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Waking up is hard to do, but it's easier with NPR's Morning Edition. Hosts Renée Montagne and Steve Inskeep bring the day's stories and news to radio listeners on the go. Morning Edition provides news in context, airs thoughtful ideas and commentary, and reviews important new music, books, and events in the arts. All with voices and sounds that invite listeners to experience the stories.

On Inauguration Day, WAMU's Matt McCleskey will be hosting live from the Capitol for the second inauguration of President Barack Obama. He'll have reports from WAMU reporters all morning on this historic occasion.

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Wednesday, November 16, 2011

EPA: Asarco Emits Illegal Amounts Of Toxins

The Environmental Protection Agency says the Asarco copper smelter in Hayden, Arizona, has been continuously emitting illegal amounts of lead, arsenic and eight other dangerous toxins, for the last six years. The agency's finding means Asarco could face millions of dollars in fines and could be forced to install expensive pollution controls. The EPA disclosed the action last week to NPR and the Center for Public Integrity, which we're jointly investigating toxic air pollution in the town. NPR's Howard Berkes reports for our series "Polluted Places."

Lack of Trust Underlies Greece's Debt Problem

Financial writer Michael Lewis talks to Renee Montagne about societal problems underlying the Greek financial crisis: loss of trust, lack of civil society and refusal to pay and collect taxes. Lewis is the author of Boomerang: Travels in the New Third World.

2011 National Book Award Winners Announced

Stephen Greenblatt's The Swerve, a dramatic account of the Renaissance-era rediscovery of the Latin poet Lucretius, won for nonfiction. Salvage the Bones, set in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, by Jesmyn Ward, won for fiction.

Google Music Competes Against iTunes, Amazon

Google's music store will allow Android smart phone users to buy songs directly from Google, which is something they can't do from iTunes. They'll also be able to share their purchases with friends on the Google Plus social network. But the company, known mainly for its search engine, has a long way to go before it can challenge the big kid on the block.

Wal-Mart To Move Into 6 D.C. Urban Neighborhoods

While some communities have fought to keep Wal-Mart out, officials in Washington, D.C., have welcomed the retailer with open arms. Most of the stores will be built in underserved neighborhoods. But community activists complain city leaders should have pressed Wal-Mart for concessions on starting salaries and other benefits before announcing the deal.

Congolese Presidential Candidate Orders Jail Breaks

Campaigning in the Democratic Republic of Congo has taken a stormy turn. Veteran opposition politician and presidential candidate Etienne Tshisekedi proclaimed himself president, and ordered his supporters to stage jailbreaks to free their detained colleagues.

Feds Want To Make Farming Safer For Kids

The Labor Department has proposed changes that would outlaw farm kids under the age of 16 from driving tractors, branding cattle and handling pesticides. Family farmers are angry about the proposal and accuse the government of encroaching on a sacred part of country life. But statics show kids who work on farms are six times more likely to be killed than children working in other industries. Peggy Lowe of Harvest Public Media reports.

New Prime Minister, Same Old Greek Protesters

Thousands of Greeks are expected to join in a rally in Athens Thursday. The new prime minister has promised to speed up long-term changes. Polls show Lucas Papademos enjoys popular support, but the crowds on the streets have made it clear they won't accept any more austerity measures.

Occupy Protests Spread Across College Campuses

The Occupy Wall Street movement is planning a series of strikes and protests on college campuses Thursday. The movement and its encampments are proving to be a challenge for administrators at some schools.

Rejection Doesn't Stop Successful Authors

Some authors and books initially faced rejection before eventually becoming hugely successful. Authors such as global blockbuster Patricia Cornwell, worked in a morgue before becoming a famous crime novelist.

Bird Flu Experiment Rattles Bioterrorism Experts

Scientists are worried about the deadly bird flu called H5N1 which sometimes infects people. It's never acquired the ability to transmit easily between humans, but researchers would like to know if that could happen. Recently, they've essentially been altering the genes of H5N1 to make the virus spread more easily between lab animals — raising concerns about biosafety and how this research is regulated.

EPA Takes Action Against Toxic Arizona Copper Plant

The unpublicized "finding of violation" issued against the Asarco copper smelter in Hayden, Ariz., claims the company has been emitting illegal amounts of lead, arsenic and eight other dangerous compounds for six years. Asarco disputes that.

Silvio Berlusconi To Release Album Of Love Songs

Now that Silvio Berlusconi has resigned as Italy's prime minister, he'll have more time for his music. Berlusconi's newest album is called True Love. It will be releases this month.

Couple Celebrates 50 Years With Another Big Plunge

Fifty years after getting married, a New Mexico couple celebrated by skydiving. Alan Dodd wanted to do something different to mark their golden anniversary. His wife Pat needed some convincing. She gave in because as she told Albuquerque's KRQE TV, retirement has given the couple time to do "crazy things."

Occupy Demonstrators Mark Two Months Of Protests

From New York to California and places in between, Occupy protesters are in the streets Thursday, exactly two months after the movement began. Police in riot gear were deployed in lower Manhattan Thursday morning as hundreds of demonstrators marched with the aim of shutting down Wall Street.

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Arts & Culture

NPR

Christine Ha: From MasterChef To Home Kitchen

When Christine Ha won MasterChef in 2012, she blew the reality TV show judges away with her Vietnamese influenced cooking. But what really impressed viewers was that she had total control in the kitchen, even though she's blind. Host Michel Martin speaks to Christine Ha about her new cookbook Recipes from my Home Kitchen.

Food

NPR

Growing Vegetables From Seeds Take Root For Many Gardeners

More and more gardeners are bypassing the local nursery and instead starting their veggies from seed. Seeds are often cheaper and they give growers a bigger choice of varieties. At a community garden in Venice, Calif., students learn the ins and outs of gardening from scratch.

Politics

NPR

Decades Of History Behind IRS Flap

Host Michel Martin looks into why some non-profits are tax exempt, and how something like the recent IRS flap could happen. She speaks with David Cay Johnston, a columnist for Tax Analysts and reporter Brentin Mock of Colorlines.com.

Technology

NPR

Yahoo To Buy Tumblr In An Attempt To Revitalize Itself

Yahoo is expected to announce Monday that it's acquiring the social media site Tumblr, in a deal The Wall Street Journal and other news outlets are reporting to be worth about $1.1 billion. Some analysts are calling the acquisition an effort by Yahoo to be "cool and relevant" again.

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Morning Edition

Arts & Culture

Christine Ha: From MasterChef To Home Kitchen

Food

Growing Vegetables From Seeds Take Root For Many Gardeners

Politics

Decades Of History Behind IRS Flap

Technology

Yahoo To Buy Tumblr In An Attempt To Revitalize Itself

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