NPR News

The National Urban League releases its annual State of Black America report today. And the group found that - even as African Americans make gains in education - many economic disparities between whites and African-Americans persist. Host Michel Martin finds out why.

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Some of the gun measures that were once considered uncontroversial are now facing opposition in the U.S. Congress. For a look at why the political climate has changed, host Michel Martin speaks with Paul Barrett, author of the book Glock:The Rise of America's Gun.

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An exciting women's NCAA basketball tournament ended with a dominant win by UConn in Tuesday's final game. ESPN's Pablo Torre talks with host Michel Martin about the game and other sports news.

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The USPS says Congress gave it no choice but to continue Saturday mail delivery despite its plan to cut back and save money.

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Right now, solar panels make electricity. But a team of engineers in California wants to take solar energy one step further. They're trying to create a device that uses sunlight to make a liquid fuel that goes in our gas tanks.

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Critics of the former prime minister have not remained silent in the wake of her death. Some Britons have openly celebrated her passing, with harsh graffiti, cyberattacks, drinking in the streets and even fireworks.

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The CIA has morphed from a traditional espionage service concerned with stealing the secrets of foreign governments into an organization consumed with hunting down its enemies. New York Times journalist Mark Mazzetti chronicles this transformation in a new book, The Way of the Knife.

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The bill would make it a crime, punishable by prison and a steep fine, to offend religious feelings.

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The National Spelling Bee is adding vocabulary questions to the qualifying tests. It's a great step toward ensuring that the most visible showcase for really smart kids isn't just a memory competition.

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Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania have a plan that could get bipartisan support. It would close the so-called gun show loophole but allow friends and family members to trade guns without going through background checks.

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The White House is gearing up for another round of difficult budget negotiations. Republicans are opposed to tax increases in the president's plan, while Democrats don't like its new math on entitlement benefits.

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Brought down by a sexting scandal nearly two years ago, the former congressman is considering a run for mayor of New York City. In a long New York Times Magazine report, Weiner and his wife, Huma Abedin, talk about the scandal, their marriage and the odds against a successful comeback.

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Also: Students stopped Texas stabbing suspect during Tuesday's attack; Connecticut women win eighth basketball championship; former N.Y. Rep. Anthony Weiner eyes a comeback.

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The alleged attacker, 20-year-old Dylan Quick, told authorities he "has had fantasies of stabbing people to death since he was in elementary school," according to the local sheriff's department. Fourteen people were hurt before the suspect was tackled by other students.

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Also: David Axelrod is writing a memoir; a Kindle creator has choice words for Amazon; Matthew Specktor on the purpose of literature.

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The Lady Huskies beat Louisville 93-60. Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma has now won eight women's championships. He's tied with former Tennessee coach Pat Summit for the most titles in the history of Division I women's basketball.

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South Korean officials say the North has made preparations and looks ready to make its next provocative move. The mood in Seoul remains calm, however.

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Every year the federal government gives needy college students $34.5 billion that they don't have to pay back. More than 9 million students rely on Pell Grants. A new study says in addition to many of the students being older, much of that money is going to people who never graduate.

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Around the country, budget cuts are bringing some federal public defenders to the breaking point. "We can't not pay the rent, and ... everything else is personnel. We can't send a computer to court," says Washington, D.C., public defender A.J. Kramer.

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Amid deep budget cuts and layoffs, the nation's second-largest school district is spending $4.5 million to hire 1,000 new aides this year. The superintendent says he'd rather use the money to hire back teachers, but the shootings in Newtown, Conn., led to a change in priorities.

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