Search results for

The Indo-European root of the words peculiar and pecuniary lead, surprisingly, back to herds of cattle and the earliest references to money. The word stem has always been used in reference to wealth. Before money, this was expressed in heads of cattle. The stem adapted to new circumstances as wealth began to be expressed in terms of gold and money.

The Basque separatist group, ETA, announces a permanent cease-fire as of Friday. A statement announcing the cease-fire was sent to television and newspaper outlets. If it holds, it could bring a dramatic end to a decades-long campaign of violence.

Camps in Kenya house 140,000 refugees from civil war and deprivation in Somalia. There is fear that extremist Islamist groups will find recruits amid the stagnant life in the camps.

More than a million kids provide care for a sick or disabled family member in the United States. Sickness and caregiving can rip open the rawest emotions between children and parents, but the experience can also make families stronger.

Bombs rock three hotels in the downtown area of Jordan's capital, Amman. More than 50 deaths have been reported and more than 100 have been wounded after the near-simultaneous blasts at the Grand Hyatt, the Radisson SAS Hotel and the Days Inn.

Democratic Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine strongly defeats Republican challenger Jerry Kilgore in Virginia's gubernatorial election. President Bush made a last-minute campaign appearance on behalf of Kilgore, but it wasn't enough.

Daoud Kuttab, columnist for the Jordan Times, provides more details and analysis on the bombings in Jordan.

John Hubner's Last Chance in Texas: The Redemption of Criminal Youth, includes a profile of Antonio Alvarado. Hubner and Alvarado speak with Scott Simon.

Commentator Sara Fishko has a problem with the way music recordings are manipulated into perfection. She finds herself drawn more and more to recordings of live performances. Fishko is a cultural producer-at-large for member station WNYC.

Powerful lobbyist Jack Abramoff has reached a deal with federal prosecutors investigating his wide-ranging influence on Capitol Hill. Abramoff pleaded guilty to criminal charges involving the purchase of a fleet of gambling boats in Florida, and is also cooperating in federal investigations of lawmakers who allegedly received favors from him or his clients.