Gold medalist Sergei Martynov of Belarus competes in the 50m rifle prone final, in which he set a new world record, at the Royal Artillery Barracks in London.
It's Day 7 of competition at the London Olympics, and America has found a new contestant in its continual quest for a sweetheart: Gabby Douglas, the only gymnast who already has two gold medals before individual rounds begin. And still, it seems, some folks prefer to talk about Douglas' hair.
Gold medalist Sergei Martynov of Belarus competes in the 50m rifle prone final, in which he set a new world record, at the Royal Artillery Barracks in London.
Credit Jamie Squire / Getty Images
Evan Jager of the United States and Tarik Langat Akdag of Turkey lead their men's 3000m steeplechase heat, on Day 7 of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The big news on Day 7 of competition in the 2012 Summer Olympics is that Track and Field events — or, "Athletics," if you're an Olympic scheduler — finally get on the track and field.
Here's a look at Olympic highlights for Friday, and events we'll keep an eye on. All times are EDT:
Originally published on Fri August 3, 2012 11:12 am
There were 163,000 more jobs on public and private payrolls last month, but the nation's unemployment rate edged up to 8.3 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics just reported.
The jobs gain was the best in five months and was much better than the revised estimated of growth for June — a gain of just 64,000 jobs. But it wasn't good enough to keep the jobless rate from rising slightly. In June, it stood at 8.2 percent.
Patricia Krentckil's new look, for In Touch magazine.
Credit Julio Cortez / AP
Patricia Krentcil on May 2 at a court hearing about a charge that she endangered her daughter by taking her into a tanning salon. Krentcil pleaded innocent.
Patricial Krentcil, the so-called tanning mom who couldn't stop trying to bronze her body and was accused of taking her 6-year-old daughter into a tanning booth (Krentcil says she didn't do that) has gone pale.
In Touch challenged her to quit, and "after an entire month out of the sun (real and artificial)" she's looking much different in a photo shoot for the magazine.
On 'Morning Edition': Steve Inskeep speaks with Robert Malley
"There has been renewed fighting in Syria ahead of a U.N. General Assembly vote condemning its own Security Council for failing to end the unrest," the BBC writes. "The army has been shelling rebel positions in the largest city, Aleppo. There was also bloodshed in Hama and the capital, Damascus."
Originally published on Fri August 3, 2012 4:50 pm
Two days after Chick-fil-A set a one-day sales record thanks to a show of support for company President Dan Cathy and his outspoken stand against same-sex marriage, it's "National Same-Sex Kiss Day" for gay rights activists.
Originally published on Fri August 3, 2012 9:23 am
This month we are collecting your stories about the good things Americans are doing to make their community a better place. Some of your contributions will become blog posts and the project will end with a story that weaves together submissions to make a story of Americans by Americans for Americans.
Good morning. I'm Renee Montagne, with a lesson on how to keep calm, sleep in and carry on.
Twenty-one-year-old Jack Oliver went to bed ready to represent Great Britain at the Olympics. That was until the weightlifter overslept by an hour on his big day. He was roused by his coach and got dressed in 30 seconds, he says, and still managed two personal bests, grabbing a fourth place finish. The sleep did me good, he said. I had less time to think about the competition.
Mitt Romney campaigned Thursday in Colorado, the first domestic appearances since returning from his trip to Europe and the Middle East. He huddled with Republican governors who heaped praise on him in Aspen, where he also held a fundraiser. And, NPR's Brian Naylor reports, he addressed a rally in a Denver suburb.
RBS, the Royal Bank of Scotland, is already in a tough spot. It's among several banks being investigated for allegedly rigging the interbank lending rate known as LIBOR. As Steve Inskeep reports, Friday it warned that it faced several potential lawsuits over those allegations.
New York City officials are experimenting with a new way to fund social programs normally paid for with tax dollars. New York City officials say the prison intervention program could keep many of the nearly four thousand adolescent males that enter the jail system each year from returning. WNYC's Colby Hamilton reports Goldman Sachs is set to make a nearly $10 million investment in a social impact bond.
The last word in business: women's intuition. Research shows that the stocks of companies that include women on their board of directors do better than companies with all-male boards. Renee Montagne and Steve Inskeep explain the report.
Michael Phelps won his 20th Olympic medal, the gold, in his last race with Ryan Lochte, who took the silver. Rebecca Soni won a gold, as well. All in all, it was a good day for American swimmers. NPR's Howard Berkes reports from London.
Look for a review of the new science fiction epic "Total Recall" and you'll see headlines ready Total Makeover. You might recall the 1990 original starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. With our review of the remake, here's Kenneth Turan.
The Labor Department announces the number of jobs added in July and the national unemployment rate Friday. NPR's Scott Horsley joins Renee Montagne to talk about the report and the consequences for the presidential race.
Kofi Annan will step down at the end of the month from his post as UN-Arab League envoy for Syria. Annan's resignation is the latest blow to the faltering efforts to find a solution to the crisis in Syria. Steve Inskeep talks about the implications with Robert Malley of the International Crisis Group.
Who's The Happiest? Researchers studied photos of Olympic medalists to learn who is the happiest. Here, bronze medalist Aliya Mustafina of Russia, gold medalist Gabby Douglas of the U.S., and silver medalist Victoria Komova of Russia pose after the all-around gymnastics final.
Both athletes were U.S. swimmers, both were dripping wet after finishing an Olympics final, and both had just won medals.
The first said, "It's not my normal specialty. ... We went out there and raced tough – and just came up a little short."
The second had a beaming face. He said, "[I] swam my own race. And knew I had a lane, and had an opportunity, and I went for it. It worked out, you know, it's just awesome that I get to go on the podium tonight. Honestly, I'm really proud of myself!"
Members of the Free Syrian Army are seen in a neighborhood of Damascus, Syria on June 28. Several huge suicide bombings this year suggest al-Qaida or other extremists are joining the battle against President Bashar Assad's regime.
Late last month, counterterrorism officials discovered a disturbing video on YouTube that showed what appeared to be a faction of the Syrian rebel army standing in front of a fluttering black banner. The mysterious flag — which read "no god but God" in white Arabic cursive — is thought to be a reproduction of the Prophet Muhammad's battle flag. It has also become al-Qaida in Iraq's calling card in Syria.
Honda's CNG Civic is the only natural gas-fueled sedan currently available in the United States. With so few CNG passenger cars on the road, pumping stations are few and far between.
Credit Tracy Samilton for NPR
Dodge currently offers a CNG-fueled truck. A group of state governors hope Detroit will soon build CNG sedans, as well.
More than 20 state governors are taking an unusual step to boost the natural gas vehicle industry. Independent of the federal government, they're asking Detroit carmakers to build them a new kind of car: a midsize sedan that runs on compressed natural gas instead of gasoline.
The governors are hoping to boost demand for natural gas cars with their collective buying power. Combined, the states say they could ultimately buy thousands of CNG vehicles to replace their current vehicle fleets — if those cars were available.
NASA engineer Adam Steltzner led the team that designed a crazy new approach to landing on Mars.
Credit NASA
This artist's concept shows thrusters firing to steer the spacecraft as it enters Martian atmosphere. The Curiosity rover has traveled for more than seven months inside the spacecraft.
Credit NASA
Friction with the Martian atmosphere helps slow the spacecraft as it descends. It also heats the heat shield. Friction alone accounts for almost all of the deceleration needed for landing.
Credit NASA
A parachute more than 50 feet across pops out, adding a bit more braking as the craft sinks into Mars's lower atmosphere.
Credit NASA
With the heat shield jettisoned, the rover can be seen tucked into the backshell of the spacecraft.
Credit NASA
Rocket thrusters provide the last little bit of deceleration. At the same time, radar clicks on, giving the craft information about its speed and distance from the surface.
Credit NASA
Here's where things get crazy. A new "sky crane" lowers the rover on three cables while hovering above the surface.
Credit NASA
Once the sky crane senses that it's no longer supporting the rover, it releases the cables and flies off to crash-land a safe distance away. Curiosity is now free to explore its new home.
Credit NASA
Airbags: They don't work because Curiosity is much heavier than past rovers.
Credit NASA
This is it! Lowering the rover on a cable makes it easier for the landing system to know when the rover's actually on solid ground.
Credit NASA
Legs. Too unstable; rover will tip over.
Credit NASA
Pallet: A wider base and more legs still isn't enough to overcome stability issue. Too wimpy.
Credit NASA
The Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft will approach Mars at 13,000 mph. The entry, descent and landing process has to guide it to a soft landing.
Over the next few years, the Affordable Care Act will probably boost demand for nurses to take care of the newly insured, she says, "and I need faculty to teach the practitioners that are going to take care of these uninsured."
Gymnast C.J. Maestas has been tumbling since he was 18 months old. His grandfathers Frank Barela (left) and Frank Maestas have been a lifelong source of support.
As fans around the world are riveted to the 2012 Summer Games in London, one young gymnast already has his sights on 2016.
Albuquerque, N.M., native C.J. Maestas, 20, has been tumbling his entire life. A self-described "hyper" kid who loved to climb on things, C.J. joined his first gymnastics class when he was 18 months old.
"As a little baby, you were always jumping," C.J.'s grandfather Frank Maestas recalls.
South African poet Mbali Vilakazi is also a performer and radio producer based in Cape Town. Vilakazi's poem pays tribute to South African swimmer Natalie du Toit, the first female amputee ever to qualify for the Olympic Games.
The West Nile virus is back, and it's looking like it could be particularly bad this year. As as result, federal health officials are warning people to protect themselves against the mosquito-borne infection.
The West Nile virus first showed up in the U.S. in 1999 and quickly spread from coast to coast, raising widespread alarm. Some have argued that red-breasted robins play a key role in the spread of the virus.
U.S. swimmers Michael Phelps (bottom) of the United States and Ryan Lochte (center) compete in the Men's 200m Individual Medley final on Day 6 of the London 2012 Olympic Games.. Phelps placed first and Lochte placed second.
Credit Streeter Lecka / Getty Images
U.S. gymnast Gabrielle Douglas competes on the balance beam in the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Individual All-Around final.
Credit Ronald Martinez / Getty Images
Russian gymnasts Aliya Mustafina (left) and Victoria Komova wait for the final scores to be announced in the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Individual All-Around final. Mustafina placed third and Komova placed second.
Credit Ezra Shaw / Getty Images
The U.S. rowing team leads the Netherlands team during the Women's Eight final. The U.S. placed first.
Credit Ezra Shaw / Getty Images
The U.S. rowing team throws their cox Mary Whipple into the water as they celebrate during the medal ceremony.
Credit Clive Rose / Getty Images
U.S. swimmer Rebecca Soni competes in the Women's 200m Breaststroke Final. Soni set a new world record time of 2:19.59 for the event.
Credit Ezra Shaw / Getty Images
Tyler Clary of the United States celebrates after winning the gold in the Men's 200m Backstroke final.
Credit Ezra Shaw / Getty Images
U.S. swimmers Michael Phelps (bottom) of the United States and Ryan Lochte (center) compete in the Men's 200m Individual Medley final on Day 6 of the London 2012 Olympic Games.. Phelps placed first and Lochte placed second.
Credit Clive Rose / Getty Images
The Phelps family cheers for Michael during the Men's 200m Individual Medley final.
Credit Laurence Griffiths / Getty Images
Kayla Harrison of the United States (in white) and Gemma Gibbons of Great Britain compete in the women's 78 kg judo.
Credit Johannes Eisele / AFP/Getty Images
Russia's Tagir Khaibulaev celebrates after winning the men's 100kg judo contest final match.
Credit Cameron Spencer / Getty Images
Great Britain posts a new world record time during Men's Team Pursuit Track Cycling Qualifying event.
Credit Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images
Kate Middleton and Prince William celebrate after Great Britain's performance in the cycling event.
Originally published on Thu August 2, 2012 6:32 pm
In his first campaign speech since returning from his trip abroad, Republican Mitt Romney on Thursday told an audience in the swing state of Colorado that President Obama has failed on the economy. And he wielded a scorecard to make his point.
"His policies have not worked," Romney said in Golden, Colo., outside Denver. "They have not gotten America back to work again. My policies will work."
Obama spent much of the day in battleground Florida before a planned evening trip to another swing state, Virginia.
