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Around the Nation
7:09 am
Fri January 20, 2012

Law Enforcement 'Tests' Accuracy Of Breathalyzer

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement faced accusations that a breathalyzer was giving inaccurate readings. So it commissioned a study. Fifteen employees consumed more than $300 worth of whiskey, mixers and Doritos, and then used the breathalyzer. Judges are considering whether the study was legitimate.

Europe
6:59 am
Fri January 20, 2012

British Judge Recruits Pedestrians For Jury Duty

A frustrated judge in London recently exercised a little-known power: sending police into the street to rustle up jurors. The London Free Press reports lawyers in the case had questioned 130 potential jurors, and were still short. So unsuspecting pedestrians were hauled into court.

Election 2012
4:00 am
Fri January 20, 2012

Gingrich Begins Debate Denying He Sought Open Marriage

Newt Gingrich's swift rise has been fueled by one thing above all — his forceful performances in the debates. And Thursday night, Gingrich was dominant from the start when he got the first question. It was about an explosive television interview with his ex-wife Marianne.

Movies
4:00 am
Fri January 20, 2012

'Red Tails' Fought Racism And World War II Foes

It took George Lucas more than two decades to bring the movie Red Tails to the screen. It was all the way back in the late '80s that the man behind Star Wars and Indiana Jones fell under the spell of another story of adventure, this one with real-life heroes — the African-American fighter pilots of World War II.

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Election 2012
4:00 am
Fri January 20, 2012

ABC Airs Interview With Gingrich's Ex-Wife Marianne

Originally published on Fri January 20, 2012 7:54 am

Transcript

DAVID GREENE, HOST:

As Mara just mentioned, the debate last night opened with a question about a claim made by Gingrich's ex-wife. Well, Marianne Gingrich gave her exclusive interview to ABC's "Nightline," putting the candidate's personal life in the spotlight once again. NPR's Tamara Keith has more.

TAMARA KEITH, BYLINE: The interview was incredibly hyped, in part because Marianne Gingrich has been silent so far on her ex-husband's presidential candidacy. This was her first television interview since their 1999 divorce.

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Business
4:00 am
Fri January 20, 2012

The Last Word In Business

Renee Montagne has the Last Word in business.

Election 2012
4:00 am
Fri January 20, 2012

Santorum Struggles To Finding His Footing In S.C.

On the campaign trail, GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum often discusses his opposition to abortion rights and gay marriage. That message served him well in Iowa with its large contingent of evangelical voters. Christian conservatives are also dominant in South Carolina, which votes Saturday. Santorum hopes to repeat his Iowa performance, but he's been struggling to keep pace in polls.

Election 2012
4:00 am
Fri January 20, 2012

Republican SuperPAC Ads Target GOP Rivals

Originally published on Fri January 20, 2012 7:54 am

Transcript

DAVID GREENE, HOST:

With those stakes high in South Carolina, the political ads are getting more pointed.

As NPR's Brian Naylor reports, the candidates themselves are taking aim less at each other and more at the White House.

BRIAN NAYLOR, BYLINE: The day before the South Carolina primary, the remaining Republican candidates are making their final TV pitches to voters. Here's part of what the Mitt Romney campaign bills as its closing argument.

(SOUNDBITE OF A POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT)

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Business
4:00 am
Fri January 20, 2012

Business News

David Greene has business news.

Politics
4:00 am
Fri January 20, 2012

SuperPACs Grow 2 Years After Citizens United Case

Credit Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
Dozens of televisions display a political advertisement with the image of GOP presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich at a store in Urbandale, Iowa, on Dec. 27. Republican candidates and their superPACs have spent millions on television and radio ads.

Saturday is South Carolina's Republican presidential primary. It's also the second anniversary of the Supreme Court's famous Citizens United decision.

That's the case that allows corporations to explicitly support or attack specific candidates. The day will be marked with attack ads — and protests.

The Republican presidential race has covered just three states so far. And superPACs linked to candidates Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul have spent a total of $20 million. They're feeding voters a heavy diet of negativity.

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