Antwan Burns-Jones, 31 (from left), William Moore, 35, and David Lee, 23, add a basketball to the memorial for Tyshawn Lee, 9, who was fatally shot in Chicago's Gresham neighborhood.

Antwan Burns-Jones, 31 (from left), William Moore, 35, and David Lee, 23, add a basketball to the memorial for Tyshawn Lee, 9, who was fatally shot in Chicago's Gresham neighborhood. Chicago Tribune/TNS via Getty Images hide caption

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Race

Amid Violence, Chicago Parents Try To Inoculate Their Sons Against Fear

It's been a tumultuous few months for parts of Chicago. Parents are doing their best to help their children understand what's happening and how their families and communities can move forward.
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The Road Home is a private nonprofit social services agency that assists homeless individuals and families, in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. Here, a view from outside.

The Road Home is a private nonprofit social services agency that assists homeless individuals and families, in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. Here, a view from outside. Cayce Clifford for NPR hide caption

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U.S.

How Utah Reduced Chronic Homelessness By 91 Percent

Over the last decade, Utah's toughest cases of homeless people dropped to fewer than 200, from nearly 2,000. Utah's size and support from Mormon leaders are among the reasons for its success.
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In response to Medicare's penalty program, UCLA Health has focused on decreasing the use of catheters at its hospitals, including at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles.

In response to Medicare's penalty program, UCLA Health has focused on decreasing the use of catheters at its hospitals, including at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. Wikipedia hide caption

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Shots - Health News

Medicare Penalizes 758 Hospitals For Safety Incidents Kaiser Health News

More than half of the hospitals punished this year were also dinged in 2014. The government has used financial carrots and now sticks to improve the quality of care.

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The round-trip flight that NPR's Ari Shapiro took to Paris emitted about a ton of greenhouse gases. Offsetting it cost a dollar, and he was given a white lanyard for his conference ID with the words "Climate Neutral Now" showing his trip was carbon-neutral.

The round-trip flight that NPR's Ari Shapiro took to Paris emitted about a ton of greenhouse gases. Offsetting it cost a dollar, and he was given a white lanyard for his conference ID with the words "Climate Neutral Now" showing his trip was carbon-neutral. Ari Shapiro/NPR hide caption

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Parallels - World News

How To Stay Carbon-Neutral When Getting To Paris Is Carbon-Costly

Tens of thousands of people flew to Paris for the U.N. climate summit. Flying emits a lot of carbon. How to deal with the contradiction? NPR's Ari Shapiro finds one answer. It only cost a dollar.
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In a new survey, 60 percent of the 18- to 29-year-olds polled say they support sending U.S. combat troops to fight ISIS. But 62 percent say they would definitely not join the fight.

In a new survey, 60 percent of the 18- to 29-year-olds polled say they support sending U.S. combat troops to fight ISIS. But 62 percent say they would definitely not join the fight. John Moore/Getty Images hide caption

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Politics

Millennials Want To Send Troops To Fight ISIS, But Don't Want To Serve

A comprehensive new poll from the Harvard Institute of Politics dives into the politics of the nation's 18-29-year-olds. The poll also looked at support for Bernie Sanders and immigration.
Researchers used cotton swabs to sample bacteria and other microbes from the skin of donated corpses placed in a field in Huntsville, Texas.

Researchers used cotton swabs to sample bacteria and other microbes from the skin of donated corpses placed in a field in Huntsville, Texas. Katie Hayes Luke for NPR hide caption

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Shots - Health News

Tiny Witnesses: Microbes Can Tell When A Murder Victim Died

When bodies decompose, the types of bacteria on and around the body change in predictable ways. These patterns can be used to estimate time of death, a crucial clue in solving murders.
Jeffrey Tambor plays Maura, a transgender woman, on the Amazon series Transparent.

Jeffrey Tambor plays Maura, a transgender woman, on the Amazon series Transparent. Jennifer Clasen/Amazon hide caption

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Television

Actor Jeffrey Tambor On 'Transparent': 'I Loved It From The Very Beginning' FA

The actor plays a 70-something transgender woman on the Amazon series Transparent. It's a role he loves. As Maura, Tambor says, "I find myself much more vulnerable and I find myself less protective."
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La Agencia de Orcí­ created this image as part of its campaign to encourage immigrants in the U.S. illegally to sign up for Ronald Reagan's amnesty program.

La Agencia de Orcí­ created this image as part of its campaign to encourage immigrants in the U.S. illegally to sign up for Ronald Reagan's amnesty program. National Museum of American History hide caption

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Code Switch

Smithsonian Wants Latino Advertisers To Help Fill A Hole In Its Collection

The Smithsonian's Museum of American History has a big collection on the history of American advertising. But contributions of Latino ad agencies were mostly missing. The museum's trying to fix that.
Ceres, with bright spots in its Occator crater, is seen here in a "false color" image that reflects its surface composition. New analysis says the spots are caused by a type of salt.

Ceres, with bright spots in its Occator crater, is seen here in a "false color" image that reflects its surface composition. New analysis says the spots are caused by a type of salt. NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA hide caption

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The Two-Way - News Blog

Bright Spots On Ceres Aren't Signs Of Alien Civilizations, Studies Say

Two new studies of the dwarf planet might make it harder for people to imagine Ceres as a space colony or way station for an advanced race.
A video frame grab of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl released by the Voice of Jihad website shows the soldier during his captivity.

A video frame grab of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl released by the Voice of Jihad website shows the soldier during his captivity. AP hide caption

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The Two-Way - News Blog

Featuring Story Of Bowe Bergdahl, 'Serial' Season 2 Is (Finally) Here

The Army sergeant walked off his military post and was captured by the Taliban in 2009. The U.S. later exchanged five prisoners for his release. Now the podcast is giving his controversial story the long-form treatment.
An Israeli soldier eats a piece of watermelon near Israel's border with Gaza, July 2014. As more Israelis go vegan, the country's military has made dietary and clothing accommodations for soldiers.

An Israeli soldier eats a piece of watermelon near Israel's border with Gaza, July 2014. As more Israelis go vegan, the country's military has made dietary and clothing accommodations for soldiers. Ilia Yefimovich/Getty Images hide caption

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The Salt

As More Israelis Go Vegan, Their Military Adjusts Its Menu

About 5 percent of Israel's population is vegan. In a nation where military service is compulsory for most people, that's prompting the military to offer animal-free diets and clothing to soldiers.
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