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The U.S. Postal Service began using the five-digit ZIP code in 1963. In recognition of the anniversary, we've examined the list of more than 40,000 ZIP codes and highlighted a few that deserve extra attention.

The names of the 19 firefighters killed in the Yarnell Hill Fire in Arizona were released on Monday. Authorities have not offered many specifics about what happened when the crew was overwhelmed by fire.

IRS and Treasury officials can expect a hard time in their appearances on Capitol Hill Tuesday. A key question that so far has not gotten much attention: How did it come to be that social welfare organizations became vehicles for political activity?

A one-two punch of municipal waste and industrial dumping gave Onondaga Lake in Syracuse, N.Y., the reputation as one of the most polluted lakes in America. But after years of cleanup efforts, the lake has undergone a transformation, and now the final phase of its cleanup is set to begin.

Congress wrapped up its summer work to take the remainder of August off. NPR's David Welna joins guest host Susan Stamberg to explain what Congress accomplished, and what's left on the must-do list before the November election.

High-profile bipartisan relationships and even marriages have always been a small part of the Washington mix. But one Democratic-Republican couple says such relationships are becoming rarer in a politically divided country.

The first woman to be nominated to head the Federal Reserve takes the witness chair on Capitol Hill Thursday morning for her confirmation hearing. Janet Yellen's challenge will be to reassure her Democratic supporters that she's focused on job creation, while convincing at least a few Republicans that she'll keep inflation in check.

A year ago, House Speaker John Boehner used a Republican retreat to make peace with the Tea Party caucus. This week's retreat saw Boehner bring up for discussion two divisive issues — the debt ceiling and immigration — with much more self-assurance. Political correspondent David Welna joins NPR's Scott Simon to explain the transformation.

Two residents of Old Harbor, Alaska, recall the 9.2 earthquake that devastated the town 50 years ago Thursday. It remains the largest recorded earthquake in North America and the second in the world.

In Humboldt County, radio stations broadcast gardening ads geared toward the Emerald Triangle's most lucrative — but still federally illegal — industry: marijuana. NPR's Kelly McEvers speaks with broadcast lawyer Harry Cole about the legality of advertising pot and related growing products.