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Any American president hoping to stake a claim to being viewed by future generations as great and transformative -- or at least very good and effective -- would be wise to choose his predecessor well.

Editor's note: NPR's Corey Dade recently traveled to New York to interview the Rev. Al Sharpton about the unusual arc of his checkered career, from pugnacious street fighter for racial justice to savvy insider with ties to CEOs, a successful television show and the the ear of a soon-to-be second-term president. Click on the slideshow above to see a day in the life of Sharpton and hear more about how he juggles it all while running a civil rights organization with 40 chapters across the nation, hosting his own radio show, and appearing on PoliticsNation -- all on the same day.

Sara Kruzan, who was sentenced to life in prison without parole for killing her pimp when she was 16, now has a shot at freedom.

If disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong's confession to doping is as complete as many believe, the admission could increase his legal troubles after Oprah Winfrey's OWN TV airs the interview Thursday night.

The president's push to address gun violence and mental health centers largely on training teachers and others who work with children, teens and young adults to recognize illness as it's developing.

Editor's note: Our partner GlobalPost is launching a series that looks at wealth and poverty worldwide by comparing U.S. metro areas with foreign cities that have similar levels of income inequality. The findings may surprise you. This story from Fairfield County, Conn., and a companion piece from Bangkok, examine two places where the superrich and the very poor live just minutes apart.

When a young Quaker woman in 1850s Ohio comes into contact with the Underground Railroad, she faces a dilemma. If she helps the runaways, her family could go to prison and lose their farm. Tracy Chevalier's contemplative novel offers a powerful testament to the force of conscience.

The debate over Native American sports names continues still today. Many argue these team names and mascots perpetuate an insensitivity and misunderstanding of American Indian culture. Others say they're paying respect to American Indians' fighting spirit and are anything but derogatory.

Maria Peyer and Mike Bixby are one of those couples who just seem made for each other. They hold hands when they sit and talk. They're happy to spend the morning cooking brunch with their children in their home in southern Washington.

In 1986, Congress passed a ban on buying and selling machine guns made from then on — with the blessing of none other than the National Rifle Association. Gun law experts say the law was more significant than it seemed at the time.