Allison Keyes

For Berry Gordy, Broadway Is Memory Lane

Allison Keyes — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 05:01:00 +0000

There's hardly an adult anywhere in the world who wouldn't recognize at least some of the music of Motown.

The R&B label changed the course of music in the United States and made household names of Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder and The Jackson 5.

Woof Out The Red Carpet: Westminster Dogs Take New York

Allison Keyes — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 08:32:00 +0000

On Tuesday night, one dog will be named "best in show" at the 137th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York.

Many of the canines that have flocked to Manhattan are staying at the Hotel Pennsylvania across the street from Madison Square Garden, where judging of the main events in the show is held.

The hotel has special amenities for its four-legged guests.

"Hey, buddy," doggie concierge Jerry Grymek says to a border collie in a crate.

Newtown Residents Join Gun Control Rally In Washington

Allison Keyes — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 20:12:00 +0000

Residents of Newtown, Conn., where 20 children died in December's school shootings, marched alongside other supporters of gun control at a rally on the National Mall on Saturday.

About 100 residents were expected from Newtown, The Washington Post says. The march was organized in the wake of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary, where six teachers were also killed.

Ill. Considers Licenses For Undocumented Immigrants

Allison Keyes — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 21:42:00 +0000

Illinois could become the third state — after Washington and New Mexico — where undocumented immigrants can obtain driver's licenses. The legislation is halfway there. A bill that passed the state Senate 41-14 last Tuesday has bipartisan support.

Before the Senate vote, leaders from both parties, including Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn and Republican former Gov. Jim Edgar, spoke out in favor of the legislation.

Arab-American Voters Lean Toward Obama, But With Less Enthusiasm

Allison Keyes — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 16:06:00 +0000

Arab-American voters strongly supported President Obama in 2008, and polls show most are doing so this time around as well.

Millennia Of Stargazing At 'African Cosmos' Exhibit

Allison Keyes — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 19:26:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qHlEvQKZcA

Social Issues Hold Sway Over Ohio's Black Voters

Allison Keyes — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 00:55:00 +0000

Transcript

GUY RAZ, HOST:

In 2008, then-Senator Barack Obama won nearly all the African-American vote. And this year, a recent poll found that less than 1 percent of black voters will back Mitt Romney. But in Ohio, as NPR's Allison Keyes found out, some black voters are agonizing over whether to vote in November at all.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

ALLISON KEYES, BYLINE: The choir rehearses on Saturdays at Friendship Baptist Church in Girard, Ohio. It's a town of 10,000, and Friendship Baptist is a small, friendly-looking building that was once a private home.

In Just 'One Small Step' Armstrong Became An Icon

Allison Keyes — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 09:21:00 +0000

It was the kind of history that ignites the imagination of humanity.

On July 20, 1969, hundreds of millions of people around the world watched or listened as the lunar module Eagle carried astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the surface of the moon. Armstrong got on the radio to let them know "the Eagle has landed."

Almost seven hours later, Armstrong stepped off the ladder in his bulky white space suitand said those famous words: "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind"

Astronaut Alan Bean became the fourth person to walk on the moon in November of 1969.

D.C.'s Black Churches Take Steps In AIDS Fight

Allison Keyes — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 20:25:00 +0000

As thousands gather in Washington, D.C., for the International AIDS Conference, the city is battling disturbing levels of HIV/AIDS, particularly in the black community.

According to the D.C.

Green Party Pick Gives Democrats Brunt Of Criticism

Allison Keyes — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 06:26:00 +0000

The Green Party nominated a Massachusetts physician and a formerly homeless single mother as their presidential and vice-presidential candidates for 2012 on Saturday. They say they are in it to win it, and — at the very least — to expand the electoral conversation to include people they say aren't represented by either Democrats or Republicans.

Amid waving green and white campaign signs in a conference room at a Baltimore Holiday Inn, the room erupted in cheers as Dr.

The Old With The New: Generations Clash In New 'Dallas'

Allison Keyes — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 09:33:00 +0000

In 1980, the world was transfixed by the question of "Who shot J.R.?" Of course, we're talking about the archvillain from the nighttime soap opera Dallas. Three hundred fifty million people worldwide tuned in to find out. Now the TNT cable network is rebooting the show and hoping for even a fraction of that passion.

The trials and tribulations of the fabulously rich Ewings and their sumptuous Southfork ranch captivated viewers for 13 years. From the first show in 1978, brothers Bobby and J.R.

George Clinton Fights For His Right To Funk

Allison Keyes — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 20:09:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbhIwvtA7PE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szkmivRWegU

50 Years Later, Honoring Vietnam Veterans

Allison Keyes — Mon, 28 May 2012 09:49:00 +0000

Vietnam veterans never got the homecoming many feel they deserved. On Monday, a group of veterans, the Department of Defense and others will begin the first of many ceremonies to honor those who served and commemorate the 50th anniversary of the start of the Vietnam War. Events will be planned over the next 13 years, concluding with the fall of Saigon. Many will gather Monday at the Vietnam Memorial Wall for a wreath ceremony, including President Obama.

Sprinter Speeds Toward London, And Olympic Gold

Allison Keyes — Wed, 23 May 2012 07:37:00 +0000

The Olympics start in July, but American sprinter Allyson Felix is still deciding which events she'll focus on in London. She's won Olympic silver medals twice in her beloved 200 meters, a distance in which she's also a three–time world champion.

Felix won an Olympic gold in 2008, on the 4x400-meter relay team.

Here (And There, And Really Everywhere) Be Dragons

Allison Keyes — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 14:55:00 +0000

As the supernatural enjoys a pop culture resurgence — from vampires to fairy tales — there's also been a firestorm of fascination with dragons. Fire-breathing dragons are central to the much-anticipated second season of the HBO series Game of Thrones, which opens April 1. And this year alone the mystical creatures are being featured in two movies, a new book, video games and a museum exhibit.

But then wasn't it always that way?

How To Properly Dispose Of Sacred Texts

Allison Keyes — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 03:41:00 +0000

The Quran is considered to be the speech of God to humankind — word for word — explains Imam Johari Abdul-Malik.

"The traditional way of disposing of used or damaged copies of the text of the Quran is by burning it," he says.

But Malik, the director of outreach for the Dar al-Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church, Va., says that doesn't include burning it with the trash. That's what U.S. officials say mistakenly happened with the Qurans in Afghanistan.

African-American Museum Has Its Groundbreaking

Allison Keyes — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 20:21:00 +0000

On Wednesday, President Obama and a number of special guests celebrated the groundbreaking for the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The Smithsonian museum on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., is expected to open in 2015.

African American Museum Breaks Ground In D.C.

Allison Keyes — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:59:00 +0000

President Obama spoke Wednesday at the formal groundbreaking for the Smithsonian's newest museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.

Work To Start On African American Museum

Allison Keyes — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:00:00 +0000

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Here in Washington, a new branch of the Smithsonian will highlight the African-American experience. It will be called the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Tomorrow, President Obama speaks at the groundbreaking on the National Mall - that great stretch of open space that is lined with museums for much of its length.

This newest museum is scheduled to open in 2015, and NPR's Allison Keyes has a preview.

ALLISON KEYES, BYLINE: Some of the things that you'll see here will take your breath away.

Catholics Take Side On Contraceptive Insurance Debate

Allison Keyes — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:00:00 +0000

The Obama administration has revised a provision of the president's health care law concerning birth control coverage. Now, religious-affiliated organizations may decline to provide the coverage, but allow the employees to get free contraceptives through their health insurer. NPR's Allison Keyes went to a Catholic church to ask parishioners what they think of the debate over birth control in health care coverage.

This App Was Made For Walking — But Is It Racist?

Allison Keyes — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:13:00 +0000

Microsoft is under fire this week over a patent it was granted that's been dubbed the "avoid ghetto" feature for GPS devices.

Volunteers Lay 90K Wreaths At Arlington Cemetery

Allison Keyes — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 23:28:00 +0000

Thousands of wreaths were laid around the world Saturday and at Arlington National Cemetery as part of the 20th anniversary of an effort honoring the nation's veterans for their service.

The pristine white tombstones at Arlington were dotted with bright green holiday wreaths with big red bows. Wreaths Across America executive director Karen Worcester says volunteers laid nearly 90,000 wreaths in a little over an hour.

"We had a tremendous crowd," Worcester said.

Post Office To Move Forward With Delivery, Facility Cuts

Allison Keyes — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 09:00:00 +0000

Transcript

LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

In this country, the Postal Service is set to announce that it's moving ahead with a series of cuts and changes starting in the spring. NPR'S Allison Keyes reports.

ALLISON KEYES, BYLINE: The agency has been warning for months that it is in serious financial straits. Back in September, Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe laid out a series of proposals.

Holocaust Database Helps Families Complete Stories

Allison Keyes — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 05:01:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J8JoeZe1Ow

The Multibillion-Dollar Scare Business

Allison Keyes — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Transcript

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

Halloween is just around the corner.

(SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER)

SIMON: And seven in ten Americans are planning to get their screams this year through decorations, costumes or creeping into a haunted house. NPR's Allison Keyes visited some haunts and reports on the industry's multi-billion dollar battle for your souls.

ALLISON KEYES, BYLINE: It's dark. The people in front of you are cringing.

At Memorial, King's Legacy Remembered

Allison Keyes — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 16:14:00 +0000

Thousands attended the formal dedication Sunday of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on the National Mall – an emotional day for those, including President Obama, who came to honor the slain civil rights leader.

As the choir from King's home church in Atlanta took the stage, people streamed into the park, just west of the King Memorial, carrying chairs, cardboard boxes to sit on, and their children.

A March For Jobs In Martin Luther King's Name

Allison Keyes — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 12:29:00 +0000

Emerging from the shadow of the Washington Monument, civil rights groups marched to the new Martin Luther King Jr. memorial on Saturday.

The rally, a rainbow crowd dominated by African-Americans, marched for jobs and economic justice on the eve of the new memorial's dedication.

Activist Rev.