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Obama Would Veto House's Farm Bill, White House Says

Bill Chappell — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:21:00 +0000

President Obama will be advised to veto a multi-year farm bill slated to be discussed in the House this week, the White House says. The administration issued a statement on the legislation Monday afternoon, criticizing it for cutting food programs for the poor.

At more than 575 pages, the bipartisan bill introduced by Reps.

Voting Rights Groups Get High Court Win As Bigger Case Looms

Frank James — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:15:00 +0000

Advocates of tougher voter registration standards have racked up wins in recent years — voter ID laws have taken hold across the nation, for example.

But those who believe that government should make voting as easy as possible just gained a significant victory with the U.S.

Sentenced To Death At 16, Indiana Woman Is Now Free

Bill Chappell — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:46:00 +0000

Paula Cooper, 43, left prison Monday morning, decades after she became America's youngest resident of death row at age 16. She had confessed to the 1985 murder of Bible studies teacher Ruth Pelke, 78, in Gary, Ind.

Dirty Spuds? Alleged Potato Cartel Accused Of Price Fixing

Maria Godoy — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:40:00 +0000

High-tech spying with satellites. Intimidation. Price fixing.

Sound like the makings of a Hollywood thriller? These are actually among the allegations being thrown about in a federal court case against America's alleged "Potato Cartel." It's enough to make Mr. Potato Head blush.

A civil lawsuit that last week shifted into U.S. district court in Idaho — America's potato country — alleges that the United Potato Growers of America has become a veritable OPEC of spuds.

The Human Voice May Not Spark Pleasure In Children With Autism

Jon Hamilton — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:37:00 +0000

The human voice appears to trigger pleasure circuits in the brains of typical kids, but not children with autism, a Stanford University team reports. The finding could explain why many children with autism seem indifferent to spoken words.

The Stanford team used functional MRI to compare the brains of 20 children who had autism spectrum disorders and 19 typical kids.

BESE to Consider Alternative Funding for 'Course Choice'

Amy Jeffries — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:29:08 +0000

State Supt. John White wants to reallocate $2 million from a state education trust fund to pilot the “Course Choice” program. The program will let students take individual classes elsewhere if their public school is underperforming or doesn’t offer the course they want. The state’s top school board will consider the alternative funding request Tuesday.

Teens Find The Right Tools For Their Social-Media Jobs

Trey Graham — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:26:00 +0000

Once upon a time, it was MySpace. (Huh. Turns out you can still link to it.) Then Facebook happened. And Twitter. And beyond those two dominant social-media platforms, there are a host of other, newer options for staying in touch and letting the digital universe get a look at your life.

How Do You Teach The Civil Rights Movement?

editor — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:12:00 +0000

Note: As part of NPR's series on the summer of 1963, reporter Cory Turner headed to Jackson, Miss. to take a look at how folks are teaching the Civil Rights movement to kids who weren't a part of it — and making the lessons stick.

Much has changed in the past 50 years, since the height of the Civil Rights movement. But how do you teach the Civil Rights to kids who haven't ever experienced it? In Jackson, Miss., Fannie Lou Hamer Institute's Summer Youth Workshop tackles that question.

Take 13-year-old Jermany Gray, for instance.

After Long Search, Komen Foundation Replaces Brinker As CEO

Scott Hensley — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 20:40:00 +0000

The Komen Foundation for the Cure has a new chief executive.

Dr.

'Talladega Nights' Revs Up Actress Paula Patton

editor — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 20:33:00 +0000

Transcript

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

Finally, you know those movies you pull out time and time again when you're not sure what to watch? Well, our colleagues at Weekends on All Things Considered have been asking filmmakers and actors about the movies they never get tired of watching. Today, we hear from actress Paula Patton. She's known for her roles in "Precious" and "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol." And she tells us about one of her favorites.

(SOUNDBITE OF MOVIE, "TALLADEGA NIGHTS")

PAULA PATTON: Hi, I'm Paula Patton and I'm an actress.