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Honoring A Child Lost To Gun Violence: An Interview With Sandy Hook Mom Nicole Hockley

This week marks the seven-year anniversary of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. On December 14, 2012, a lone gunman claimed the lives of 20 first graders and six educators. Nicole Hockley’s 6-year-old son, Dylan, died on that day.

Sunday Baroque Highlight

On Verge Of Impeachment Vote, First-Term, Moderate Democrats Weigh A Political Risk

Life Along Pakistan's Mountain Highway Where China Is Investing Billions Of Dollars

Much is expected of Karakoram Highway, which curls through the tall mountain ranges of northern Pakistan, reaching western China. Both countries are renovating it, seeing its potential as a trade route. Pakistan also views it as a way to consolidate control over territories contested with India. But for some of the 500-mile route, it is barely a two-way road, carved out of the rock face that slopes sharply into valleys below. It is battered by rockfall, floods and earthquakes. A landslide in...

Holiday Parties Make You Squirm? Here's How To Conquer Social Anxiety

In 'Work In Progress,' A Darkly Funny Coming-Of-Middle-Age

'Dangerous Melodies' Examines Classical Music And American Foreign Relations

At the height of the Cold War in 1958, Van Cliburn, a curly-headed kid from Texas, won the International Tchaikovsky Competition. He was hugged by Nikita Khrushchev and heralded like Elvis Presley when he returned. Classical music figures were once stars in America. They were pursued, recognized and gossiped about — people who had popular and cultural impact. Jonathan Rosenberg, a professor of history at Hunter College, has a new book that examines this phenomenon. It's called Dangerous...

Supreme Court Agrees To Hear Trump Subpoena Cases

By Krishnadev Calamur • 18 hours ago

Updated at 6:35 p.m. ET

The U.S. Supreme Court said late Friday that it will review three lower court decisions upholding congressional and grand jury subpoenas for financial records from President Trump's longtime personal accountants and from banks he did business with.

The high court's order sets the stage for a constitutional battle over the limits of presidential power.

FCC Approves Plan For 3-Digit Suicide Prevention Number Similar To 911

By Colin Dwyer • 22 hours ago

It's a lesson you learn as early as grade school: If you find yourself injured, threatened or otherwise in harm's way, just break out your phone and dial a simple, three-digit number: 911. After more than five decades, the 911 emergency call system has become so memorable and ubiquitously known, it even has its own network TV adaptation.

But what if the danger is rooted less in the physical, and more in one's mental health?

House Judiciary Committee Approves 2 Articles Of Impeachment Against Trump

By Amita Kelly • Dec 13, 2019

Updated at 12:12 p.m. ET

The House Judiciary Committee on Friday approved two articles of impeachment against President Trump, making him the fourth president in American history to face impeachment.

In contrast to Thursday's contentious back-and-forth between the two parties, Friday's session was devoid of rancor, or even any debate. Immediately after calling the session to order, Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., ordered two votes, one for each article. Both were approved 23-17 along party lines.

A Father's Advice: The Choice To Start A Family Is 'An Act Of Hope'

By Heidi Glenn • Dec 13, 2019

Jessica Kibblewhite grew up the daughter of an astronomer. Her dad, Edward Kibblewhite, invented, among other things, a system that allows scientists to take clearer pictures of stars.

Given his background, Jessica asked him for help finding clarity on a different subject: starting a family.

The world, Jessica told Edward at StoryCorps last October, seemed like an especially difficult place, and she and her husband had been struggling with the idea of bringing children into it.

She felt scared for the future.

Edward, now 75, asks her what the alternative is.

Sherlock Holmes Builds His Dream Castle

By Davis Dunavin • Dec 13, 2019

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William Gillette was one of the most famous stage actors in America in the late 19th and early 20th century. He brought Sherlock Holmes to the theatre. Gillette was an eccentric man with an unusual house – actually, a castle full of theatrical flairs. It towers on a cliff overlooking the Connecticut River.

'Impeachment Lite'? How Articles Against Trump Compare To Clinton's And Nixon's

By Domenico Montanaro • Dec 13, 2019

Updated at 10:15 a.m. ET

Democrats are on track to impeach the president by the end of next week. After more than 14 hours of debate Thursday, the House Judiciary Committee approved impeachment articles against President Trump on Friday morning.

Boris Johnson And Conservative Party Win Large Majority In U.K. Parliament

By Mark Katkov • Dec 13, 2019

Updated 10:40 a.m. ET

British voters delivered a stunning victory to Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Conservative Party in Thursday's general election, giving the Brexit backer a large majority in the House of Commons and the support he needs to take the United Kingdom out of the European Union in January.

"The Conservatives picked up 47 seats," NPR's Frank Langfitt reports from London. "This is the biggest majority since Margaret Thatcher's win in 1987."