NPR
Living in One of the Most Polluted Places in California
While living in California is often associated with beautiful beaches, mountains, and movie stars, millions of Californians actually live in areas with high levels of pollution in both the air and the soil. Imperial County is one of...
NPR
Wind Power on Forest Land
The very first commercial wind project on U.S. Forest Service land will locate 15 turbines on government land in southern Vermont by the end of 2017. This project sets a precedent since it's the first agreement in the country between...
NPR
Knowing the Legal Rights of Immigrants
In Sacramento, California, a new program was started to help refugees and immigrants understand their legal rights. The “Understanding Your RIghts” program was sparked by an increase in refugee groups moving into the area, and a need to...
NPR
The Challenges of Creating a Recyclable K-Cup
Vermont-based Keurig Green Mountain, a coffee company, makes K-cup pods for single coffee servings. They are now trying to solve the problem of the waste created by these pods. The hot beverage machines are so popular they have created a...
NPR
Lending Circles Boost Credit
When someone borrows money and pays it back on time, they build credit, and good credit allows them to borrow more. People without a good credit history are often blocked from important economic transactions like renting an apartment or...
NPR
How Wind Affects Wildlife
The Department of Fish and Wildlife wants to find out how bears will react to a new wind project. It will be the first commercial wind project on U.S. Forest Service land and will include 15 turbines.They started tracking bears by using...
NPR
Immigrant Entrepreneurs
Many California immigrants become their own bosses. For example, one immigrant from Thailand started a Thai food business that will likely be expanding very soon. Experts note that there are some good reasons why immigrants are likely to...
NPR
California Will Require Student Vaccinations
California has become the first state in the nation to require COVID-19 vaccines for all public and private school students. The mandate will go into effect as soon as the FDA fully approves the shot for 12-16-year-olds, which is...
NPR
Crossing into Canada
In the last few months, many refugees have crossed illegally from the United States into Canada. Refugees who cross the border this way are violating the Safe Third Country Agreement. This agreement says people must take refuge in the...
NPR
Campaign to Fight Election Disinformation
Russian agents interfered in the last major U.S. election in many ways, including planting “disinformation” or false information intended to mislead voters about the voting process. A new state office in California has been established...
NPR
Debate: Should the SAT be Free in Schools?
Some California school districts recently tried providing the SAT for free during the school day for high school juniors. While the cost for this first year was funded by a grant, future years of free SATs could be provided by a...
NPR
Preventing Flooding by Letting Rivers Flow Naturally
Beginning 200 years ago, many of Vermont’s rivers were straightened for agriculture, logging and to power turbines. Today one of three river miles in Vermont has been straightened, causing the waters to run deeper and faster – and erode...
NPR
Debate: Should Teachers Reward Students with Junk Food?
Many teachers use food to reward students, but often these foods are unhealthy. Since childhood obesity is a growing problem nationally, there is concern that celebrating with junk food at school may be contributing to students’ poor...
NPR
No More Death Penalty in California
Governor Gavin Newsom of California has issued a suspension of capital punishment in his state. While it has been years since a death row inmate was executed in California, voters have rejected proposoals to abolish the death penalty on...
NPR
In a Small Town in Vermont, Refugees Have Positive Economic Impact
Vermont is the new home of many refugees from Somalia and other countries that have become dangerous to live in. Some residents in towns with large concentrations of refugees are concerned that the newcomers will be a burden on...
NPR
Racial Equity and Stephon Clark
The shooting of Stephon Clark, an unarmed black man killed by police in Sacramento, California, sparked outrage and demands for police reform. In Sacramento there is a call to rebuild communities of color. Stephon’s brother, Ste’Vante...
NPR
Syrian Refugees in Jordan
Since the start of the civil war in Syria in 2011, the neighboring country of Jordan has taken in more than 650,000 Syrian refugees. Many of these refugees were farmers in Syria and are leaving behind their ancestral land. Only one in 10...
NPR
Laptops for Remote Learning
With schools around the country closed due to COVID-19, teachers are using technology to help educate kids remotely. However, some students lack access to a computer, making online learning impossible. One school district in California...
NPR
Modern Life in Iran
An American journalist in search of his family roots provides an intimate look behind the scenes in Iran. He meets Iranians on the train between two cities: Yazd and Isfahan. He finds how ancient traditions and today’s religious...
NPR
Women in the Baseball Hall of Fame
The Women in Baseball section of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY has recently acquired some new members. Corrine Mullane and her daughter Molly Mullane-Cavagnaro are the first ever mother-daughter duo enshrined in the...
NPR
Yosemite Experiences Rush Hour Traffic
Traffic, usually considered an urban problem, has been an issue at Yosemite National Park for a long time. While the park is sometimes shut down to all traffic because of forest fires, when it reopens, hundreds of cars come back to enjoy...
NPR
Refugee Mother: Stuck on Europe's Doorstep | NPR
Rasha al-Ahmed fled nearly 1000 miles only to find that there was no more room at the refugee camp. Her family lives with others just outside Moria Camp in Greece, and she doesn't know how long they'll be stuck there. She and thousands...
NPR
Do Cities Need More Green Roofs? | NPR
We took a field trip to the largest green roof in New York City. Then we imagined what the city could be like if all of its roof space was green. Note: A previous version of this video incorrectly thanked the Audubon Society. We meant to...
NPR
What's An Executive Order, Anyway? | Ron's Office Hours | NPR
President Trump, like many presidents before him, has used executive power to institute a number of policies including the controversial travel ban. But executive actions aren’t the same as legislation and a subject to rulings from the...