NPR News

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Nicolo' Zen, director of Traditional Boat Museum of Venice, launched a crowd...
Crowdfunding Effort Seeks To Save Venice's Everyday Gondolas
There are two types of gondolas in Venice — the fancy, expensive tourist boats and then the traghetti, the everyday boats used by locals. But the traghetti are quickl disappearing and gondola enthusiasts have harnessed 21st-century technology to save this ancient form of transportation.
Some Democrats want to amend the immigration bill before the Senate to allow...
Some Democrats Back Same-Sex Amendment To Immigration Bill
When Americans marry noncitizens, their spouses become eligible for green cards and many of the benefits of citizenship — unless the couples are gay or lesbian. Some Democrats are hoping to extend the same benefits to same-sex couples by amending the immigration bill before the Senate.
Unearthing History: How Technology Is Transforming Archaeology
For centuries, explorers tried to find la Ciudad Blanca, a fabled city in the rain forests of Central America. Dense jungle impeded efforts to uncover it. Douglas Preston tells the story of a team who used light detection technology to survey the iconic ruins from the air.
Bedside Manner: Conversations With Patients About Death
Doctors often struggle with conversations about death — navigating the murky waters of when and how to convey the risks of procedures and prospects for life expectancy. When doctors are less than forthcoming, out of sensitivity or haste, difficult situations become even more complex.
Could Syria's Civil War Become A Large Regional Crisis?
Two Israeli airstrikes outside of Damascus in one weekend signal escalating tensions between Syria and its neighbors. The Syrian government has said the attacks "open the door to all possibilities," giving rise to concerns that the conflict could spill over the border.
Laura Linney and Alan Alda star in The Big C, now in its fourth season on Sh...
Linney Mines 'The Big C' For Serious Laughs
On Showtime's dark comedy series, Laura Linney plays a terminally ill cancer patient. The actress's own father died from lung cancer while the series was being made; her mother was a cancer nurse at Sloan-Kettering when Linney was young. These experiences, she says, inform her performance.