Dec 29th, 2008 · In New York's Times Square Sunday it was literally out with the old. New Yorkers and tourists gathered to shred bad memories from 2008 at the second annual "Good Riddance Day." There was an industrial-sized shredder for a public year-end purge: Bank statements, check stubs and worthless stock certificates. The prize for the most creative object to shred: A sock without a mate.
Dec 28th, 2008 · NPR's Foreign Correspondent Peter Kenyon speaks with host Liane Hansen about Mahmoud Abbas' criticism of Hamas for breaking the truce in Gaza. While Abbas' Fatah movement is a rival faction, such public criticism among Palestinians amid Israeli air strikes is unusual.
Dec 23rd, 2008 · Among the favorite winter getaways: Alaska. A quarter of a million tourists flock there when it gets really cold in hopes of seeing the Northern Lights or to go dogsledding and snowmobiling. One big attraction won't be there this year: Snowzilla. The giant snowman has attracted so many gawkers, cars and complaints that city officials in Anchorage have declared it a public nuisance and ordered the family that builds it to leave the snow on the ground.
Dec 22nd, 2008 · Slowly stepping into the public light after years of honing their style and outfit, folks are receiving Scottish indie-rock band Frightened Rabbit with enthusiasm on all sides.
Dec 19th, 2008 · Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is set to make his first public statement Friday since being charged with corruption in a case that has brought calls for his resignation.
Dec 19th, 2008 · Orlando Campbell is a rapper and a journalist for Youth Radio. Recently, reports of his death were all over the blogosphere. He ponders the bizarreness of one's death going public, when one is very much alive.
Dec 19th, 2008 · Rep. Keith Ellison, a Minnesota Democrat, is the first Muslim to serve in Congress. Just this month, Ellison undertook a sacred pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudia Arabia. The journey, known as the Hajj, is a pillar of the Islamic faith. The lawmaker shares highlights from his trip, and how he hopes his journey will aid his role as a public servant.
Dec 17th, 2008 · The largest public pension fund in the U.S. is in big trouble. Calpers invested giant chunks of money in real estate, and a good portion of those investments remain undeveloped. We explore how many people are affected.