Ongoing Coverage:
The Two-Way
11:15 am
Wed January 4, 2012

Bishop Resigns After He Acknowledges Fathering Two Children

Credit David McNew / Getty Images
San Gabriel Region Auxiliary Bishop Gabino Zavala leads a mass in this file photo from 2005. Zavala resigned from the ministry in December, after revealing that he fathered two children.

A Catholic bishop in California has resigned his post after revealing in December that he has two children.

"The Vatican announced the bishop's resignation Jan. 4 in a one-line statement that cited church law on resignation for illness or other serious reasons," reports the Catholic News Service from Vatican City.

Pope Benedict reportedly accepted the resignation of Gabino Zavala, an auxiliary bishop for the San Gabriel Pastoral Region, in December.

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Shots - Health Blog
11:10 am
Wed January 4, 2012

In US, Hospital Round Trips More Common For Heart Attack Patients

Credit iStockphoto.com
In the U.S., hospitalized heart attack patients go home sooner than in other countries. They are more likely to return to the hospital within a month of being discharged.

If a heart attack sends you to an American hospital, you'll probably go home after only two or three nights. That's faster than virtually anyplace else in the world.

But your chances of needing to go back into the hospital within the next month are also higher than they are for heart attack patients in 16 other countries. That's the finding from a Duke University-led study in this week's JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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The Salt
11:06 am
Wed January 4, 2012

When 'Budget' Foods Start To Eat Away At The Wallet

Credit iStockphoto.com
Ground beef used to be a cheap, go-to dinner meat, but no longer.

If the grocery bill hurts more now than it used to, you're not alone. The cost of staples like ground beef, chicken, eggs and potatoes has spiked over 10 percent in the past year, three times the cost of inflation overall.

Ironically, if you were trying to be thrifty by eating at home instead of eating out, you probably felt it most.

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Business
11:01 am
Wed January 4, 2012

To Climb In U.S., Volkswagen Gets Less German

Originally published on Wed May 23, 2012 10:09 am

Last year was a very good year for the German automaker Volkswagen, but 2012 could be even better.

Sales for Volkswagen Group's brands — including Audi, Bentley and Lamborghini — increased by 20 percent in the U.S. last year. For the Volkswagen brand itself, sales rose 26.3 percent. And if things continue to go Volkswagen's way, it could become the No. 1 carmaker in the world.

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World Cafe
10:55 am
Wed January 4, 2012

Active Child On World Cafe

Credit Courtesy of the artist
Active Child.

Under the name Active Child, Pat Grossi crafts gorgeous arrangements out of harps, synths and electronic drums, each of which complements his own ethereal voice. The elements of church music in his compositions stem from an authentic place: Grossi has been singing since his early days as a choirboy.

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It's All Politics
10:46 am
Wed January 4, 2012

After Bruising Loss In Iowa, Bachmann Bows Out

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann announced Wednesday that she is suspending her campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. The conservative provocateur finished a disappointing sixth in Tuesday's caucuses in Iowa, with just 5 percent of the vote.

"Last night the people of Iowa spoke with a very clear voice," Bachmann said at a mid-morning news conference in West Des Moines. "So I have decided to stand aside."

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It's All Politics
10:40 am
Wed January 4, 2012

Gov. Perry: 'Here we come South Carolina!!!'

Though he said last night that he would go home to reassess his bid for the presidency — a signal that he might drop out of the race — this message just popped up on the personal Twitter page of Texas Gov. Rick Perry:

"And the next leg of the marathon is the Palmetto State...Here we come South Carolina!!!"

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Media Talk from the Missouri School of Journalism
10:14 am
Wed January 4, 2012

Views of the News: Dissing Iowa, "Lie of the Year," Whose Top Stories?

Iowa: Too white, too evangelical, too rural?

Stephen G. Bloom, The Atlantic: "Observations From 20 Years of Iowa Life"

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The Two-Way
10:09 am
Wed January 4, 2012

Bucking GOP, Obama Will Recess Appoint Consumer Agency Chief

Credit Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
Richard Cordray testifies during his confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in September. His nomination to head the consumer watchdog agency was blocked by Senate Republicans.

President Obama will use what's known as a recess appointment to name Richard Cordray the head of the country's new consumer watchdog agency.

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