Weekend America

Surreal Comforts of Home in Iraq

Navy Petty Officer Leonard Neely describes his experience in Iraq -- 14 months of being confined to a huge Army base, dodging mortars. Coming home to a "normal" life, he says the transition wasn't what he expected.

The Front Lines of the Hunger Fight

Many Americans are turning to government and private aid as tough economic times get even tougher. In hard-hit Ohio, food pantries and hunger centers are reporting record turnout. Weekend America correspondent Mhari Saito learns it takes diligence to keep people fed.

Bill's Values

Don't Ruminate, Communicate

Weekend America co-host Bill Radke continues his exploration of the values he hopes to pass down to his daughter. This time, two experts share some simple truths: be positive about your life, and take time to communicate with your kids.

Letters

Letters: The Box Dad Left for Me

Last week, we brought a story about moving and what that means for the fate of our emotional baggage. Nicole Rabaud talks about the stacks of documents relating to her parent's divorce.

New Life for Leftover Paint

If you live in the San Francisco Bay area, you can donate your old cans of latex paint to a good cause: It's shipped overseas and given away to poorer communities to brighten up their world. Nancy Mullane reports.

'Sleeping With One Eye Open'

It's National Poetry Month -- every April since 1966, we celebrate poets and their work. Former U.S. Poet Laureate Mark Strand provides a special reading of a poem he wrote during the height of the Cold War -- hinting that things have changed little over the years.

A Noir Novel by Committee

L.A. Times columnist Steve Lopez wrote the first chapter of a new, online, collaborative novel project -- then he let the world write what happens next. The experiment has taken some surprising turns and the characters are getting dark and even stranger.

The Godfather of Soul Saves Boston

Rioting erupted in more than 100 U.S. cities following the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. But many say Boston was spared the violence in part by a live TV broadcast of James Brown at the Boston Gardens.

Good News, Bad News, No News

Putin's Peeved, Swiss Black Holes

Our panel of non-experts reviews the week's news -- Red state writer Nancy French, comedian and overall funny guy Dana Gould and New Yorker magazine cartoonist Bob Mankoff.

40 And Extra, Extra Long

Tiki the Giraffe lives at the Oakland Zoo and she's cold. If you've ever tried to put a blanket on a giraffe, you know how hard it is to keep it on. So the zoo hired a tailor to make a special winter coat for a very tall client. Krissy Clark reports.

The Show Could Not Go On

Forty years ago, a musical called "The Education of Hyman Kaplan" opened on Broadway -- and closed soon after, thanks in part to an assassin's bullet. Ryan Scammell tells us why the musical, now mostly forgotten, is still worth remembering.

Change of Seasons

How Do You Know It's Spring?

We asked members of Jane Streelman's kindergarten class to tell us how they know when spring has arrived. They gave us answers in pictures and in words.

Randomly Picking My Madness Bracket

We're down to the NCAA Final Four, and avid college basketball fans are closely watching their office betting pools. Charlie Schroeder explores the best method for picking the perfect brackets. First lesson -- don't rely on the experts...