Search results for

NPR correspondent John Burnett's high school English teacher, Christine Eastus, may have been demanding, but she encouraged his interest in writing. Burnett is thankful that Eastus gave him the boost he needed as a teenager. You can thank a teacher, too, on Twitter with #thankteacher, or on the StoryCorps Facebook page.

This weekend, Catholics may experience a surprise when they attend Mass. The words and music are different, thanks to the first major change of the English-language Mass in 40 years. Supporters say the new prayers are more elegant; critics say they're clumsy and are a triumph of conservatives.

Egypt's ruling military council and anti-government protesters are in a standoff. The military council has pledge to hand over power once a newly- elected president and parliament are in place next summer, but protesters have rejected the idea.

If a fly walked into a bar, he'd chose beer, and scientists think they've figured out why. The secret? A molecule that tastes sweet but isn't sugar. The research could help create more powerful insect repellents.

In 17 years of international play, American Samoa has scored just a dozen goals — compared to the 229 they've allowed. But they scored two this week to beat Tonga 2-1 in a World Cup qualifying match.

In Arizona, the architect of a controversial immigration law has been voted out of office. In Alabama, the nation's strictest immigration law has ignited a withering backlash expected to force major changes. "We overreached," admits one Republican supporter of the law.

For people with hearing loss, trying to hear in noisy places like airports and theaters, can be tough. But advocates are spreading word of not-so-new technology that allows sound from loudspeakers to be transmitted directly to hearing aids, cutting through the background noise.

Last year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited SeaWorld following the death of a killer whale trainer. If a Florida court rules in favor of OSHA, employees of SeaWorld and other parks like it will no longer be able to come into direct contact with whales unless there is a barrier between them. Guy Raz speaks to Tim Zimmermann, a correspondent for Outside Magazine, about the ongoing legal dispute.

Rival Palestinian leaders met in Cairo this week to discuss prospects for a reconciled government. For more than four years, the Palestinian Authority has governed the West Bank, while the militant Islamist group, Hamas, has ruled the Gaza Strip. But any government that included Hamas would face serious obstacles.