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Why Illinois Is Roaring Mad About Lion Meat

Credit Matt York / AP

An Arizona restaurant sold lion meat burgers in 2010 in an attempt to drum up business during the World Cup soccer tournament held in South Africa.

Credit Cameron Spencer / Getty Images

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently considering adding the African lion to its endangered species list.

By editor

Originally published on Mon April 1, 2013 11:44 am

When we heard a few weeks ago that Illinois was considering banning lion meat, our first thought was, who's eating lion meat? And why Illinois?

Turns out, lion meat has been gaining traction among adventurous foodies who argue that the meat can be an ethical alternative to factory-farmed animals — if the meat comes from American-raised circus and zoo animals that were sent to the slaughterhouse in their old age.

2:01 pm

Wed March 27, 2013

Arizona Gunman Acted Erratically Days Before Shooting, Documents Reveal

By Scott Neuman

Jared Loughner, the gunman responsible for the 2011 rampage in Tuscon, Ariz., that killed six people and wounded Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and twelve others, acted erratically in the days leading to the shooting but was quiet and otherwise polite with officers after his arrest, according to newly released documents.

Details from the investigation were made clear on Wednesday after the Pima County Sheriff's Department released 2,700 pages of documents requested through the Freedom of Information Act.

1:41 pm

Wed March 27, 2013

Catalog Of Gene Markers For Some Cancers Doubles In Size

Credit Otis Brawley / National Cancer Institute

A microscopic image of prostate cancer. Researchers have found new genetic markers that flag a person's susceptibility to the disease, as well as breast and ovarian cancer.

By Richard Knox

The largest gene-probing study ever done has fished out dozens of new genetic markers that flag a person's susceptibility to breast, ovarian and prostate cancer.

The 74 newly discovered genetic variants double the previously known number for these malignancies, all of which are driven by sex hormones.

Underscoring the sheer magnitude of the findings, they're contained in 15 scientific papers published simultaneously by five different journals. The Nature group of journals has collected them all here.

1:32 pm

Wed March 27, 2013

In Crackdown, Some Russian Groups Labeled As 'Foreign Agents'

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Credit Ivan Sekretarev / AP

The chief of Amnesty International Russia, Sergei Nikitin, at his Moscow office on March 25, after Russian prosecutors and tax police carried out a search. The group is one of many that have been searched under a new law that critics say is being used to stifle dissent.

Credit Ivan Sekretarev / AP

Prosecutors searched for documents related to the activities of the human rights group Memorial in Moscow on March 21.

By Corey Flintoff

Originally published on Wed March 27, 2013 9:55 pm

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Russian investigators have descended on the offices of nongovernmental organizations across the country, demanding to inspect financial records and other documents.

This follows the recent passage of a law designed to impose tighter controls over these NGOs, especially those that receive funding from abroad. Critics say it's part of a broader crackdown on dissent since Vladimir Putin regained the presidency last year.

The offices of the human rights group Memorial are still abuzz after a team of government inspectors paid an unannounced visit

12:19 pm

Wed March 27, 2013

Respectful Gay Marriage Debate An 'Enormous Step'

By editor

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The Supreme Court is hearing two landmark gay marriage cases this week. But Robin Shahar's case never made it that far. She lost a job offer for planning a private wedding ceremony with her same-sex partner in 1991. Shahar speaks with host Michel Martin about the cultural shift that brought about these legal challenges.

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2:06 pm

Wed March 27, 2013