NPR Staff

Growing up, Ivor David Balding said that he would one day own an elephant. A lifetime later, the longtime circus showman leaves behind his best, and biggest, friend: an African elephant named Flora.

Reporter Ina Jaffe covers aging for NPR. But many common terms for people formerly known as senior citizens have become stigmatized, she says — leaving her at a loss for words.

Grown-ups might not "get it," but subjects like bugs and poop can make history lessons a little more palatable for middle schoolers. Author Sarah Albee says she writes books for her inner 12-year-old.

A huge hit upon its release, the 1949 musical South Pacific still resonates with contributors to The Race Card Project — particularly a song about how prejudice is learned, not innate.

Terry Boring was working a dead-end job at a Pittsburgh convenience store when he had a remarkable encounter. Now he's a vice president at a bank.

From 2008 to 2013, Nathan Deuel and his family lived in the Middle East. His new memoir about his experience is titled Friday Was the Bomb.

The roar in the 1954 original was the sound of a leather glove coated in pine-tar resin being dragged over a double bass. Each film since has tweaked the recipe.

It's been 10 years since same-sex couples in Massachusetts first got married, the sound designers behind the new Godzilla explain how to make the monster's iconic roar, and actor Terry Crews discusses his new book, Manhood.

Each week, Weekend Edition Sunday brings listeners an unexpected side of the news by talking with someone personally affected by the stories making headlines.

Hortense McClinton has lived with a remarkable sense of determination — for 95 years.

Her father's parents were slaves, and McClinton grew up in a completely ...

The lack of diversity in children's literature is nothing new – it's an issue that's been roiling the book world for years. Just in the past few weeks, it's come to a head with the We Need Diverse Books campaign on Twitter and Tumblr. Everyone agrees: all kinds of kids ...

Improving access to clean water can reduce the spread of diarrheal diseases in developing countries. The "Drinkable Book" should help: It has water safety tips and each page works as a filter.

Generally, new releases from deceased musicians fall into one of three categories. Michael Jackson's Xscape matches none of them exactly — but as part of his continuing story, it's a perfect fit.

Millions of Americans get their financial advice from high-profile pundits on talk radio and cable television. The new book Clash of the Financial Pundits looks at how they affect our investments.

Actor Terry Crews has an NFL physique that's perfect for action films, but it's his sense of humor that's won over fans. Crews' revealing new memoir is called Manhood.

The 24-year-old singer is poised to be the next big music export from across the Atlantic. Hear Hozier speak with NPR's Melissa Block and perform a few songs live in the studio.

The veteran NPR newscaster got into the business young — as a teen he hosted a late-night, easy-listening music show in Goldsboro, N.C. He'll now be scorekeeper emeritus on Wait Wait....

When he killed a fellow inmate in prison, Carlos Rocha "looked at it like he was a criminal, just like me." But when his own brother was killed in jail, Rocha gained a new perspective on his crime.

The veteran NPR newscaster got into the business young — as a teen he hosted a late-night, easy-listening music show in Goldsboro, N.C. He'll now be scorekeeper emeritus on Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

Rep. Beto O'Rourke of Texas says he routinely gets complaints of Border Patrol agents' unprofessionalism or abuse. O'Rourke and his colleague say training hasn't kept up with the growth of the agency.

As 92-year-old Betty Reid Soskin helped hash out plans for a new national park 13 years ago, this is what stuck in her mind: "What gets remembered is a function of who's in the room doing the remembering."

The Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park ...