Patrick Madden

Off the Louisiana coast, the Coast Guard is searching for at least 12 people missing after a ship capsized in bad weather Tuesday afternoon. Six people were initially rescued.

The amount of money being spent on state and local races across the country is increasing. Many of them are attracting donations from national interest groups and it's often hard to trace that money.

Workers are now missing paychecks for the first time since the partial government shutdown began. That's causing many of them to do what once seemed unthinkable — apply for unemployment.

For the latest developments in the shooting at the Capital Gazette newsroom in Annapolis, Md., NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with WAMU member station reporter Patrick Madden.

The president of Howard University in Washington, D.C. faces the results of a no-confidence vote from Howard's faculty. Students there have been protesting for more than a week.

A white University of Maryland student could be charged with a hate crime in the death of a black student who was there visiting friends. Richard Collins was stabbed while waiting for a ride.

Washington, D.C., residents pushing to enfranchise teens think their opinions matter and the move would boost voter participation. But some worry 16-year-olds aren't ready to cast ballots.

The group called Million Father March is trying to get African-American fathers more engaged in their children's education. That includes urging them to walk their kids to school.

Wal-Mart says its plans to open six stores in the nation's capitol are back on after the mayor vetoed a so-called living wage bill that targeted big box retailers. The focus now turns to the District's 13 member City Council. The bill passed in July with eight votes — nine are needed to override a veto.

Over the strong objections of Wal-Mart, the City Council in Washington D.C. has approved a bill that would require some large retailers to pay workers a minimum of $12.50 an hour. The city's minimum wage is $8.25. Wal-Mart has threatened to scrap plans to open three stores in the city if the measure is signed by the mayor and becomes law.