Enlarge image i Toyota has agreed to spend more than $1 billion to resolve lawsuits stemming from “unintended acceleration” cases. In November, the company displayed new cars at the Los Angeles Auto show. Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images Toyota has agreed to spend more than $1 billion to resolve lawsuits stemming from “unintended acceleration” cases. In November,

Enlarge image i A supporter congratulates Brian Schatz, then newly elected as Hawaii’s lieutenant governor, as his wife, Linda, looks on in November 2010. Eugene Tanner/AP A supporter congratulates Brian Schatz, then newly elected as Hawaii’s lieutenant governor, as his wife, Linda, looks on in November 2010. Eugene Tanner/AP Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz of Hawaii

Enlarge image i Former President George H.W. Bush appears at Salute To Service day before the Houston Texans play the Buffalo Bills Nov. 4 in Houston. Bob Levey/Getty Images Former President George H.W. Bush appears at Salute To Service day before the Houston Texans play the Buffalo Bills Nov. 4 in Houston. Bob Levey/Getty Images

Enlarge image i E.T.A. Hoffmann’s original story, “Nutcracker and Mouse King,” is darker and spookier than the ballet version most people know. iStockphoto.com E.T.A. Hoffmann’s original story, “Nutcracker and Mouse King,” is darker and spookier than the ballet version most people know. iStockphoto.com This is the time of year when one man’s work is widely

An east Texas landowner was so determined to block the Keystone XL pipeline from coming through his forest that he took to his trees and built an elaborate network of treehouses eight stories above the ground. “It popped into my head a long time ago, actually,” says 45-year-old David Daniel. “If I had to climb

Enlarge image i A recent study in the British Medical Journal concludes that Rudolph’s nose is red “due to the presence of a highly dense and rich nasal microcirculation.” Ann Johansson/Corbis A recent study in the British Medical Journal concludes that Rudolph’s nose is red “due to the presence of a highly dense and rich

Enlarge image i Looking ahead to Tuesday and Wednesday: the darker the shading, the greater the risk of severe weather. National Weather Service Looking ahead to Tuesday and Wednesday: the darker the shading, the greater the risk of severe weather. National Weather Service Snow likely won’t be the big weather story for much of the

Enlarge image i Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo (in white shirt, at left) examines the muddy waters of the Ciliwung River in Jakarta. The city government is planning to dredge the river and relocate residents away from its banks to prevent chronic urban flooding. His talk of providing more services has won him widespread popular support.

Enlarge image i The ILVA steel plant in Taranto, Italy, provides some 20,000 badly needed jobs in a country with a weak economy. But it also spews carcinogens. A court has ordered a partial shutdown, which the government has rejected. Yara Nardi/Reuters /Landov The ILVA steel plant in Taranto, Italy, provides some 20,000 badly needed

Enlarge image i Kids build robots with Popsicle sticks at an Oakland meeting of Hacker Scouts, a group that encourages young people to create do-it-yourself crafts and electronics. Jon Kalish for NPR Kids build robots with Popsicle sticks at an Oakland meeting of Hacker Scouts, a group that encourages young people to create do-it-yourself crafts

Enlarge image i Police Lt. Ray Mesek registers a rifle at a gun buyback event on Saturday in Bridgeport, Conn. Spencer Platt/Getty Images Police Lt. Ray Mesek registers a rifle at a gun buyback event on Saturday in Bridgeport, Conn. Spencer Platt/Getty Images At about 8 a.m. on March 6, 1998, Matthew Beck arrived to

The fire was already burning in their Waldo Canyon neighborhood when Janet Wilson and her partner Stephen Gandy finished packing their cars and joined the evacuation. Stephen Gandy West of the city of Colorado Springs, trees charred by the summer’s wildfire scar the steep foothills. The Waldo Canyon fire destroyed more than 300 homes in