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Articles by Melissa Colasanti
When It Comes To Making Fig Spread, Skip The Dried Fruit - The Daily Meal Original
What could be more tantalizing than a thick layer of super sweet fig jam to accompany cheese and crackers on a charcuterie board or with nut butter for a fancy PB&J? But making fig jam can be a bit time-consuming. If you use dried figs, they need to be soaked in boiling water before adding the sugar and lemon juice — the flavor isn't as fresh as the delicious, light, newly harvested fig. Fortunately, you can use fresh figs in your jam as an easy alternative to the dried counterpart.
Why You Might Want To Skip Out On Butter Basting Meat - The Daily Meal Original
Ever enjoy a thick, juicy restaurant steak? Chances are, it's been butter basted. Butter basting is the process of spooning butter over pan-seared meat, giving it a thick, delicious crust with a tender interior. It has long been considered the gold standard for making the perfect steak. After all, what doesn't taste better when drenched in golden butter? It's even part of Gordon Ramsay's repertoire.
"Dust Child" By Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai
On today’s program, novelist Nguyen Phan Que Mai talks with us about her new novel, Dust Child. Set in Vietnam, 1969, the book follows sisters Trang and Quỳnh. Saddled with their parents’ debts, the daughters leave their village to work at a bar in Sàigòn. Once in the big city, they’re thrown headfirst into a world they don’t recognize. Learning to speak English, how to dress, drink, and flirt with American GIs in return for money. The resulting book is a moving, decades-long family saga.
"The Ratline" By Philippe Sands
Note: This is an encore episode of Reader's Corner. The episode originally aired in August 2021. Otto von Wächter was an Austrian lawyer, husband, father, and a senior SS officer. Creator and overseer of the Krakow ghetto, indicted after as a war criminal for the mass murder of more than 100,000 Poles, Wächter was hunted for three years following WWII.
"The Triumph Of Doubt" By David Michaels
America is a country of everyday crises - big, long-spanning problems that persist despite their toll on the country's health. Opioids, concussions, climate change, the list is long. And for every case of government inaction on one of these issues, there is familiar refrain: “The science is unclear.” But is it?
"The Triumph Of Doubt" By David Michaels
America is a country of everyday crises - big, long-spanning problems that persist despite their toll on the country's health. Opioids, concussions, climate change, the list is long. And for every case of government inaction on one of these issues, there is familiar refrain: “The science is unclear.” But is it?
Summers are getting hotter in the West, but there are ways to protect people from extreme heat
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also recommends other infrastructure improvements to address urban heat, like the installation of so-called cool or green roofs, as well as cool pavement, which absorbs less energy from the sun. Over the last half century, summers have gotten progressively hotter in the U.S., especially in the West, according to new analysis. The group Climate Central analyzed temperature data for nearly 250 locations from 1970 through 2022.
San Francisco's new tax gives a boost to early childhood teachers and families
A local tax on San Francisco businesses, known as Baby Prop. C, is supporting the city’s goal of providing early education and care for all of the city’s children. KQED’s Daisy Nguyen reports. This article was originally published on WBUR.org. Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
Journalists at Gannett newspapers walk out over deep cuts and low pay
Hundreds of journalists are walking off the job Monday and Tuesday at two dozen newspapers owned by the Gannett company. They're protesting working conditions at their papers and launching a lacerating attack on Gannett's chief executive. The newspapers, in seven states, include The Arizona Republic, The Austin American Statesman, The Florida Times-Union, The Asbury Park Press and others.
Saudi Arabia will cut its oil exports by a million barrels a day
A decision made this weekend in Vienna will likely impact how much you pay at the pump this summer. Saudi Arabia is reducing how much oil it provides the world.It’s cutting one million barrels per day, starting in July. And it follows what’s been described as a “contentious” OPEC meeting, where other producers agreedtoextend production cuts through next year.
Isabel Allende and "The Wind Knows My Name"
she penned her first novel “The House of Spirits.” Four decades and more than two dozen novels later, Allende has become one of the world’s most widely-read authors. She’s sold more than 77 million copies of her books, which have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her latest book, “The Wind Knows My Name,” is out June 6.
How island nations are reckoning with climate change and sea level rise
The pieces of land that make up the Republic of the Marshall Islands are on average dozens of feet across and just a few feet above sea level. The United States Geological Survey projects that by the year 2035. some of the islands will be completely submerged. Tina Stege is a climate envoy for the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
Remembering David Gilkey: His NPR buddies share stories about their favorite pictures
How do you cover an incomprehensible disaster and make people connect with the real lives behind the headlines? David Gilkey knew how. His photos have helped define our coverage of global health and development at Goats and Soda. They have a tremendous warmth and humanity that reflects his own compassionate heart and soul. Gilkey was killed on Sunday, June 5, 2016, on assignment for NPR in Afghanistan.
Reuben Wilson, organist who helped usher in soul jazz, has died at 88
Few are the folks who could cast a literal shadow over the iconic Hammond B-3 organ, nicknamed "the Beast" by many of the jazz musicians who have helmed the hefty 425 lb. instrument. But Reuben Wilson — who died on May 26 at the age of 88 — was one such organist. When he perched his athletic 6 ft.
A U.N. operation to prevent a disastrous oil spill is underway in the Red Sea
AYESHA RASCOE, HOST: It's been described as a ticking time bomb - a decaying oil tanker is moored off the coast of Yemen in the Red Sea. It hasn't been maintained since 2015 due to the country's civil war, and some fear the vessel could explode or break apart, causing an environmental catastrophe. But now a U.N. salvage operation is underway to remove more than a million barrels of oil from the tanker.
Minimum wage debate: Is the 'Fight for 15' outdated?
Can we move to a $20 living wage? Is the “Fight for 15” outdated? Is $15 an hour a livable wage to raise a family? Pulitzer Prize-winning business journalist and author Rick Wartzman says wages need a big boost and that $20 per hour should be the floor, not the aspiration. Roughly one-third of the country lives in precarious circumstances financially, Wartzman says.
Firefighters contain wildfire near Halifax, Nova Scotia, while another continue to burn
Here & Now‘s Scott Tong speaks with Mike Savage, the mayor of Halifax, Nova Scotia, about the massive wildfire that forced 16,000 people from their homes. This article was originally published on WBUR.org. Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
Abuse runs rampant in restaurant industry. What will it take to change?
In April, the New York Times and Boston Globe published incendiary reports detailing credible allegations of abusive behavior by iconic chef Barbara Lynch. Lynch won industry-wide admiration for her skills and her climb from a tough childhood in South Boston to the top of the food world with her award-winning restaurants. The stories were shocking for the fact that many said the allegations were widely known already and for how common they were industry-wide.
State Farm is not there for new homeowner's insurance in California
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May job report offers a positive outlook for summer work
May’s jobs report was released last week, and it showed another month of hiring smashing expectations. The U.S. economy added 339,000 jobs, far greater than the roughly 190,000 that analysts had predicted. It’s good news for young workers looking for summer work. But where should they look and how can they set themselves up for success this summer? CBS News business analyst Jill Schlesinger joins host Robin Young with some advice for job seekers. This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
How a mother's love, anger and dedication to her gay son became a political force in the early 1970s
Editor’s note: This piece contains homophobic language and a discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know may be considering suicide or is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Jeanne Manford was angry over how her gay son, Morty, and other LGBTQ people were treated. Her love — and bravery — led her to co-found PFLAG, an organization for LGBTQ people and those who love them.
Guitarist Yasser Tejeda drops new album 'La Madrugá'
Guitarist, composer, arranger and producer Yasser Tejeda, from the Dominican Republic, has a new album out. NPR’s Felix Contreras introduces us to new work by one of his favorite artists. This article was originally published on WBUR.org. Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
Many Guam residents are still without fundamental needs a week after Typhoon Mawar hit
Cleanup and restoration efforts continue in Guam, more than a week after the island was hit by Typhoon Mawar. Many Guam residents are without power, water and cell phone service. We check in with Jefferson Cronin, morning host of member station KPRG in Guam. This article was originally published on WBUR.org. Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
Ozempic treats diabetes and helps with weight loss. But can it also treat addiction?
Ozempic was developed to treat Type 2 diabetes. But patients and doctors soon found that the drug was not only lowering blood sugar, but also helping patients lose weight. It was so effective, in fact, that people using it for weight loss created a shortage of the drug. Other diabetes drugs in the same class, including one called Mounjaro, are showing similar weight loss effects.
Why are some states leaving an election integrity group?
Here & Now’s Scott Tong speaks with NPR voting and election security correspondent Miles Parks about why Texas and eight other Republican-led states are withdrawing from ERIC, the Electronic Registration Information Center, in part because of far-right misinformation about the nonpartisan agency that enables states to share data to keep their voter rolls more up-to-date. This article was originally published on WBUR.org. Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
Train crash in Odisha, India, leaves nearly 300 people dead
After a train crash in India’s Eastern Odisha killed nearly 300 people and injured more than 850 others, family members continue to search for loved ones. Here & Now‘s Robin Young speaks with CNN senior international correspondent Ivan Watson, reporting from Bahanaga, where the crash was. This article was originally published on WBUR.org. Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
Latest in Ukraine: Kyiv won't say when its counteroffensive has begun (June 5)
Here's a look ahead and a roundup of key developments from the past week. What to watch Reports of heavy fighting in Ukraine fueled speculation of whether it could be part of an anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive, but there's no confirmation from Kyiv. Ukraine also would not confirm Russia's assertion it thwarted a major Ukrainian offensive and killed hundreds of troops in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
Wyoming judge sides with corner crossing hunters in trespassing case
News brief: A federal judge in Wyoming has ruled in favor of four hunters in a case that tested the legality of "corner crossing," or stepping from one parcel of public land to another over a common corner shared with private property – a common practice due to the checkerboard pattern of land ownership in parts of the Mountain West.
Prince Harry to be 1st royal ever to testify in a phone-hacking tabloid trial
LONDON — In the days after 13-year-old Milly Dowler went missing on her way home from school in 2002, her parents kept calling her cell phone. Her voicemail box was always full. Then, four days after she disappeared, it suddenly rang through to voicemail. Someone had checked her messages. It gave her parents, Sally and Bob Dowler, hope that their daughter was still alive, and checking her messages remotely. "I jumped.
We ask the creator of 'Succession' everything you wanted to know about the finale
The following interview includes plenty of spoilers for the series finale of Succession. The much-anticipated season finale of HBO'sSuccession answered one big question — who would succeed media mogul patriarch Logan Roy — but we still have more: Did the show creator know the end at the beginning? Why didn't any of the Roy children wind up as CEO of the family conglomerate Waystar Royco? Was Kendall considering jumping into the river at the end? Why was the presidential election left unresolved?
In Mexico, history was made over the weekend in a state gubernatorial election
For the first time in nearly a century, the country's revolutionary party lost. The results in the State of Mexico, which surrounds Mexico City, suggest a new direction for Mexico's political future. Copyright 2023 NPR
Natural brands have taken over the deodorant aisle - but do they work?
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Signaling error appears to have caused a major train crash in India
NRR's Steve Inskeep talks to journalist Shalu Yadav in New Delhi about investigators looking into a signaling system that apparently failed. The derailment in eastern India killed at least 275 people. Copyright 2023 NPR
Migrants crossing the border illegally has slowed, but there are still issues
NPR's Michel Martin talks to Democratic Rep. Veronica Escobar of Texas, who represents the 16th Congressional District in El Paso, about U.S.- Mexico border concerns and immigration reform. Copyright 2023 NPR
These were the most frequently performed plays and musicals in high schools this year
The Educational Theatre Association has released its top-10 lists of plays and musicals performed in high schools during the 2022-2023 school year. More than 2,300 public and private high school teachers across the U.S. participated. The Addams Family topped the list of full-length musicals, followed by Mamma Mia! The No. 1 full length play was Clue, followed by Puffs. Disney's Frozen JR held the top spot among short musicals.
Atlanta's City Council to vote on funding for a controversial police training center
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Picking the 'right' sunscreen isn't as important as avoiding these 6 mistakes
If you find a bottle of sunscreen packed in last year's pool bag, here's a suggestion: Toss it out. Since the active compounds can degrade and lose their effectiveness, slathering on old lotion or spray is one mistake people make when trying to protect their skin. Each year about 84,000 people in the U.S. are and more than 8,000 die from this type of skin cancer.
Charlie Wilson: Tiny Desk Concert
NPR Music is celebrating Black Music Month with an array of brand new Tiny Desk concerts. Together, these artists represent the past, present and future of Black music. This month of carefully curated shows is a celebration of Black artists expressing themselves in ways we've never seen before, and of the Tiny Desk's unique way of showcasing that talent. Charlie Wilson's Tiny Desk unexpectedly ran the gamut of emotions.
Set designers of the new 'Barbie' movie went through a lot of pink paint
They cleaned out the entire global stock of one paint supplier's pink. A spokesperson for the Rosco brand says supply chain issues made it hard to keep up. Copyright 2023 NPR
Tourists at Yellowstone put newborn elk in a car and head to police station
While others might have snapped a photo and moved on, these tourists drove the elk calf to a police station. It ended up running away. Park officials warn people not to get too close to the animals. Copyright 2023 NPR
Norma Hunt, wife of the Kansas City Chiefs founder, dies at 85
Norma Hunt, the wife of the late Kansas City Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt and the only woman who had attended every Super Bowl, has died, the team announced Sunday. The team and the National Football League said she was 85. The cause of death was not given. "Kind, generous and unfailingly positive, mom was one of a kind," the Hunt family said in a statement. "Her joy and zeal for life were infectious. She loved caring for others, and she always had an encouraging word.
Gannett journalists are walking off the job to protest papers' working conditions
Journalists at Gannett newsrooms in seven states are set to walk out Monday in a strike to protest working conditions. It's the largest such action in the company's history. Copyright 2023 NPR
Prince Harry is set to testify in a phone hacking trial involving British tabloids
He is scheduled to appear in a London court Monday — one of several plaintiffs suing British papers for allegedly hacking their phones. It's a practice the British tabloids have been notorious for. Copyright 2023 NPR
China's defense chief rebukes Western nations as U.S.-China tensions heighten
U.S.-China tensions reach a new high after China's new defense minister told Western nations to "mind their own business" — and a Chinese ship nearly crashed into an American vessel. Copyright 2023 NPR
Sudan and South Sudan's ethnic and religious divisions play a role 'Goodbye Julia'
NPR's Leila Fadel talks to Mohamed Kordofani about his film Goodbye Julia. It's about two very different Sudanese women who form a friendship against the backdrop of a civil war. Copyright 2023 NPR
Boom-bust cycles are normal for the U.S. oil industry, but that may be changing
In the Permian Basin, America's busiest oil-producing region, business is good. It's not quite booming, though — and that's on purpose. Producers are aiming for steady growth. Copyright 2023 NPR
3 more GOP presidential candidates are expected to enter the race this week
As former Vice President Mike Pence and other Republicans are set to launch presidential campaigns, NPR's Steve Inskeep talks with conservative commentator Al Cardenas about the GOP field. Copyright 2023 NPR
Morning news brief
A signaling error appears to have caused a train crash in India. Hundreds of journalists at Gannett newspapers set to strike. The far right has torn apart one of the best tools to fight voter fraud. Copyright 2023 NPR
Examining how the far right tore apart one of the best tools to fight voter fraud
The Electronic Registration Information Center — a multistate effort to fight voter fraud — was a rare bipartisan success story, until it was targeted by a far-right campaign to dismantle it. Copyright 2023 NPR
Robert Kennedy was killed 55 years ago. How should he be remembered?
Just after midnight on June 5, 1968, in a ballroom in the ornate Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, a packed crowd watched charismatic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy give a victory speech after winning the California primary. Almost five years after his older brother John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Robert Kennedy was making his own run for the White House. America was divided over the Civil Rights Movement and the war in Vietnam.
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