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The Obama administration is shifting its policy on arming and training rebels to fight the Islamic State in the Syrian conflict. NPR takes a look at the new policy and what it changes about the role of the U.S. in the conflict.

We're in the middle of an El Niño that's already caused weather-related disasters and will last at least several more months. Now for the good news.

College football's two top-ranked teams, Alabama and Louisiana State University, play for the No. 1 spot Saturday night. Howard Bryant of ESPN talks with host Scott Simon about the game, the end of baseball season and the stalled beginning of the NBA season.

Until Wednesday night, no Major League Baseball team that had an 8-game lead for a playoff spot in early September had failed to qualify for post-season play. The Red Sox and Braves both managed to get into the record books for doing just that.

Asian-Americans are among the least likely to vote. But with the presidential nominations still up for grabs, campaigns are courting one of the largest Asian communities in the U.S. — New Yorkers.

The top source of vanilla beans sends its fragrant crop abroad for processing into extract. Now a former Peace Corps volunteer aims to boost Madagascar's economy by building a bean-to-bottle business.

Last summer, America's national parks received an estimated 282 million visits. This year, sequestration may cut that number. The Interior Department says its operations will be disrupted by hiring freezes, overtime cuts, contracts, training programs and more.

Former NFL player Darren Sharper pleaded guilty to rape charges involving nine women in four states. ProPublica reporter T. Christian Miller says local police weren't sharing information.

Even some of Hillary Clinton's foremost fans and staunchest party regulars — such as House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi — are ready to talk about a fresh infusion of populism for the next round.

This year American consumers are expected to take advantage of retailers' holiday promotions and spend big on gifts for themselves. Fifty-nine percent of shoppers polled plan to "self-gift" — the highest number in a retail industry survey's 10-year history.