Ongoing Coverage:
The Two-Way
3:26 pm
Thu January 5, 2012

Calif. Woman Takes Honda to Small Claims Court Over Hybrid Mileage

Originally published on Thu January 5, 2012 5:27 pm

A California woman is taking Honda to small claims court, claiming her Civic hybrid never gave her the 50 miles per gallon advertised.

All Things Considered's Melissa Block spoke to Andrea Chang, a Los Angeles Times business reporter who was in court on Tuesday as Heather Peters made her case.

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Business
3:08 pm
Thu January 5, 2012

GM To Modify Chevy Volt To Protect Battery

General Motors is advising Chevrolet Volt owners to return their electric cars to dealers for repairs that will better protect the vehicles' batteries, which have caught fire after crash tests.

The repairs fall under a "customer service campaign," which is similar to a safety recall but allows GM to avoid the bad publicity and federal monitoring that come with a formal recall.

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Digital Life
2:58 pm
Thu January 5, 2012

This Tea Party ROCKS! And Wants To Cash In

Credit Dave Torbett /
On The Tea Party's Facebook page, bassist Stuart Chatwood, guitarist Jeff Martin and drummer Jeff Burrows describe their music as having "blues, progressive rock, Indian and Middle Eastern influences."

If you direct your browser to TeaParty.com, you will not find a site devoted to the political movement of the same name. What you will find is the Internet home of The Tea Party, a Canadian rock band that has owned the domain name since the early '90s.

Now, with seemingly no shortage of would-be buyers, the band is hoping to cash in.

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It's All Politics
2:44 pm
Thu January 5, 2012

Facing Recall, Defiant Wisconsin Gov. Says 'I'm Not Afraid Of Losing'

Facing the prospect of a recall election in June, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker came to Washington on Thursday to talk up the merits of the anti-union legislation that has landed him in hot water — and to raise funds to save his job.

Walker said he's certain his opponents will gather the 540,000 signatures they need in time for the Jan. 17 deadline, setting up a recall election in June.

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Shots - Health Blog
2:33 pm
Thu January 5, 2012

Get The Lead Out: Panel Wants Kids' Limits Halved

Credit iStockphoto.com
Old paint is the chief source of lead poisoning in children.

Originally published on Wed May 16, 2012 4:25 pm

How much lead does it take to ruin a brain? Not much, according to a new standard proposed for lead poisoning in children.

The amount of lead in a child's blood that determines dangerous lead exposure should be cut in half, from the current standard of 10 micrograms per deciliter of blood to 5 micrograms for ages 5 and below, a federal advisory committee said Wednesday.

That in itself would be a big step, and would double the number of young children in the United States officially considered to have lead poisoning to almost 500,000.

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The Two-Way
2:10 pm
Thu January 5, 2012

Report Details A Heated Battle Between Miami Police, State Troopers

Credit Florida Highway Patrol
A screenshot of a dash-cam video.
Presidential Race
2:00 pm
Thu January 5, 2012

Romney Travels To S.C.

GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney travels to South Carolina. Melissa Block talks to NPR's Ari Shapiro.

NPR Story
2:00 pm
Thu January 5, 2012

L.A. Woman Files Suit Against Honda

When Heather Peters of Los Angeles bought a 2006 Civic Hybrid, she was told the car would get 50 miles per gallon. But, the car never got more than 42 miles per gallon on its best day, she says — and only 30 miles per gallon after a system upgrade. She declined an offer to join a class-action suit brought by similarly frustrated Civic Hybrid owners, and she is now suing the automaker Honda in a California small claims court — asking for $10,000. Melissa Block speaks with Andrea Chang of the Los Angeles Times, who's been covering the story.

NPR Story
2:00 pm
Thu January 5, 2012

Photographer Eve Arnold Dies At 99

Robert Siegel talks to Brigitte Lardinois, associate director photography at the University of the Arts in London, about the late photographer Eve Arnold whose work captured the lives of the rich and famous — and the down and out. Arnold died Wednesday at 99.

Shots - Health Blog
1:53 pm
Thu January 5, 2012

Feds: Standardizing Electronic Health Payments Could Save $4.5 Billion

Originally published on Thu January 5, 2012 2:03 pm

Here's a twist. You know how you keep hearing that the Affordable Care Act is doing little more than raising health care costs?

Well, the Obama administration says a new rule it's issuing under the law could result in a savings of as much as $4.5 billion over the next decade.

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