A Framingham police officer keeps watch as federal agents search the New England Compounding Center company in Framingham, Mass., on October 16. Dominick Reuter/Reuters /Landov i A Framingham police officer keeps watch as federal agents search the New England Compounding Center company in Framingham, Mass., on October 16. Dominick Reuter/Reuters /Landov In a highly unusual

Troopers say Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has been taken to the hospital in an ambulance after what appears to be a rear-end crash on an interstate through Las Vegas. Nevada Highway Patrol Office spokesman Jeremie Elliott says he doesn’t know Reid’s condition after the crash, which happened about 1:10 p.m. Friday on Interstate 15.

Six states and the nation’s capital have recognized the legality of same-sex marriages, either by law or by court order. But over the past decade and a half, each of the 30 states to consider constitutional amendments that would outlaw such unions has adopted the ban — from Alaska in 1998 to North Carolina earlier

A message has appeared on the website of Syria’s SANA news agency saying that the country’s armed forces will halt military operations for four days, starting tomorrow. On its face, that would appear to be acceptance of U.N.-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi’s plan for a truce during the Eid al-Adh holiday that Muslims begin observing

President Obama pauses for a photo with supporters after arriving for a campaign stop in Manchester, N.H., on Thursday. Winslow Townson/AP i President Obama pauses for a photo with supporters after arriving for a campaign stop in Manchester, N.H., on Thursday. Winslow Townson/AP The decisive role female voters may play in the key battleground state

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer during a press conference at Pier 57 to officially launch Windows 8 in New York.   Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images i     Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer during a press conference at Pier 57 to officially launch Windows 8 in New York. Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images     Steve Ballmer, the

With the holiday season approaching, shoppers can expect a few new hot gadgets on store shelves. Tuesday, Apple debuted its much anticipated iPad mini, and Microsoft is expected to debut a new tablet and an upgrade to Windows later this week. Host Michel Martin speaks with technology commentator Mario Armstrong. Article source: http://www.npr.org/2012/10/24/163548907/is-the-ipad-mini-a-must-have-gadget?ft=1&f=1001

Tough economic times have changed what’s for dinner, and not just on the family table. Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema says that even the finest restaurants serving up comfort foods. He speaks with host Michel Martin about this and other trends in fall dining. Article source: http://www.npr.org/2012/10/24/163548909/fine-dining-turns-to-familiar-favorites?ft=1&f=1001

A sign of the times at a building site in Ohio earlier this year. John Kuntz /The Plain Dealer /Landov i A sign of the times at a building site in Ohio earlier this year. John Kuntz /The Plain Dealer /Landov Sales of new single-family homes rose 5.7 percent in September from August and at

Fundraising for medical causes is getting easier with sites like GoFundMe. iStockphoto.com i Fundraising for medical causes is getting easier with sites like GoFundMe. iStockphoto.com Surely you’ve heard of crowd funding sites like Kickstarter that have helped thousands of filmmakers, musicians and painters leverage Facebook and Twitter to raise money for creative projects. But crowd

Millions of voters across the country could cast their ballots before Election Day. Some experts say early voting could have a disproportionate impact on certain voting blocs. Host Michel Martin discusses the issue with Professor Paul Gronke, founder of the Early Voting Information Center, and Republican strategist Lenny McAllister. Article source: http://www.npr.org/2012/10/24/163548905/-is-early-voting-a-quiet-revolution?ft=1&f=1001

If you’re reading this blog, you’re probably into food. Perhaps you’re even one of those people whose world revolves around your Viking stove and who believes that cooking defines us as civilized creatures. Here, actors Stan Laurel and Edna Marlon play at socializing around the campfire, but it turns out that early man’s brain developed