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4:08 pm
Wed July 4, 2012

Dozens Of U.S. Cities Cancel Fireworks Show

Firework shows have been cancelled across the country due to dry conditions. The city of Rockville, Maryland, has also cancelled their show due to the lasting effects of a powerful wind storm over the weekend that left thousands without power. Robert Siegel talks to Tom Moore of the Rockville city council.

Business
3:47 pm
Wed July 4, 2012

Fear Of Fires Fizzles Some July 4 Fireworks Fun

Credit Curt Habraken / AP
Susan Underwood prices fireworks, while her husband Michael (left) and Clint Simmons pace themselves with a snack and TV last month at their tent along Highway 416 in Sevier County, Tenn. Over in Middle Tennessee, the drought has led city leaders to ban fireworks this year.

Originally published on Wed July 4, 2012 4:59 pm

Freddie Bowers and his dad, Larry, have sold fireworks in LaVergne, Tenn., for a lifetime. But, the sparklers are off limits this year since the region has had the hottest streak in recorded history and several small fires in the area have been blamed on fireworks.

For people in the fireworks business, Christmas usually comes in July. Only this year, three-quarters of the country are experiencing some level of drought and from the Mountain West to the Southeast, cities are temporarily banning fireworks.

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Sports
3:01 pm
Wed July 4, 2012

Baseball's Teen Phenom Steals Home, And Hearts

Originally published on Wed July 4, 2012 4:03 pm

Bryce Harper was 16 when he appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, pictured swinging a bat in the desert and declared "Baseball's Chosen One."

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Shots - Health Blog
10:17 am
Wed July 4, 2012

Picking The Right Shades: How To Protect Your Peepers

Credit Felipe Dana / AP
Brazilian shoppers try on sunglasses at a store in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in March.

Originally published on Wed July 4, 2012 10:18 am

Summer sun means blistering hot temperatures and wilted gardens. And it also means that ultraviolet rays are out in full force.

Besides slathering on the right sunscreen to safeguard your skin, you also need to protect your eyes from blasts of UV light.

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Science
10:13 am
Wed July 4, 2012

When It Comes To Invention, This Guy Was No Rube

As we celebrate all things American on the Fourth of July, we often remember the great minds that have shaped our nation's history.

But this afternoon, as you're devising new techniques to get slow-moving ketchup from the bottle to your hot dog, you're also celebrating the birthday of another innovative American: Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Rube Goldberg.

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Around the Nation
7:23 am
Wed July 4, 2012

A Cheesy Twist On This Indpendence Day

Transcript

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

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Around the Nation
7:17 am
Wed July 4, 2012

Woman Flees Accident Scene To Chill Her Ice Cream

An Arkansas woman high-tailed it home after she rear-ended another car. It didn't take long for police to find her, and when they did, they slapped her with a citation for following too closely and leaving the scene of an accident. Her excuse: She didn't think there was enough damage to call police, and her ice cream was melting.

Around the Nation
5:08 am
Wed July 4, 2012

Rain Helps Colorado Firefighters

Originally published on Wed July 4, 2012 6:37 am

Transcript

LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

A bit of good news for Colorado. Yesterday, firefighters battling wildfires there got a boost from some much-needed rain.

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

The fires and drought conditions in the state prompted a firework ban for this 4th of July holiday. But an exception was made last night in Denver, where a giant crowd gathered to watch fireworks and applaud the efforts of those fighting to contain the fires.

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Around the Nation
5:08 am
Wed July 4, 2012

'Flipping' Sneakers Is Highly Profitable

Originally published on Wed July 4, 2012 7:00 am

Maybe you won't pay several hundred dollars for a pair of sneakers, but there are a lot of people who will — providing they are the right sneakers. The demand for certain models has spawned a robust market for re-sellers — people who buy up the available supply and re-sell them for a profit.

Religion
3:32 am
Wed July 4, 2012

Feeling Under Siege, Catholic Leadership Shifts Right

Originally published on Thu July 5, 2012 2:05 pm

The Catholic Church is drawing a line in the sand.

Perceiving its core beliefs to be under threat from popular culture, the White House and even Catholics themselves, the Vatican and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops are pushing back.

In recent months, the church leadership has been cracking down on liberal theologians, disciplining nuns and emphasizing a more orthodox theology.

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Business
3:31 am
Wed July 4, 2012

Office Stress Dogging You? Try Punching In With Fido

Originally published on Thu July 19, 2012 4:11 pm

Most dog lovers will insist a canine friend makes for a happier home. A number of studies back that up, too, touting the health benefits of four-legged companions.

But there's new evidence that dogs can make for a better workplace as well, making employees happier and more productive.

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History
3:29 am
Wed July 4, 2012

Stated: The Declaration Of Independence

Originally published on Sat December 15, 2012 1:45 pm

Twenty-four years ago, Morning Edition launched what has become an Independence Day tradition: hosts, reporters, newscasters and commentators reading the Declaration of Independence.

It was 236 years ago this Wednesday that church bells rang out over Philadelphia, as the Continental Congress adopted Thomas Jefferson's draft of the Declaration of Independence.

Below is the original text of the Declaration, alongside photos of the NPR staff members and contributors who performed the reading.

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Interviews
3:28 am
Wed July 4, 2012

Jimmy Fallon's Tribute To Neil Young

Credit Virginia Sherwood / NBC
Jimmy Fallon says he spends almost 12 hours each day at the Late Night offices, which makes the rest of his life difficult. "If I want to play video games now, I have to schedule it," he tells Terry Gross.

Originally published on Wed July 4, 2012 11:08 am

We're replaying a portion of this interview today. Specifically, it's the part where Jimmy Fallon imitates Neil Young. Why? Because we're also playing our Neil Young interview today. If you're like to listen to the full Jimmy Fallon interview, you can do so here.

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Sweetness And Light
10:03 pm
Tue July 3, 2012

Joe Paterno's Legacy: Protect Players At All Costs

Credit Chris Szagola / AP
Joe Paterno walks the sidelines during warm-ups before a game between his Penn State Nittany Lions and the Temple Owls in Philadelphia last September. Paterno, who died in January, was fired on Nov. 9, four days after Jerry Sandusky was initially arrested on charges of sexually abusing 10 boys.

Originally published on Wed July 4, 2012 8:39 am

It is not facetious to say that dying may not have been the worst thing to happen to Joe Paterno this past year.

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Shots - Health Blog
6:15 pm
Tue July 3, 2012

New Home Test For HIV May Cut Down New Infections

Credit Chuck Zovko / AP
The Food and Drug Administration just approved the OraQuick test, which detects the presence of HIV in saliva collected using a mouth swab.

Originally published on Thu July 5, 2012 10:38 am

No infectious disease has ever been detectable by a test that consumers can buy over the counter and get quick results at home. But HIV isn't just any infection. It's a stubborn pandemic virus that's still making people sick and killing them 31 years after it first appeared – even though infection is easily prevented and effectively treated.

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