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Main Character of the Day The people and things worth talking about
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Main Character of the Day

The people and things worth talking about

Tuesday

Wednesday

The uncomfortable hidden costs behind the rise in cheap cashmere

"LOL They said they're sending our fibers to the J. Crew factory?" Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images hide caption

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Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images

The uncomfortable hidden costs behind the rise in cheap cashmere

The coveted material known for its luxurious softness has become much more accessible and affordable in recent years. But at what cost?

The uncomfortable hidden costs behind the rise in cheap cashmere

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Friday

'Fear rather than sensitivity': Most U.S. scholars on the Mideast are self-censoring

Pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli supporters converge at a demonstration of New York University students in November. Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images hide caption

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Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images

Middle East crisis — explained

'Fear rather than sensitivity': Most U.S. scholars on the Mideast are self-censoring

The war between Israel and Hamas is testing the limits of free speech across college campuses. And it's also affecting those who study the Middle East.

'Fear rather than sensitivity': Most U.S. scholars on the Mideast are self-censoring

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Tuesday

Friday

He won his seat on council by a single vote — which he cast himself

Ryan Roth's single vote made all the difference. Ryan Roth hide caption

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Ryan Roth

He won his seat on council by a single vote — which he cast himself

Every election we're told that each vote counts. Ryan Roth, the newly-elected city council member for Rainier, Wash., is now proof that it does.

He won his seat on council by a single vote — which he cast himself

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Tuesday

Friday

Taiwan is driving China-U.S. tensions. Meet the person right in the middle

American Institute in Taiwan director Sandra Oudkirk. American Institute in Taiwan hide caption

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American Institute in Taiwan

Taiwan is driving China-U.S. tensions. Meet the person right in the middle

Chinese leader Xi Jinping called Taiwan the "most important" and "most sensitive" issue driving U.S.-China tensions. Sandra Oudkirk is trying to navigate that tricky terrain.

Taiwan is driving China-U.S. tensions. Meet the person right in the middle

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Thursday

Fans gave NFL linebacker Jesse Luketa a lift to the game after he got a flat tire

The Phillips family with their new favorite player, Jesse Luketa. J.W. Phillips hide caption

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J.W. Phillips

Fans gave NFL linebacker Jesse Luketa a lift to the game after he got a flat tire

Cardinals linebacker Jesse Luketa was stuck at a gas station with less than an hour before he needed to be at the stadium for Sunday's game. He decided to get resourceful.

Fans gave NFL linebacker Jesse Luketa a lift to the game after he got a flat tire

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Wednesday

A forgotten trove of rare video games could now be worth six figures

Among the trove of games was an original version of the cult hit Chrono Trigger. Screenshot from NPR hide caption

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Screenshot from NPR

A forgotten trove of rare video games could now be worth six figures

When a video game store closed in 1998, hundreds of sealed Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis cartridges were stored and forgotten. Now, a collection of the top-graded items has been appraised.

A forgotten trove of rare video games could now be worth six figures

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Tuesday

John Cale, ever restless, keeps moving out of his comfort zone

John Cale says hip-hop is the avant-garde of today. Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images

John Cale, ever restless, keeps moving out of his comfort zone

With a legendary musical career that spans decades, John Cale is still restlessly creating and collaborating on new music.

John Cale, ever restless, keeps moving out of his comfort zone

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Monday

Before dying, she made a fund to cancel others' medical debt — nearly $70M worth

Gregory says his wife would never have imagined the impact her fund would have. Andrew Gregory hide caption

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Andrew Gregory

Before dying, she made a fund to cancel others' medical debt — nearly $70M worth

Casey McIntyre decided she wanted her legacy to be clearing medical debt. But her husband says they never dreamed it would get this big.

Before dying, she made a fund to cancel others' medical debt — nearly $70M worth

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Tuesday

Pope Francis: Climate activist?

Pope Francis is a staunch advocate for addressing climate change. Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images hide caption

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Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Pope Francis: Climate activist?

The Pontifex has long used his platform to advocate for climate change awareness. Now he's attending one of the biggest conferences seeking to address it.

Pope Francis: Climate activist?

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Monday

Why a single 'Inverted Jenny' stamp sold for $2 million at auction

An enlarged replica of a block of four rare United States airmail error stamps, known as the Inverted Jenny plate block. Spencer Platt/Getty Images hide caption

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Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Why a single 'Inverted Jenny' stamp sold for $2 million at auction

History, intrigue and a misprint combine so that a single stamp from 1918 recently sold for big bucks.

Why a single 'Inverted Jenny' stamp sold for $2 million at auction

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Thursday

Artist, actor and restaurateur Mr. Chow on his driving creative force: 'To be true'

You might know this artist and actor better as Mr. Chow. Dominik Bindl/Getty Images hide caption

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Dominik Bindl/Getty Images

Artist, actor and restaurateur Mr. Chow on his driving creative force: 'To be true'

Michael Chow has worn many hats in his 84 years. A new documentary about his life, a.k.a. Mr Chow, paints the portrait of a man who has endured hardship, and found creative outlets to cope.

Artist, actor and restaurateur Mr. Chow on his driving creative force: 'To be true'

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Friday

This physics professor ran 3,000 miles across America in record time

Jenny Hoffman on her epic journey. Jill Yeomans hide caption

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Jill Yeomans

This physics professor ran 3,000 miles across America in record time

Harvard professor Jenny Hoffman ran from San Francisco to New York City to beat the world record for fastest woman to run across America.

This physics professor ran 3,000 miles across America in record time

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