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This Defense Contractor Has A Green Side

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Credit Courtesy of AeroVironment Inc.

AeroVironment's Raven drone is used for military surveillance and can be launched by hand.

Credit Courtesy of AeroVironment Inc.

The future of AeroVironment's electric vehicle charger business will depend on U.S. demand for electric cars.

By Amy Walters

Originally published on Tue January 22, 2013 10:06 am

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Lots of companies make products that don't have much in common, but AeroVironment specializes in two products that are very different — electric vehicle chargers, which keep cars like the Nissan Leaf on the road, and military drones. The Los Angeles-area firm is a leading manufacturer of small unmanned aircraft.

3:37 am

Tue January 22, 2013

'Roe V. Wade' Turns 40, But Abortion Debate Is Even Older

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Credit Bob Daugherty / AP

While the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision of Jan. 22, 1973, is usually considered the start of the abortion debate, the move to relax state abortion laws began with medical and law professionals in the 1960s. Here, Eunice Kennedy Shriver and doctors from Johns Hopkins University and the Harvard Divinity School announce the International Conference on Abortion on Aug. 9, 1967.

Credit AP

Dubbed "the father of the abortion-rights movement" by the media, Bill Baird was instrumental in raising awareness in the late 1960s of the substandard medical conditions common for women obtaining illegal abortions at the time. He's seen here, at an undated news conference in Boston, with women he helped get abortions who are hooded to prevent identification and arrest.

Credit AP

On Jan. 22, 1973, the day of the court's decision, an estimated 5,000 women and men formed a "ring of life" around the Minnesota Capitol building and marched in protest of the ruling that "abortion is completely a private matter to be decided by mother and doctor in the first three months of pregnancy."

Credit AP

As soon as the Supreme Court's decision was announced, politicians at the state and federal levels moved to introduce a constitutional amendment and other legislative efforts to circumvent the ruling. Here, plastic models of human fetuses are displayed in the foreground while Wisconsin state Rep. Lloyd Barbee testifies on abortion bills at the Capitol in Madison, April 24, 1973.

Credit Wally Fong / AP

As time progressed, it became common to see anti-abortion protesters in front of abortion clinics, such as this scene in Torrance, Calif., on Aug. 27, 1985. Dr. Lynn Negus, of the University Of Southern California School Of Medicine, holds abortion-rights signs in counter to Debbie Thyfault and her children, who were part of an anti-abortion group.

Credit Stephan Savoia / AP

Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton marches with abortion-rights supporters past the White House, April 6, 1992. Although many positions vary at the state, local and even lower federal levels, Democrats at the national level have made abortion rights part of their party platform since 1976; Republicans began calling for Roe's overturn in their platform that same year.

Credit Tim Sloan / AFP/Getty Images

Each January, anti-abortion protesters mark the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade ruling with the March for Life in Washington, D.C. Attendance often reaches into the thousands, such as during the 25th anniversary march pictured here. The 40th March for Life on Jan. 25, 2013, will be the first without its founder, Nellie Gray, who died in August 2012.

Credit Cameron Craig / AP

Norma McCorvey, the "Jane Roe" of the 1973 decision, embraces the Rev. Robert L. Schenck of the National Clergy Council before she addresses a memorial service at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 21, 1996. A year earlier McCorvey shocked abortion-rights advocates by becoming a spokeswoman for the other side of the debate, stating she no longer supported abortion rights.

Credit Charlie Riedel / AP

While protesters on both sides of the debate have by and large acted in peace, the National Abortion Federation documents eight murders of abortion providers in the U.S. and Canada since 1977. The most recent was the May 31, 2009, shooting of Dr. George Tiller while he attended church services in Wichita, Kan.

Credit Peter Keegan / Getty Images

The Catholic Church put a priority on keeping abortions illegal, helping support the formation of the original National Right to Life Committee in 1969. But as this abortion-rights campaigner noted in 1973, a majority of Catholics at the time believed the abortion decision should be left to a woman and her doctor.

By Julie Rovner

Originally published on Wed January 23, 2013 3:57 pm

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Jan. 22, 2013, marks the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide.

But the conventional wisdom that the court's 7-2 decision marked the beginning of a contentious battle that still rages today is not the case, according to those on both sides of the dispute.

3:35 am

Tue January 22, 2013

Under A Cloud Of Austerity, Real Smoke Clouds Greece As Well

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Credit Petros Giannakouris / AP

A haze of smoke hangs over Athens early Jan. 3. The hazy conditions result from residents' switch to wooden stoves and fireplaces for heating, as many households can no longer afford to buy heating oil.

Credit Joanna Kakissis / NPR

Sotiris Sotiriou, 41, and his daughter Sophia, 5, check out the olive-wood kindling in the fireplace that heats their family's home.

By editor

Originally published on Tue January 22, 2013 10:06 am

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In this winter of austerity and Depression-era unemployment, a fog of woodsmoke hangs over the Greek capital on cold nights.

It's coming from the tens of thousands of fireplaces and wood-burning stoves Athenians are using to heat their homes. Most can no longer afford heating oil, the price of which has risen 40 percent since last year. The government also cut a fuel subsidy for low-income families earlier this month.

5:50 pm

Mon January 21, 2013

When It Comes To Inaugural Fashion, First Family Stays The Course

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Credit Jonathan Ernst / Reuters/Landov

First lady Michelle Obama arrives at the Senate carriage entrance for the presidential inauguration ceremonies at the U.S Capitol.

Credit Win McNamee / Getty Images

Malia Obama (left) is wearing a J.Crew coat; her sister, Sasha, wears a coat from American designer Kate Spade.

Credit Kevin Lamarque / Reuters /Landov

The first lady and her daughters arrive for the swearing-in of President Obama at the Capitol.

Credit Charles Dharapak / AP

Obama and Michelle walk in the inauguration parade near the White House. The first lady chose a coat by designer Thom Browne.

Credit Doug Mills/Pool / AP

On Sunday, during the official swearing-in ceremony at the White House, the first lady wore a dress and cardigan by Reed Krakoff. Women's Wear Daily reports she wore the same cardigan on Monday.

Credit Mark Wilson / Getty Images

Sasha and Malia Obama clap from the reviewing stand in the nation's capital as they watch the presidential inaugural parade.

Credit Evan Vucci / AP

President Obama greets first lady Michelle Obama on stage during the Commander-In-Chief inaugural ball. Michelle's dress was designed by Jason Wu.

Credit Bill Clark / UPI/Landov

Vice President Biden, President Obama and Mrs. Obama pause to pay their respects at the Martin Luther King Jr. statue in the Capitol rotunda as they leave the inaugural luncheon. The first lady wore a cardigan she wore just the day before.

By editor

Originally published on Tue January 22, 2013 1:24 pm

Update at 9:05 p.m. ET Michelle Obama's Dress

NBC News is reporting that the first lady is wearing a custom Jason Wu ruby-colored chiffon and velvet gown, Jimmy Choo shoes and a ring by Kimberly McDonald to the Commander in Chief Ball. The White House said that the outfit and accompanying accessories will go to the National Archives at the end of the inaugural events.

Our original post:

5:13 pm

Mon January 21, 2013

In Kentucky's Coal Country, A Resentment For Obama

Credit Noah Adams / NPR

The Big Sandy Power Plant, 4 miles north of Louisa, is the biggest industry in Lawrence County. Local residents blame President Obama's environmental policies for the company's plans to close the plant in 2015.

By Noah Adams

Originally published on Mon January 21, 2013 8:22 pm

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If the voters in Louisa, Ky., had their wish, Mitt Romney would have taken the oath of office Monday. Louisa is in eastern Kentucky, and "coal" was the one-word issue in the election. President Obama is seen as an enemy of coal mining and he got only 27 percent of the vote in the county.

And now comes word that Louisa is going to lose its biggest industry — a power generating plant that's been burning coal since 1962.

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3:41 am

Tue January 22, 2013