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Saeed al-Batal, a Syrian photographer, posted this image from Douma, Syria, on his Facebook page on March 31.

Saeed al-Batal is a pseudonym for a Syrian photographer who lives in a rebel area near the capital, Damascus. In one of his periodic talks with NPR, he says he has just lost his home again.

Alan Oates was exposed to herbicides, such as Agent Orange, while serving in Vietnam in 1968. Decades after returning home, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, and because Congress passed the Agent Orange Act, he's able to receive VA benefits.

Can The Agent Orange Act Help Veterans Exposed To Mustard Gas?

Just like World War II vets who were exposed to mustard gas during secret chemical testing, Vietnam vets exposed to Agent Orange had trouble obtaining VA benefits — until they got the law changed.

'Buckyballs' Solve Century-Old Mystery About Interstellar Space

Scientists have long wondered what's in the wispy cloud of gas floating in the space between the stars, absorbing starlight. Turns out it's a form of carbon named after architect Buckminster Fuller.

Alexandra Tsitoura (left) and Nikos Aivatzidis walk through now-empty Hellenic Shipyards in Athens, Greece. Two years ago, the shipyard employed around 1,100 workers. Alexandra and her husband Nikos have had jobs at Hellenic Shipyards for 10 and 31 years, respectively, but have not received neither a paycheck nor any form of severance for the past two years.

Working Without Pay A Reality For Much Of Greece's Labor Force

Nikos Aivatzidis hasn't been paid since 2012 because his employer is in a dispute with the debt-ridden government. But he's afraid that if he stops working, he'll lose decades' worth of severance pay.

Cottage cheese peaked in the early 1970s, when the average American ate about 5 pounds of it per year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Fall Of A Dairy Darling: How Cottage Cheese Got Eclipsed By Yogurt

Cottage cheese was the yogurt of the mid-20th century: a dairy product for the health-conscious. But it has fallen out of favor, while marketing of — and demand for — yogurt has soared.

Ioanna Mattke holds Raven, one of six hens that her family owns. The Mattkes have raised Raven since she was a day old.

Chicken Owners Brood Over CDC Advice Not To Kiss, Cuddle Birds

The health agency says kissing and cuddling chickens could be contributing to outbreaks of salmonella. But backyard chicken owners aren't about to lay off the birds.

It Was One Of The Roughest Weeks Ever For America's Favorite Sport

In the wake of players being accused of domestic abuse, the NFL has enacted a tougher policy on domestic violence. NPR's Wade Goodwyn speaks to correspondent Tom Goldman about the latest sports news.

Five-year-old Kyle Romain sits on the lap of his grandmother, Barbara Romain, at a football game. Kyle lost his sight when he was hit by a stray bullet two months ago.

A New Orleans Family's Lives Changed In An Instant

A stray bullet took 5-year-old Kyle Romain's sight. His mother fears the violence in her neighborhood will continue: "There's no hope. These little boys are just trigger-happy and gun-crazy."

Obama's Hawkish Plan For Islamic State Puts Doves In A Quandary

The president's proposal to degrade and destroy the Islamic State poses a challenge for members of his own party, who have traditionally provided the anti-war voices in Congress.

Construction workers lift an oak tree to move it to the other side of the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business.

Lifted On Giant Inner Tubes, An Old Tree Moves In Michigan

A 250-year-old oak tree once stood in the way of the University of Michigan's new business school — until it was moved this weekend. It wasn't easy, though, and definitely not cheap.

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