WGBH News

Measuring The Power Of Deadly Tornadoes

Steve Mullis — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:02:00 +0000

Damaging tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma on Sunday and Monday, causing widespread damage that is still being assessed, and additional severe weather is expected.

One of the hardest hit areas, Moore, Okla., is no stranger to devastating twisters.

Fatal Kenmore Square Biking Accident Underscores Risks

Adam Reilly — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:48:00 +0000

Under Mayor Tom Menino’s watch, the city of Boston has been striving to make itself a safer place for cyclists. But now a bike fatality at a busy intersection right outside Kenmore Square is offering a tragic reminder that despite the city’s efforts, cycling in Boston can be risky.

Tornado Emergency Declared In Oklahoma City

editor — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:22:27 +0000

(This post was last updated at 8:30 p.m. ET.)

A massive tornado ripped through the southern suburbs of Oklahoma City, Monday afternoon, killing at least 51 people, according to the state medical examiner's office.

The death toll was expected to rise.

Helicopter images showed large tracts of Moore, Okla., completely leveled by what the National Weather Service says was at least an EF-4 tornado with winds in excess of 166 mph.

Pope Francis Puts The Poor Front And Center

Sylvia Poggioli — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:53:02 +0000

Over the past week, Pope Francis has launched a crescendo of attacks on the global financial system and what he calls a "cult of money" that does not help the poor.

The 2-month-old papacy of Francis — the Argentina-born Jorge Bergoglio — is shaping up as a papacy focused on the world's downtrodden.

Turnabout Is Fair Play: Senators Have Many Questions For IRS

Mark Memmott — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:52:48 +0000

The Internal Revenue Service is under fire for improperly singling out some conservative groups for extra scrutiny — putting them through months (or longer) of questions that delayed or derailed the organizations' requests for tax-exempt status.

Well, now the chairman and ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee have some questions and requests — actually dozens of them — for the IRS.

As senators Max Baucus, D-Mont., and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, say, "targeting applicants for tax-exempt

ABC's Karl Expresses Regret, But Stands By Benghazi Story

Mark Memmott — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:52:34 +0000

ABC News White House correspondent Jonathan Karl now says he regrets that some key parts of a major story he reported on May 10 were wrong.

The story sent off a political uproar. As we said last week, it made it appear that in a Sept.

Beijing Angry Over North Korea's Seizure Of Chinese Fishermen

Scott Neuman — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:51:59 +0000

Beijing has long been about the closest thing to an ally that Pyongyang enjoys, but the seizure of a Chinese fishing boat by unidentified North Koreans has threatened to put an already tenuous relationship on even shakier ground.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei was quoted by The New York Times as making it fairly clear that his government was not happy about the development.

China, he said, is "demanding that it properly deal with the matter as quickly as possib

Fox Calls U.S. Surveillance Of Its Reporter 'Downright Chilling'

Eyder Peralta — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:49:33 +0000

Fox News said that it was "outraged," after learning that the Justice Department obtained the personal emails of one of its reporters during the course of a 2009 leak investigation.

The Washington Post broke the story this morning, citing an sealed affidavit filed in The United States District Court for the District of Columbia

Yahoo's Other Billion Dollar Bets: Where Are They Now?

Elise Hu — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:49:17 +0000

Yahoo's $1.1 billion purchase of Tumblr could be considered a bargain compared with its other big-dollar bets. The company's history is dotted with pricey purchases of once-hot Web properties that had more promise than eventual purpose. A look back:

GeoCities, 1999: $3.7 Billion

When Yahoo!

BPR: Boston DPH Commissioner Barbara Ferrer, The End of Fast Fashion?, Cyclist Killed Near Fenway

Boston Public Radio Staff — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:47:36 +0000

The Little Metronome That Wouldn't

Robert Krulwich — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:04:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1TMZASCR-I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWToUATLGzs

Bulger Prosecutors Object to Giving Informant ID

The Associated Press — Mon, 20 May 2013 17:25:40 +0000

Prosecutors in the trial of reputed gangster James "Whitey" Bulger have objected to a defense request to provide the name of a confidential informant Bulger's lawyers hope can help undermine the credibility of two key witnesses against Bulger.

Boston Cardinal Skips BC Commencement over Irish PM's Role

The Associated Press — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:45:31 +0000

Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley has skipped Boston College's commencement because of the involvement of Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny, who supports of a bill in his country that would allow abortion.

Sen. McCain to Attend Rally for Mass. GOP's Gomez

The Associated Press — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:43:25 +0000

Massachusetts U.S. Senate candidate Gabriel Gomez is hoping to get a needed boost of cash and enthusiasm when fellow Republican and Navy veteran U.S. Sen. John McCain joins him on the campaign trail.

Audit: Mass. Nonprofit Overcharged State

The Associated Press — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:41:39 +0000

The state auditor says a nonprofit that contracts with Massachusetts to provide services to residents with autism and other developmental disabilities overcharged the state nearly $350,000 for staff salaries.

Can A Piece of Hair Reveal How Much Coke Or Pepsi You Drink?

Allison Aubrey — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:01:00 +0000

One way to know how much soda people drink is to ask them.

The problem?

North Korea Fires Another 'Short-Range Projectile'

Eyder Peralta — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:59:05 +0000

North Korea launched another short-range projectile on Sunday, just a day after they launched three similar objects.

The projectile landed away from neighboring countries in the sea off North Korea's east coast.

As The New York Times explains, South Korean officials moved away from calling the objects missiles, as they did yesterday.

Boom Or Bust? Saving Rhode Island's 'Superman' Building

editor — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:58:53 +0000

Rhode Island is home to beautiful beaches, top-notch universities and a thriving arts scene.

Two Excerpts You Should Read From Obama's Morehouse Speech

editor — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:58:22 +0000

President Obama, on Sunday, delivered a rare, very personal commencement address at Morehouse College, the historically black, all-male insitution that is the alma mater of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

It was a short speech, but Obama did not shy away from the subjects of race and responsibility. We've embedded video of the address above, but here are two excerpts you should read. They are taken from his prepared remarks:

On Personal Responsibility:

"We know that too many young men in our community continue to make bad choices.

Is There Really A Second-Term Curse?

Ari Shapiro — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:57:56 +0000

The phrase "second term curse" is so familiar that it's become a cliche of American politics. Whether it's President Richard Nixon's resignation or President Bill Clinton's impeachment, presidents tend to have a tough time during the back half of an eight-year presidency.

Nothing on President Obama's plate comes close to those historical examples.

Advocates Struggle To Reach Growing Ranks Of Suburban Poor

Pam Fessler — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:57:43 +0000

Poverty has grown everywhere in the U.S. in recent years, but mostly in the suburbs.

Nation's Midsection Braces For More Severe Storms

Mark Memmott — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:57:33 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qlIyoZj9j4

Reports: Yahoo Board Approves $1.1 Billion Purchase Of Tumblr

Eyder Peralta — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:57:16 +0000

The Wall Street Journal has this breaking news from the tech world:

"The Yahoo board has approved a deal to pay $1.1 billion in cash for the blogging site Tumblr."

The Journal, the only outlet reporting the approval, is sourcing its story to "people familiar with the matter." Lauren Armstrong, a Yahoo spokeswoman, told us in an email that they "don't comment on rumors or speculation."

The Journal's sister site, <

Roxbury YMCA's Urban Swim Program Offsetting Racial Gap at the Pool

James Edwards — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:54:08 +0000

It’s a Tuesday afternoon at the Roxbury YMCA. Like many kids their age, these students from nearby Trotter Elementary are getting ready for some after-school fun and for them, that means swimming.

Another Fatal Bike Crash in Boston

The Associated Press — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:17:45 +0000

A Massachusetts Institute of Technology visiting scientist from Japan has been killed while riding her bicycle in Boston.

Government Abuses Undermine Democracy

Callie Crossley — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:00:00 +0000

We’ve been lied to — again.

If Your Shrink Is A Bot, How Do You Respond?

Alix Spiegel — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:04:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejczMs6b1Q4

Bans Of Same-Sex Marriage Can Take A Psychological Toll

Shankar Vedantam — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:03:00 +0000

As the country awaits two important Supreme Court decisions involving state laws on same-sex marriage, a small but consistent body of research suggests that laws that ban gay marriage — or approve it — can affect the mental health of gay, lesbian and bisexual Americans.

The Unsuccessful Quest For A Universal Language

editor — Sun, 19 May 2013 20:58:00 +0000

Within science circles, trying to come up with a new universal language was a trendy past-time in the 17th Century. Even the man who discovered gravity, Sir Isaac Newton, took a stab at it. Arika Okrent, editor-at-large at TheWeek.com, talks about its failure to catch on with Weekends on All Things Considered host Jacki Lyden.

Boston Police And City To Review Bombings Response

Associated Press — Sun, 19 May 2013 10:32:23 +0000

Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis says his department and Mayor Thomas Menino's office will conduct two separate investigations into the response to the Boston Marathon bombings.

Davis says the aim of the reviews is to learn from the experience. He couldn't immediately say when the investigations will start, only that he expects them to take "a few months."