Mark Memmott

Credit Doby Photography / NPR

Mark Memmott is one of the hosts of NPR's "The Two-Way" news blog.

"The Two-Way," which Memmott helped to launched when he came to NPR in 2009, focuses on breaking news, analysis, and the most compelling stories being reported by NPR News and other news media.

Before joining NPR, Memmott worked for nearly 25 years as a reporter and editor at USA Today. He focused on a range of coverage from politics, foreign affairs, economics, and the media. He's reported from places across the Unites States and the world, including half a dozen trips to Afghanistan in 2002-2003.

During his time at USA Today, Memmott, helped launch and lead three USAToday.com news blogs: "On Deadline;" "The Oval;" and "On Politics," the site's 2008 presidential campaign blog.

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11:14am

Mon June 4, 2012
The Two-Way

Reports: Suspect Arrested In Canadian Body Parts Case

"Canadian murder suspect Luka Rocco Magnotta has been arrested in Berlin, German police tell CBC News."

The Associated Press says it's been told the same thing by a Canadian official.

As we've previously reported, Montreal Police had issued a warrant for the gay porn star.

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11:00am

Mon June 4, 2012
The Two-Way

As Venus Transits The Face Of The Sun, Here's How To Safely Watch

Originally published on Mon June 4, 2012 2:53 pm

Credit Saif Dahlah / AFP/Getty Images

DO NOT STARE AT THE SUN.

Is that clear enough?

As we looked this morning for good guides about how to safely watch on Tuesday as Venus passes across the face of the sun, there was no escaping the stern warnings about what NOT to do.

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8:49am

Mon June 4, 2012

8:32am

Mon June 4, 2012
The Two-Way

Tiger Woods' Incredible Chip: You Can Do It Too (Yeah, Right)

Credit Andy Lyons / Getty Images

If you haven't seen it by now, check out the chip shot that Tiger Woods rolled into the cup Sunday on the 16th hole at the Memorial Tournament. It put him on the way to winning the tournament.

According to golf legend Jack Nicklaus, it was "the gutsiest and best shot I've ever seen in my life."

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7:51am

Mon June 4, 2012
The Two-Way

George Zimmerman Back In Jail; Attorney Preparing New Bond Motion

Credit Seminole County (Fla.) Sheriff's Office / Getty Images

As ordered by a judge on Friday, neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman has turned himself into authorities and is back in a Sanford, Fla., jail.

Now, as the Orlando Sentinel reports, Zimmerman's attorney is preparing a request that he again be released on bond.

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7:20am

Mon June 4, 2012
The Two-Way

Nigeria Mourns 'National Disaster;' Plane Crash Killed Scores

Originally published on Tue June 5, 2012 8:19 am

Credit AFP/Getty Images

There's some new reporting to pass along about Sunday's crash of an airliner in Lagos, Nigeria, which killed more than 150 people on board and a still unknown number of people on the ground:

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3:12pm

Fri June 1, 2012
The Two-Way

George Zimmerman's Bond Revoked, Must Surrender In 48 Hours

Originally published on Fri June 1, 2012 3:14 pm

Credit Gary Green / Orlando Sentinel-Pool/Getty Images

A Florida judge this afternoon revoked George Zimmernan's bond and ordered that the man who killed teenager Trayvon Martin surrender himself to authorities within 48 hours, the Orlando Sentinel writes.

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2:34pm

Fri June 1, 2012
The Two-Way

'Help' Hizzoner: Tell Bloomberg What To Ban Next

Originally published on Fri June 1, 2012 5:59 pm

Credit Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

So, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I) wants to ban nearly all sales of big, sugary drinks.

Goodbye Big Gulp.

This comes after his earlier campaigns to stamp out smoking and trans fats.

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1:41pm

Fri June 1, 2012
The Two-Way

Nation's Worst Dressers Are In Anchorage, Survey Says

Credit Michael Dinneen / AP

Which U.S. city has the worst-dressed citizens?

According to readers of Travel and Leisure magazine, it's Anchorage.

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1:28pm

Fri June 1, 2012
The Two-Way

Obama, Romney Have Sharply Different Takes On Weak Jobs News

Earlier, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney blamed what he said have been President Obama's "failed" economic policies for the nation's stubbornly high unemployment rate and weak job growth.

In Minnesota this hour, President Obama conceded "we've got a lot of work to do before we get to where we need to be," but also claimed credit for policies that he said prevented another Great Depression after the financial crisis of 2008.

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10:54am

Fri June 1, 2012
The Two-Way

Crazy For The Queen's Diamond Jubilee? Here's A Guide To The Guides

Originally published on Fri June 1, 2012 10:57 am

Credit Lewis Whyld / AFP/Getty Images

If royal watching's your kind of thing, the next four days are going to be a treat.

Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee celebration — marking 60 years on the throne — looks like it will be quite a show. Sunday's huge flotilla alone is predicted to be "the most spectacular nautical event seen in London for 350 years."

Want to know when to tune in?

The official website of the British Monarchy, of course, has a ton of information.

For broadcast schedules, though, you need to look elsewhere.

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9:33am

Fri June 1, 2012
The Two-Way

Stocks Drop On Weak Jobs News

Originally published on Fri June 1, 2012 4:57 pm

Stock prices fell on Wall Street today as investors digested the much-weaker-than-expected report on job growth in May.

The damage? The Dow plunged 274 points or 2.2 percent. The Nasdaq fell 80 points or 2.82 percent.

CNN Money reports the Dow had the worst day of 2012, erasing "all its gains for the year."

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8:53am

Fri June 1, 2012
The Two-Way

Just 69,000 Jobs Added In May; Unemployment Rate Edges Up To 8.2 Percent

Originally published on Fri June 1, 2012 1:31 pm

Horrid. Lousy. Awful.

Those are just three of the words economists are using to describe the news that just 69,000 net jobs were added to public and private payrolls last month — and that the nation's jobless rate edged up to 8.2 percent from April's 8.1 percent.

The news has raised fears that the hoped-for strengthening of the economy may not materialize.

We posted on the news and followed with details from the report and reaction to it. It's now 11:22 am. ET, here's our original post and earlier updates:

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8:17am

Fri June 1, 2012
The Two-Way

Obama 'Sped Up Wave Of Cyberattacks Against Iran,' Says 'NYT'

This morning's talker:

"From his first months in office, President Obama secretly ordered increasingly sophisticated attacks on the computer systems that run Iran's main nuclear enrichment facilities, significantly expanding America's first sustained use of cyberweapons, according to participants in the program," The New York Times reports.

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7:57am

Fri June 1, 2012
The Two-Way

'Hero' Of Seattle Shootings: 'I Just Threw The Frigging Stool' At Gunman

Credit Stephen Brashear / Getty Images

Lawrence Adams doesn't want to be called a hero, but many in Seattle are saying that's just what he is.

As The Seattle Times reports this morning, police believe Adams saved the lives of at least three people on Wednesday when he picked up a stool at a cafe and threw it at a gunman who killed four people there. Adams' action distracted the gunman, identified as Ian Stawicki, and allowed Adams and some others to escape.

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