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Many Midwest farmers are behind in planting corn and soybeans, thanks to a cool spring and heavy rain. Now, they're getting a chill from Congress, too, as the House voted down a new farm bill last week. In Iowa, some farmers say they're disappointed and frustrated that farm policy is on hold, largely because of arguments over nutrition programs they think shouldn't even be in the farm bill.

A Connecticut couple couldn't decide whether to name their soon-to-be-born son Jackson or Logan. So according to the New Haven Register, they decided to take a poll of customers at Starbucks. In the end, they went with their own suggestion: Logan Jackson.

For some couples, the Supreme Court's ruling to strike down part of the Defense of Marriage Act will have significant financial impact. The amount of federal income tax they pay could go down, and their health insurance and other benefits could be affected too.

Researchers are developing a technology that could draw carbon dioxide directly out of the air. It's very expensive now, but it works, and one company is already trying to identify a market for all that captured greenhouse gas.

South Africa is on watch for the fate of the 94-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate. The ailing Mandela, an international icon known for his fight to end apartheid, has been in the hospital for several days. For the latest on his condition, Renee Montagne speaks with NPR's Ofeibea Quist-Arcton.

Wednesday marked the third day of testimony in the murder trial of George Zimmerman. The neighborhood watch volunteer is accused of killing unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin. Among those testifying was a key witness: Rachel Jeantel. She testified that she was on the phone with Martin when he was attacked.

In one case, a divided court struck down a key section of the Defense of Marriage Act, enabling same-sex couples in states that allow gay marriage to qualify for federal benefits. The court also ruled that plaintiffs in a gay marriage case from California lacked standing — it carved the way for gay marriages to resume in California.

At the turn of the 20th century, visiting a drug store meant going to a soda counter with a pharmacist. If you wanted to go shopping, you would go to a department store. Now that trend is reversing: drug stores are battling to keep consumers in the store for longer.

Like most airlines, Delta overbooks its flights. The Department of Transportation fined Delta $750,00 for violating rules on overbooking — specifically for complaints that it bumped passengers without first asking for volunteers, and also failed to offer compensation for those who got bumped.

In two rulings on Wednesday, the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act and cleared the way for same-sex marriages to begin again in California. There were celebrations after the rulings were announced, but others did not welcome the news.

Secretary of State John Kerry returns to Israel, the West Bank and Jordan this week to continue to press Israeli and Palestinian leaders to sit down at the negotiating table. But in the run-up to this visit, two Israeli ministers have come out against the two-state solution that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he supports.

The world's largest retailer Wal-Mart is joining the list of companies severing ties with southern food star Paula Deen. The Savannah, Georgia-based cook and restaurateur has been on the front burner since an admission she used a racial slur in the past.

New York City became the most populous place in the United States to require businesses to give employees paid sick leave. Mayor Michael Bloomberg had previously vetoed this requirement, but has now been overruled by the City Council.

After determining that the Syrian government has crossed a red line by using chemical weapons, the White House has agreed to start sending military aid to the rebels. Some analysts think it may be too late to tip the balance in Syria, where Assad's forces backed by Hezbollah, Iran and Russia have been gaining ground.

Iranians headed to the polls on Friday to elect a new president. Many people there feel the outcome won't make much difference since the reins of power will remain with the Supreme Leader, Ayatolah Khamenei. Analysts will be closely watching voter turn-out.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is looking into ways on how to prevent the next leaker. Audie Cornish speaks with Joshua Keating, associate editor at Foreign Policy and writer at the War of Ideas blog for more.

Hearing — and holding — Mozart's own instruments is a thrill like no other. The great composer's violin and viola, which are only pulled out of storage in Salzburg about once a year, are in the United States for the very first time. And the magic they wield is undeniable.

The Federal Reserve's economic stimulus has helped keep mortgage rates at record lows in the years since the Great Recession. But rates are ticking upward, leaving some investors worried that the nascent housing recovery will suffer if the Fed unravels its policies too quickly.

An ex-con lends money to people in need; a group of friends creates a savings club. Even without banks, people often figure out how to get the money they need, when they need it.

Protesters in Istanbul are mulling an offer from Prime Minister Erdogan that could bring an end to the unrest.

Sebastien de la Cruz sang the national anthem at a second game of the NBA Finals after his first performance spurred a flurry of racist tweets.

Two days after the Spurs throttled the Heat by nearly 40 points, Miami responded with a rout of its own in San Antonio to tie up the NBA Finals at two games apiece. Even better news for the defending champions? The Big Three, Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh, finally look like the Big Three again. Audie Cornish talks to sportswriter Stefan Fatsis about that and the scourge of flopping.

A fraternal agriculture organization known as the Grange must bring in younger members to survive. But the new generation's interest in environmental issues and food politics is clashing with the Grange's support of industrial farms.

The White House will begin sending direct military aid to the Syrian opposition after concluding that the Syrian government has been using chemical weapons against rebel forces. For the past two years, President Obama has taken a cautious approach to the conflict and has been reluctant to intervene.

Melissa Block talks to political commentators E.J. Dionne of The Washington Post and Brookings Institution and David Brooks of The New York Times. They discuss leaks about a National Security Agency surveillance program and Syria.