NPR – News

1. Boehner's A 'Country Club, Cocktail-Drinking, Cigarette-Smoking Republican' - Though President Obama has portrayed the Ohio Republican as leader of the "party of no," political observers see Boehner as more mainstream than Tea Party and apt to work with Democrats on occasion.
2. Most Expensive Book Ever To Go On Sale - The most expensive, and arguably the most beautiful book ever, John James Audubon's "Birds of America" is to be auctioned off.
3. Tax Code Overhaul As Tough As Doing Your 1040 - There's broad agreement among economists that a new tax system should have few loopholes and relatively low tax rates. But that's where the consensus ends. Rewriting the tax code in Washington is tricky, and as one tax expert put it, right now there is no politically feasible fix.
4. 3 Years Later, Minneapolis Bridge Debris Removed - Melissa Block talks with Scott Vreeland, a Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board commissioner, about the removal of debris from the I-35 bridge from city parkland. Thirteen people were killed and one hundred forty-five were injured when the bridge over the Mississippi River collapsed in 2007. Vreeland hopes that with the removal of the wreckage, the park can open to the public again.
5. Top Army Brass Still Don't Think Brain Injuries Count - The Purple Heart is the most powerful symbol that a soldier has sacrificed for his or her country. For generations, the military has awarded Purple Hearts to soldiers wounded in action. But an investigation by NPR and ProPublica has found that Army commanders routinely deny Purple Hearts to soldiers who've suffered concussions from explosions -- even though Army regulations say they merit the award. Four soldiers have struggled to get Purple Hearts -- and medical help.
6. Oracle's Hiring Of Ex-HP Chief Creates Drama - On Monday, the ousted chief executive of Hewlett-Packard was named co-president of rival Oracle. Mark Hurd, who helped revive a struggling HP, was forced out earlier this year after a scandal involving expense reports and a female contractor. On Tuesday, HP sued to prevent Hurd's move to Oracle, arguing he could reveal trade secrets. Melissa Block talks with Wall Street Journal reporter Ben Worthen about the case.
7. Economists Caution About Trade, Jobs Numbers - Two bits of relatively good economic news came out Thursday: The nation's trade deficit declined in July, and the number of people applying for unemployment benefits also fell. But analysts warn against reading too much into either number. The trade deficit bounces around a lot, and unemployment claims remain high.
8. Court Lifts Funding Ban On Stem Cell Research - The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has temporarily lifted the temporary injunction on federal funding for stem cell research. Melissa Block talks with NPR's Julie Rovner about what the decision means and the next steps in the battle over stem cells.
9. Quran Burning Plans To Go Ahead Despite Outcry - Melissa Block talks with NPR's Greg Allen about the latest developments on whether a tiny church in Gainesville, Fla., will go ahead with plans to burn Qurans on Saturday, the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.
10. White House Makes Boehner A Household Name - If you haven't heard of House Minority Leader John Boehner before, President Barack Obama is trying to change that. The Ohio Republican could take over the speakership if the GOP succeeds in winning a majority of House seats this November. Between now and then, Democrats will paint a scary picture of Boehner.