Tell Me More

Financial scams are on the rise. Last year, Americans filed more than 1.5 million fraud complaints. Officials at the U.S. Postal Inspection Service say the elderly are particularly vulnerable and the agency has made combating fraud one of its top priorities. Guest host Alison Keyes speaks with Pete Rendina of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

A long line of international parenting guides are offering advice to Americans. This made the Tell Me More moms ask, "What's so bad about American parents?" Host Michel Martin checks in with The Washington Post's Brigid Shulte and regular contributors Dani Tucker, Jolene Ivey and Leslie Morgan Steiner.

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MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

And now it's time for the feature we call In Your Ear. That's where we ask some of the guests of the program to share the songs that keep them inspired. Today we hear from Omarosa Manigault. You might remember her as a take-no-prisoners competitor on the reality television shows "The Apprentice" and "The Celebrity Apprentice." But now she has found a new calling – in the ministry.

It's been nearly a year since Rahm Emanuel cruised to victory in the election for Chicago's mayor. Host Michel Martin talks with Mayor Emanuel about how he's raising Chicago's international profile and working to boost the city's economy. Emanuel also weighs in on President Obama's re-election campaign.

All week-long NPR will look at parts of the U.S. economy that are beginning to thrive after the economic downturn. Host Michel Martin hears individual stories of economic upturn, along with stories of continued struggles, from listeners and NPR's Senior Business Editor Marilyn Geewax.

Frank Bures taught English in Tanzania in 1996. He recently returned and found a place much different than the underdeveloped farm community he remembered. His former students were also living very different lives than what he imagined. Host Michel Martin speaks with Bures about how his students found hope in their country's economic growth.

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MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

I'm Michel Martin and this is TELL ME MORE from NPR News. Later, find out what reality show star Omarosa - excuse me, make that Reverend Omarosa is listening to these days.

But, first, we want to go behind closed doors. That's where we talk about sensitive issues that many people find hard to discuss. Health is one of those issues, but that's one reason we try to talk about some of the unique circumstances that affect the health, particularly of minority women, whether the issue is HIV/AIDS, diabetes or obesity.

The Department of Education's top civil rights official, Russlynn Ali, speaks with host Michel Martin about a new report. It finds students of color have less access to high-level classes, their teachers are often paid less than those of white students in same district, and suspension rates for black students are disproportionately high.

March Madness is the biggest month in college basketball. But the madness can start long before students get to college. Some coaches with little or no experience recruit kids as young as eight, dangling big dreams in front of families. Host Michel Martin speaks with George Dohrmann about his book Play Their Hearts Out.

Tell Me More's website lit up with comments after a discussion with a Georgia lawmaker who suggested regulating vasectomies. Host Michel Martin and editor Ammad Omar dig through the mailbag to talk about that topic, and the debate over the greatest drummer of all time.