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Education
2:17 pm
Wed August 15, 2012

Tax Credit Scholarships Reignite Voucher Debate

Originally published on Thu August 16, 2012 7:23 am

In Georgia, among those returning when school resumes this month are several thousand students who attend private religious academies on scholarships paid for by taxpayers. Georgia is one of several states that allow businesses and individuals to receive tax credits for contributions to scholarship programs for kids, kindergarten through 12th grade.

The tax credit scholarships are popular with school choice advocates. Like vouchers, they use public money to pay for private education. But in Georgia, even some supporters say the scholarships may be open to abuse.

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Politics
2:17 pm
Wed August 15, 2012

Judge Won't Block Pa. Voter ID Law

Originally published on Wed August 15, 2012 4:23 pm

Transcript

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

From NPR News, this is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. I'm Audie Cornish.

MELISSA BLOCK, HOST:

And I'm Melissa Block. This presidential campaign season features not only battles between candidates, but fights over how the voting process should work. Today in Pennsylvania, a judge refused to block the state's new voter ID law from going into effect before the election. The law requires voters to show identification at the polls.

As we hear from NPR's Pam Fessler, opponents of the law say they will appeal.

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Education
2:17 pm
Wed August 15, 2012

Immigrants Seek Answers On State College Tuition

Originally published on Wed August 15, 2012 4:23 pm

The question many young immigrants have had since President Obama's Deferred Action policy was announced is whether their new status would allow them to pay in-state tuition at state universities. Audie Cornish speaks with Maria Sacchetti, immigration reporter for The Boston Globe, about how various states are handling tuition matters.

NPR Story
2:07 pm
Wed August 15, 2012

Japan Looks For Ways To Help Evacuees

Originally published on Wed August 15, 2012 4:23 pm

Japanese officials are experimenting with ways to help people displaced by last year's earthquake and tsunami. One idea is to create parallel towns where everyone from the dog-catcher to the schoolteacher can shift to one town while their old village is being rebuilt. It's a way of keeping communities intact. But after more than a year, many of the affected communities have already scattered.

NPR Story
2:07 pm
Wed August 15, 2012

Journalist Karl Fleming Chronicled Civil Rights Era

Originally published on Wed August 15, 2012 4:23 pm

Journalist Karl Fleming chronicled many of the key moments in the civil rights era in the South. He then moved to Los Angeles, where he was beaten during the 1965 Watts Riots. Fleming died last weekend at age 84.

It's All Politics
1:45 pm
Wed August 15, 2012

Ryan Role In Thompson Win Debated

Credit Jeffrey Phelps / AP
Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson at his primary election night party Tuesday in Waukesha, Wis.

Originally published on Wed August 15, 2012 2:47 pm

The question of whether GOP vice presidential pick Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin will ultimately help or hurt Mitt Romney's quest for the White House is the subject of fierce debate.

But some politicos are calling Ryan a kingmaker following former longtime Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson's slim victory Tuesday in the hotly contested, four-way Republican U.S Senate primary.

Why? Ryan gave Thompson a shout-out at a Badger State homecoming rally Sunday, and the former governor quickly incorporated the veep pick's endorsement-of-sorts into a campaign ad.

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Favorite Sessions
1:42 pm
Wed August 15, 2012

KCRW Presents: thenewno2

Credit KCRW

Originally published on Wed August 15, 2012 1:47 pm

Dhani Harrison formed thenewno2 as an arts collective during a very dark period. With the passing of his father, George Harrison, and the September 11 attacks fresh in our collective consciousness, he needed a fresh direction to help bring some clarity to the swirling chaos of emotions. Channeling these complicated feelings, and with the support of some enduring friendships, Dhani has delivered thefearofmissingout, a layered and confident album that brings his individual voice to the fore.

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The Salt
1:34 pm
Wed August 15, 2012

Saving Lives In Africa With The Humble Sweet Potato

Originally published on Mon October 22, 2012 9:26 am

A regular old orange-colored sweet potato might not seem too exciting to many of us.

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Middle East
1:30 pm
Wed August 15, 2012

From All Sides, Iran Under Siege

Originally published on Thu August 16, 2012 4:19 pm

Iran appears to be facing a crisis more serious than anything it has experienced since its war with Iraq in the 1980s.

Diplomatically, President Bashar Assad's regime is under threat from the widening war in Syria, Iran's sole ally in the Arab world. Domestically, the European oil embargo and U.S. banking sanctions are undermining the Iranian economy, bringing inflation, food shortages and unemployment.

Iran is trying to maintain a defiant posture, without much success.

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Music Reviews
1:23 pm
Wed August 15, 2012

How Jan Garbarek Came To Epitomize Nordic Jazz

Originally published on Wed August 22, 2012 1:22 pm

Saxophonist Jan Garbarek was a teenage protege of American composer George Russell in Norway in the 1960s and later played in Keith Jarrett's Scandinavian quartet. More recently, he has collaborated with the vocal quartet the Hilliard Ensemble, improvising as they sing medieval music.

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