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4:41 pm
Wed May 30, 2012

Wave Of Gun Violence Has Seattle On Edge

Originally published on Wed May 30, 2012 5:47 pm

Melissa Block talks with Martin Kaste about an epidemic of gun violence in Seattle. A shooting near the University of Washington on Wednesday killed two people and wounded three. A woman was shot and killed in a separate incident in the center of the city. All this follows a weekend of violence that has the city shaken.

Health Care
4:41 pm
Wed May 30, 2012

'Direct Primary Care' A New Option For The Uninsured

Originally published on Wed May 30, 2012 5:47 pm

More primary care doctors are turning to a new model they say is cheaper and more effective than traditional health insurance. In fact, it skips the insurance system entirely. Robert Siegel talks with Arnold Milstein, director of the Stanford Clinical Excellence Research Center, about how direct primary care works.

Politics
4:40 pm
Wed May 30, 2012

Tea Party Still Flexing Muscles In Senate Races

Originally published on Wed May 30, 2012 5:47 pm

Tuesday night there was another strong Tea Party showing in the Republican Senate primary in Texas. The expected nominee, David Dewhurst, was unable to avoid a runoff because of strong far right support for Ted Cruz. Melissa Block talks with Emily Ramshaw of the Texas Tribune about the result.

Law
4:32 pm
Wed May 30, 2012

Jury Deliberates For Eighth Day In Edwards Trial

Originally published on Wed May 30, 2012 5:47 pm

The jury in the John Edwards trial deliberated for an eighth day on Wednesday. The panel has asked for little guidance as it debates the fate of the two-time former presidential candidate. Edwards is accused of soliciting almost a million dollars from a pair of wealthy donors to cover up his pregnant mistress. Jeff Tiberii of North Carolina Public Radio talks to host Melissa Block from the Federal Courthouse in Greensboro.

Television
4:32 pm
Wed May 30, 2012

Every Old Reality TV Show Is Old Again This Summer

Originally published on Wed May 30, 2012 5:47 pm

This summer, there are a striking number of reality shows blatantly ripping off existing shows. Commentator Andrew Wallenstein explains why everything old is old again on TV this summer. It has to do with the success of The Voice, NBC's first big hit in ages, which was a rip-off singing competition. It gave other networks the idea that more ratings could be scraped up by rehashing old ideas just one more time.

Television
4:32 pm
Wed May 30, 2012

Networks Experimenting With Bilingual Shows

Originally published on Wed May 30, 2012 5:47 pm

Bilingual TV shows and networks have just begun popping up in the past few years. For some, it's important to serve the bilingual audience. For others, it seems unnecessary because bilingual people can already enjoy both Spanish and English-language shows.

The Two-Way
3:55 pm
Wed May 30, 2012

Banned In Idaho, 'Five Wives' Vodka Says It Meant No Offense

Credit Brian Skoloff / AP
Bottles of Ogden's Own Distillery Five Wives Vodka at a state liquor store in Salt Lake City.

Originally published on Wed May 30, 2012 5:47 pm

They're "five wives who just like to get together and have a cocktail."

They're not meant to be a direct reference to polygamy and those kittens they're holding in their laps are ... just part of a photograph that's reflective of the 1890s to early 1900s.

For all anyone knows, they might be lesbians.

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Shots - Health Blog
3:50 pm
Wed May 30, 2012

As Big Employers Pinch Pennies, Health Savings Accounts Take Off

Credit iStockphoto.com
As employers look to cut spending on health, more workers are being steered to health plans with high deductibles.

Feel like you're paying more out of pocket for medical expenses? You've got company, according to the latest data from health insurers.

Enrollment in health savings accounts grew 18 percent last year as employers continued to steer workers into high-deductible medical plans, an insurance group said this morning.

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American Dreams: Then And Now
2:50 pm
Wed May 30, 2012

Sizing Up The American Dream

Originally published on Wed May 30, 2012 3:29 pm

In a nation as diverse as the United States, the idea of "the American dream" means different things to different people. Many associate the dream with intangible ideals like freedom of expression, freedom of religion, optimism and family ties. But the American dream has also long been associated with attaining a higher standard of living, particularly one that surpasses that of the previous generation.

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