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On Monday, House Speaker John Boehner answered criticisms that Republicans have not proposed a deficit plan to counter the one from President Obama which they find so objectionable. Boehner's plan takes elements from presidential nominee Mitt Romney's proposal. David Welna talks to Melissa Block about the counteroffer.

NASA believes its Curiosity rover might have found carbon and chlorine molecules on the red planet. But before anyone says "life on Mars," NASA needs more testing to confirm the rover's results.

For the first time, Apple's iPad has some competition: Google's Nexus, Amazon's Kindle Fire HD and the Microsoft Surface. Tech reporters Steve Henn and Laura Sydell have been testing out the latest tablets this holiday season — and found that content is king.

Several Jewish leaders are suing New York City to block a new rule regulating a circumcision ritual known as metzitzah b'peh. City health officials say the ritual, practiced by some Orthodox Jews, can spread the herpes virus to infants. But critics say the law infringes on their freedom of religion.

In subtropical Japan, the sanshin is a ubiquitous part of life. The instrument even follows Okinawans long after they're gone — played at grave sites, when families pay respects to their ancestors.

Stray cats prowl freely among many of the city's ancient monuments. At the Torre Argentina ruins, a cat shelter has been caring for felines for two decades. But archaeological officials now say the shelter, built in the foundations of an ancient temple, must be closed.

Online college courses are attracting hundreds of thousands of students, and that's forcing colleges and policymakers to rethink higher education. The online courses may pose a serious challenge to the way institutions deliver a college education.

Also: "Fiscal cliff" talks continue; Obama warns Syria about using chemical weapons; judge removed in Fort Hood shooting rampage case; and the world watches as pregnant Kate rests.

Hay prices are up sharply because of the drought across much of the nation. So hay bales sitting in fields have become hot properties. So much so, in fact, that a sheriff in Oklahoma put a GPS tracker in one bale. It helped him track down the suspects.

Caregivers have been prosecuted and jailed for harming children by shaking them. Now, some researchers are saying shaken baby syndrome is a more complicated diagnosis than previously thought. Host Michel Martin speaks with Victor Zapana, whose mother was convicted of shaking a baby, and NPR Investigative Correspondent Joe Shapiro.