All Things Considered on KCCU-HD2

S&P Lawsuit Puts Ratings Firms Back In The Spotlight

Credit Henny Ray Abrams / AP

In a lawsuit, the Justice Department alleges Standard and Poor's misled investors with fraudulent credit ratings. The agency could seek more than $5 billion in damages.

By Jim Zarroli

Originally published on Tue February 5, 2013 6:17 pm

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The Justice Department said Tuesday it could seek more than $5 billion in damages from Standard & Poor's, the nation's biggest credit ratings company, a day after it sued the company, alleging that S&P defrauded investors by giving triple-A ratings to risky subprime mortgage investments.

4:26 pm

Tue February 5, 2013

For The First Time In Decades, Iran's President Visits Egypt

Credit Amr Nabil / AP

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visits an Islamic shrine Tuesday in Cairo. He became the first Iranian leader to visit Egypt since the 1970s.

By Leila Fadel

Originally published on Tue February 5, 2013 5:36 pm

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President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday became the first Iranian leader to visit Egypt since the 1970s, the latest sign of the thawing of relations between the rival Muslim nations.

Ahmadinejad received a red-carpet welcome as Egypt's President Mohammed Morsi greeted him on the tarmac at Cairo International Airport with a kiss on each cheek.

Under Egypt's former leader, Hosni Mubarak, a visit like this would never have happened.

3:44 pm

Tue February 5, 2013

Reg Presley, The Voice Of 'Wild Thing,' Dies

Credit Petra Niemeier — K & K / Redferns

Reg Presley in Hamburg, circa 1965.

By Neda Ulaby

Originally published on Tue February 5, 2013 5:36 pm

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3:40 pm

Tue February 5, 2013

Why Is It So Hard To Make A 100 Percent American Hand Dryer?

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Credit Andrea Hsu / NPR

The Xlerator hand dryer is made almost entirely of American components and assembled in Massachusetts. But the company's owner says it's simply not cost-effective to use an American-made motor.

Credit Andrea Hsu / NPR

Bill, Nancy and Denis Gagnon (from left), who turned Excel Dryer into a globally competitive business. Denis Gagnon says he will never relocate production offshore.

By NPR Staff

Originally published on Tue February 5, 2013 7:17 pm

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Fifteen years ago, Denis Gagnon bought a company that made a product nobody really liked: hand dryers. But he quickly managed to turn Massachusetts-based Excel Dryer into an innovator with the Xlerator — a high-speed dryer that cut drying time from more than 30 seconds to less than 15.

3:25 pm

Tue February 5, 2013

Reissued And Relevant, Marcos Valle's '70s Bossa Nova Returns

Credit Courtesy of the artist

Marcos Valle in Los Angeles in 1968.

By editor

Originally published on Tue February 5, 2013 5:36 pm

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Marcos Valle wasn't identified with Brazil's influential Tropicalia movement during the 1960s and 1970s. But, like his peers Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil, he made ambitious and subversive pop music during those years, mixing American soul and rock with samba, bossa nova and other Brazilian styles.

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Weekdays at 6 p.m. and Sundays at 4p.m.

All Things Considered debuted on 90 public radio stations at 5:00pm on May 3, 1971.

In the 40 years since, almost everything about the program has changed, from the hosts, producers, editors and reporters to the length of the program, the equipment used and even the audience.

However there is one thing that remains the same: each show consists of the biggest stories of the day, thoughtful commentaries, insightful features on the quirky and the mainstream in arts and life, music and entertainment, all brought alive through sound.

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All Things Considered on KCCU-HD2

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5:36 pm

Tue February 5, 2013