NPR News

Images of holey foods, like Swiss cheese, aerated chocolate and lotus pods, are freaking out people on the Internet. Urban Dictionary has even coined a term for it: trypophobia. These photographs may make your skin crawl and stomach churn, but here's why you shouldn't panic.

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A teacher put herself between the gunman and a group of students. Then the deputy helped negotiate a peaceful end to the dangerous situation.

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Until now, a new SARS-like virus showed little signs of being contagious. Only 10 cases have been reported, and all appeared to originate in the Middle East. Health officials now say a British resident likely caught the virus from a family member in the U.K., indicating that the virus can spread between people.

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Scientists who the agency deferred to when it delayed action related to the cancer risks of one chemical had previously worked on behalf of a company that used the chemical. But the EPA didn't know of the possible conflict of interest.

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With the Carnival cruise ship Triumph and its 3,143 passengers now being towed to Mobile, Ala., more reports are emerging from passengers on the ship that lost engine power early Sunday. They describe a tent city on the upper deck and continuing problems with the sewage system.

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Cape Town's archbishop emeritus compared the government's targeted killing program to apartheid, saying the program "threatens to undermine your moral standards and your humanity."

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Sen. Marco Rubio had a tough moment Tuesday night when dry mouth intruded on his response to the State of the Union. But in all honesty, the unplanned nature of any little mistake has a certain appeal.

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Dianne Feinstein said the reviews happen after the strikes take place. All those actions, however, take place in closed sessions, far away from the public.

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Technical gremlins got hold of some NPR reports Wednesday morning. So the newscast was all "live." Hopefully listeners didn't notice. And now, things seem to be back to normal. Take a listen.

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NPR "did not present a complete or balanced view" of its program, the MSC writes in a statement.

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President Obama laid out his plans for the next year during his State of the Union address. Host Michel Martin speaks with a group of diverse people about the address and their hopes for the year ahead. Her guests are Oakland Lewis, who is looking for work, immigrant rights activist Gaby Pacheco, and Trei Dudley, a college student.

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Presidential speeches are usually meant to inspire — and sometimes challenge — Americans. Host Michel Martin continues her State of the Union conversation with a group of diverse people: Oakland Lewis, who is looking for work, Gaby Pacheco, an immigrant rights activist, and Trei Dudley, a college student.

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Beginning March 1st, many people who receive social security and other federal benefits will no longer receive paper checks. The Treasury Department says sending payments electronically will save nearly a billion dollars. But some experts say it could affect the "un-banked." Host Michel Martin talks with The Wall Street Journal's Sudeep Reddy.

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New labels will define serving sizes clearly and state that each serving contains 0.6 ounces of alcohol. The changes come as part of a deal to settle the Federal Trade Commission's claim that Four Loko maker Phusion Projects engaged in deceptive advertising.

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Firstborn children are more likely to have higher blood pressure and be more resistant to insulin, researchers in New Zealand say. But despite those worrisome signs, there's no hard evidence linking birth order to diabetes or heart disease risk in adulthood.

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What's said and written about a State of the Union address on the morning after can determine what's most remembered. Headline writers have zeroed in on the president's talk about lifting the middle class, getting the economy moving and new gun laws.

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In the State of the Union, Obama defends the legality of drone strikes and promises more openness with Congress.

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The Florida senator has joined in the joking about his big stretch for a big drink as he was giving the Republican response to President Obama's State of the Union address.

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Also: An award for the year's most cutting book review; how it feels to hold Sylvia Plath's hair; and Donna Tartt's new book will be out this fall.

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As investigators work to determine whether the charred body inside a California mountain cabin is that of former Los Angeles police officer Christopher Jordan Dorner, dramatic reports are emerging about what authorities hope were the last hours of the massive manhunt for the accused killer.

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