seven miles.

Credit Courtesy of Mark Thiessen/National Geographic

James Cameron traveled to the bottom of the Mariana Trench last year — a depth of nearly seven miles.

Credit Mark Thiessen/National Geographic

Inside the pilot's sphere Cameron monitors the systems on a touch screen.

Credit Courtesy of Mark Thiessen/National Geographic

James Cameron traveled to the bottom of the Mariana Trench last year — a depth of nearly seven miles.

By Bill Chappell

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At nearly seven miles below the water's surface, the Mariana Trench is the deepest spot in Earth's oceans. And the site north of Guam is where director and explorer James Cameron recently fulfilled a longtime goal of reaching the bottom in a manned craft.

For the dive, Cameron designed a 24-foot submersible vehicle, the Deepsea Challenger — "this kind of long, green torpedo that moves vertically through the water," as he tells All Things Considered's Melissa Block. Cameron was able to watch his descent, he says, through a window that was about 9-1/2 inches thick.

5:40 pm

Thu May 23, 2013

Srinivasan's Confirmation First For D.C. Circuit In 7 Years

Credit Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Deputy Solicitor General Sri Srinivasan testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill on April 10.

By Nina Totenberg

For the first time in seven years, the U.S. Senate has confirmed a judge to sit on the important federal appeals court for the District of Columbia. The Senate unanimously confirmed Deputy Solicitor General Sri Srinivasan on Thursday for the seat previously held by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.

5:20 pm

Thu May 23, 2013

Abortion Opponents Try to Spin Murder Case Into Legislation

Credit Matt York / AP

Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., has introduced a federal bill to ban most abortions after 20 weeks' gestation — six weeks into the second trimester. This is the second straight Congress he's done so, but this time he's broadened his bill to encompass all 50 states, not just D.C.

By Julie Rovner

Originally published on Thu May 23, 2013 7:23 pm

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As predicted, abortion opponents on Capitol Hill are wasting no time in their efforts to turn publicity over the recent murder conviction of abortion provider Kermit Gosnell to their legislative advantage.

Their latest goal: a federal ban on most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

5:08 pm

Thu May 23, 2013

Alabama Republican Jo Bonner Says He's Leaving Congress

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Rep. Jo Bonner in July 2010.

By Scott Neuman

Originally published on Thu May 23, 2013 6:51 pm

Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Ala., says he will leave Congress effective in August to take a senior position at the University of Alabama.

Bonner, who has represented Alabama's 1st District for six terms since 2003, will become vice chancellor of government relations and economic development at Alabama. His sister, Judy Bonner, serves as president of the university.