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A rendering of objects currently in Low Earth Orbit (not illustrated to scale). According to NASA, "approximately 95 percent of the objects in this illustration are orbital debris, i.e., not functional satellites."

U.S. 'Space Fence' Will Cease To Operate, Site Says

A U.S. radar system that tracks thousands of objects orbiting Earth — from satellites to harmful debris — has reportedly been slated for a shutdown. The pending shutdown of the system, run by the Air Force, is being blamed on the government's sequestration cuts.

Acting IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel testifies before the House Financial and General Government subcommittee in early June.

IRS Chief: No Evidence Of 'Intentional Wrongdoing' So Far

Danny Werfel, the new acting chief of the IRS, said the "be on the lookout" list used to flag Tea Party groups for extra scrutiny wasn't the only list the agency had been using.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., shown Tuesday on Capitol Hill, told students at historically black Howard University on Wednesday that the GOP has worked to protect civil rights.

Howard Students Question Rand Paul's Vision Of GOP

Sen. Rand Paul went to one of the top historically black colleges in the nation and tried to make a case for his Republican Party as a continuing defender of the civil rights of African-Americans. The Kentucky Republican got credit for the effort, but not always his message.

Benedictine is a combination of cream cheese, cucumber and onion. It may sound odd, unless you're from Kentucky.

A Summery Spread That's As Cool As A Cucumber

It's summertime and cucumbers are abundant. If you don't feel like making pickles, why not try Benedictine? This blend of cream cheese, cucumbers and onion is a Kentucky classic, dating back a century to a Louisville tearoom.

Syrians look for survivors amid the rubble of a building targeted by a missile in the al-Mashhad neighborhood of Aleppo on Jan. 7.

In Syrian Conflict, Real-Time Evidence Of Violations

There are growing calls for Syria's leaders to face war crimes charges for the assaults against rebel targets and civilian areas. If that happens, veterans of past war crimes prosecutions say, Syrians will have one big advantage: the widespread gathering of evidence across the country.

Syrian women walk through a market area in the northern city of Aleppo last November. A new website is documenting the use of rape in the Syrian conflict.

Tracking Rape In Syria Through Social Media

Researchers are using data from Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and other social media sites. There are, however, questions about the accuracy of the reports coming from Syria.

A refugee boy plays a violin as hundreds of migrants are blocked from marching down a highway toward Turkey's western border with Greece and Bulgaria on Saturday. Turkey has some 2 million refugees, mostly from Syria, but says they will not be allowed to settle permanently in the country.

Turkey Absorbs 2 Million Refugees, But Won't Offer Asylum

Turkey has taken in more Syrians than any other country, by far. But under a policy dating back to 1951, it doesn't offer asylum to refugees and expects them to be permanently resettled elsewhere.

Obama Meets With China's President Amid 'Enormous Strain' Between Nations

China's president Xi Jinping arrives in Washington, D.C., for a two-day state visit. It comes as relations between the two countries are turbulent. Analysts say this will be President Obama's most difficult summit to date.

Childhood Vaccination Rates Climb In California

State health officials suspect California's big measles outbreak last year helped persuade parents to get their kids immunized against other illnesses, too.

Bernie Sanders, then mayor of Burlington, Vt., in 1981.

Bernie Sanders Has Stuck To The Same Message For 40 Years

The senator has built his political career on decrying a rigged economy. NPR found audio dating back to 1976 that is nearly indistinguishable from 2015 when it comes to this message.

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