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The next Race to the Top? Arne Duncan outlines vision for teacher reform.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan launched a $5 billion proposal Wednesday aimed at improving the teaching profession at every level. It would be modeled after the Race to the Top program.

Swiss scientists to build 'janitor satellite' to mop up space junk

A team of scientists in Lausanne, Switzerland, have announced a plan to build a satellite that would clear Earth's orbit of space debris.

The Apple stock roller coaster

Up $25 in early trading, Apple stock plummeted late in the day, dragging the rest of the market down with it.

Unemployment benefits 101: When will your state cut off extended benefits?

Congress is nearing a deal to extend long-term unemployment benefits to the end of the year. But many states plan to cut off the benefits well before Dec. 31.

The Last Great Senate

Did the Senate really used to be a grand institution? Ira Shapiro argues that it was – and not that long ago.

Apple, Greece pull Dow to worst 2012 showing

The Dow slid 97 points to close at 12780 as Greece slogged though bailout negotiations and Apple stock zigzagged wildly.

World's tiniest chameleon: How did it get so small?

Scientists recently discovered four new species of chameleons in Madagascar. One of them – Brookesia micra – is the smallest chameleon in the world. This species may have evolved through a phenomenon known as island dwarfism.

The Jeremy Lin Show goes global

Jeremy Lin isn't just big in the Big Apple. Jeremy Lin is emerging as a star in Canada, Britain, Taiwan and China.

Congo army reclaims two mines from rebel groups

Congolese civil society and mining associations say these mines should now be guarded by specially trained mining police to better guarantee the end of conflict minerals.

Iran's good cop, bad cop act: agrees to talks, flaunts nuclear advances

Iran has agreed to return to talks about its nuclear program. But it also trumpeted advances in that nuclear program, showing that it wants to bargain from a position of strength.

Chicago area called most corrupt in US. Why Rahm Emanuel is under fire.

Chicago and its suburbs have averaged 51 public corruption convictions per year since 1976, a new study finds. Critics say Rahm Emanuel has not made City Hall sufficiently transparent.

8 ways to find common ground

The partisan picture in America can look pretty grim: Gridlock plagues Washington. Congressional approval ratings hover near record lows. Each election cycle seems to fuel the vitriol. Polarizing soundbytes gets constant play in the 24/7 news cycle. Moderates are voted out. The culture wars rage on.

But these Monitor op-ed writers suggest there’s more common ground than meets the eye. Compromise and tolerance aren’t just possible in American politics and culture, they say. They’re vital. Here are eight powerful perspectives on the possibilities for meeting in the middle.

Chinese workers earn a shared $8 for every iPad 2 they make: report

A new report indicates that workers at Apple suppliers in China are paid much less than their counterparts elsewhere in the world.

Why did Democrats choose Antonio Villaraigosa to lead national convention?

Antonio Villaraigosa has built an impressive résumé in the California Assembly and as mayor of Los Angeles. As chair of the Democratic National Convention, he could help woo Latinos.

Twisted Metal review roundup

Twisted Metal review scores are in. Time to strap on that seatbelt.

Could you ride out a Great Depression?

When the Great Depression hit, many Americans were able to live off the land and wait it out. In today's sour economy, that's less of an option.

Reader recommendation: Salvage the Bones

Monitor readers share their favorite book picks.

Five Whitney Houston songs race up Britain's music charts after death

Five Whitney Houston songs had made it into the Top 40 in Britain's music charts by Wednesday, led by 'I Will Always Love You,' following her surprising death on Saturday.

Young people, post recession: Ready to launch?

Post-recession data and the government's pro-elderly policies don't give much hope to Millennials. Yet they remain surprisingly optimistic.

Documents reveal Koch-funded group's plot to undermine climate science

Documents leaked from the 'free-market' Heartland Institute reveal payments to prominent climate-change deniers, a plan to create a fossil-fuel-friendly curriculum for Kindergartners, and efforts to 'keep opposing voices' out of the media.

LightSquared unable to use wireless spectrum due to interference with existing GPS devices

Wireless Internet connections from LightSquared can confuse GPS devices. Now, the FCC says it may revoke LightSquared's permit to eliminate the risk of such interference.

Best in Show: Costly Westminster win for Malachy the Pekingese

Best in Show at Westminster will garner Malachy the Pekingese prestige and fame, but not much else. What did his Best in Show run cost?

Insights from a pile of manure

Her un-anniversary was fast approaching, but how to reinvent that day remained elusive.

Scientists unravel mystery of humongous space explosion (+video)

Great Eruption of Eta Carinae, a massive star some 7,500 light-years away that suddenly lit up the night sky for a decade beginning in 1838 is one of the most studied objects in the Milky Way. But it continues to puzzle astronomers.

We Touch Here

A poem.

Should Ron Paul demand a new vote count in Maine?

Evidence is mounting that the vote totals for the Maine caucuses, in which Mitt Romney edged out Ron Paul, were pretty messed up. In addition to towns that hadn't voted yet, others' totals were not recorded.

An FDA for financial products?

A new paper proposes that new financial products be put through screening by a federal agancy, similar to the Food and Drug Administration. Could this prevent future financial meltdowns?

Tidy Swiss scientists to build 'janitor satellites' to clean up space

Scientists in Laussanne, Switzerland, have announced a project to launch CleanSpace One, a small satellite that would remove debris from Earth's orbit.

Payroll tax deal close: Why did Republicans back down? (+video)

Senate Republicans came to a realization on the payroll tax cut fight: We got the policy right but the politics wrong and it’s time to move on. Specifics of the deal are still being hashed out.

Kellogg to buy Pringles brand for $2.7 billion

The addition will help Kellogg with its goal of becoming as big globally in snacks as it is in cereal. The Pringles business will add to Kellogg's stable of snack brands that include Keebler, Cheez-It and Special K Cracker Chips.

Africa Rising: Ethiopia moves to diversify exports

In an effort to move beyond just coffee, Ethiopia now exports leather, vegetables, flowers, and yes, the occasional bottle of wine.

Sean Penn jumps into Falkland Islands fray

Sean Penn lashes out at the deployment of a British prince to the Falklands. The UK is not amused.

2012 Westminster dog show: some viewers barking over 'Best in Show' choice

The Pekingese, which won Best in Show at the 2012 Westminster dog show, is adorable to many. Some view the waddling ball of fur as a wonder of nature. Others ask, is that really a dog?

Robert Harris's "The Fear Index" makes a thriller out of a man sitting at a computer

Robert Harris, the author of 'The Ghost,' discusses his new financial page-turner "The Fear Index" and his predilection for writing about ancient Rome.

'Transformers 4' may arrive in 2014

'Transformers 4' may not feature franchise star Shia LaBeouf, who says he's out.

Why there are no more woolly mammoths

Last week, a video allegedly showing a live woolly mammoth stirred frenzied speculation over its authenticity. Even though it was quickly debunked, it captured the popular imagination. What is it about these shaggy elephants that enchants us, and why did they disappear from the earth?

Retail sales are up 4.8 percent from last year

Retail sales in January increased 0.4 percent from December and 4.8 percent from last year. The data shows a rough correlation between home value appreciation and retail spending.

Ugandan minister raids gay-rights workshop

Uganda's parliament has taken up once more a bill that imposes tough sentences on homosexuals. A raid on a gay-rights workshop may show government support for the bill.

Kennedy son Tim Shriver will write book on the Special Olympics

Special Olympics CEO Tim Shriver says his new book will focus on how the athletes involved in the competition have changed his life.

Bestselling books the week of 2/16/12, according to IndieBound*

What's selling best in independent bookstores across America.