NPR People: Jeff Brady

The nonprofit Samaritan Ministries transfers money among its members to pay each household's health care costs. Benefits to members include lower monthly payments and faith-based policies, but there's no guarantee their bills will be covered. Several evangelical Christian groups are using similar approaches.

When millions of dollars disappeared from health savings accounts, people were left with more questions than answers. Some say more government regulation is needed for the accounts, but others argue for a wait-and-see approach.

Colorado Springs, Colo., is turning off a third of its streetlights and slashing budgets for parks, police and firefighters, but that hasn't stopped voters from tightening the purse strings even more.

As the congregation of Central Valley Baptist Church near Boise, Idaho, gathered for Sunday services, their thoughts and prayers were with ten church missionaries being held in Haiti. The Idaho group has been charged with trying to take Haitian children out of the country illegally.

As thousands of Haitians try to flee devastated Port-au-Prince, disaster researchers are clamoring to get in. Experts in the relatively new field of study could offer valuable insights into the effectiveness of relief efforts.

In 2008, President Obama won Colorado by 9 percentage points. Just a few years before, the state was a sea of Republican red. But it's too soon to put Colorado in the blue column for good; flagging support for the state's Democrats has Republicans looking forward to November's elections.

This week, big-time Democrats Sens. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut and Byron Dorgan of North Dakota decided not to run for re-election and a number of Democrats are retiring from the House of Representatives. In Colorado, Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter announced Wednesday he won't seek a second term. With the news, Colorado Republicans are feeling like they have a chance to make inroads.

Two Dartmouth professors have proved what skiers and snowboarders have long suspected: Ski resorts overreport snowfall to attract customers. But new technology might begin to hold them more accountable. The study found that resorts reported 23 percent more snow on weekends, but didn't single out specific resorts.

Colorado has seen a huge increase in marijuana dispensaries in the past year because the state hasn't clamped down on them. But there is growing interest among some state lawmakers to regulate the industry when the legislature reconvenes in January.

Low prices, low interest rates and the $8,000 tax credit have all encouraged more first-time home purchases. A survey by the National Association of Realtors shows that 47 percent of those who bought a house last year were jumping into the market for the first time.

The parents who perpetrated the "balloon boy" hoax were sentenced to jail Wednesday in Colorado. Richard and Mayumi Heene will both spend time behind bars. They will be on probation for years afterward, and barred from profiting from the spectacle during that time.

Exxon Mobil is betting big on natural gas, announcing Monday it is buying XTO Energy for about $30 billion in stock. XTO is a major player in developing so-called unconventional natural gas resources, including gas trapped in shale rock formations.

Chocolate milk has been kicked off the lunch menu at schools across the country. The dairy industry says that even though it contains more sugar than white milk, it's more nutritious than soda or other drink options. But healthful-lunch activists aren't so sure.

John Kitzhaber says Congress is too focused on access to health care in its proposed overhaul — and not focused enough on costs. He's running for governor again and wants to make Oregon a model for health care by focusing on prevention and rationing.

The government released figures Monday showing that a record number of Americans faced food insecurity in 2008. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said 49 million people lack the access to food that they need.