Researchers and ranchers are studying whether cattle grazing could significantly reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires in rugged areas of the southwest.  As Laurel Morales reports from the Fronteras Changing America Desk, firefighters had the toughest time fighting recent record-setting fires in steep terrain where dry grasses and other fuels had built up.

The United States is doing a pretty miserable job of treating people with HIV.

The latest numbers show that only 28 percent of the nation's 1.2 million HIV-infected people are getting effective treatment — that is, antiviral medications to keep the virus in check.

Tired of waiting in line at the supermarket during this holiday season? Well, there may be some food you can harvest right out your back door. From the Fronteras Changing America Desk, Jill Replogle introduces us to some native foods that are making a comeback in the southwest.

When you buy food that is labeled fair trade, you do so to support farmers who meet certain social and environmental standards. But some companies now disagree about whether a new take on fair trade can really be called "fair."

Pigs will probably fly in the Southwest before home builders stop building new homes here, but the types of homes people will need in the next 20 years might look very different. We’re staying single longer, we’re having fewer children, we’re paying more for gas and utilities -- is it time to re-think the all-American SUBURB?  

In part two of the Fronteras Changing America Desk series, Beyond Sprawl, Devin Browne reports on an Arizona State University project to redesign a cul de sac for the future.

Leading central banks around the world took coordinated moves Wednesday to provide more liquidity in the global financial system and calm rising fears in Europe over access to credit. As Europe's sovereign debt crisis worsens, bank lending has tightened, and nervous investors are reluctant to make loans to European banks.

Republican voters may have saved the best for last in terms of the latest obstacle they've placed between Mitt Romney and what was supposed to have been his inevitable march to the 2012 Republican presidential nomination — Newt Gingrich.

Essentially written off after his campaign seemingly imploded last summer and because of the manifest personal baggage he brings to a presidential campaign, Gingrich stuck around long enough to have his moment, to catch fire after Herman Cain flamed out.

Police in two of the nation's largest cities moved in overnight to sweep away the camps of Occupy protesters. In Philadelphia, protesters marched through the streets; about 50 were arrested. In Los Angeles, hundreds of police deployed from City Hall and took control of a camp nearby, with more than 200 arrests. Steve Inskeep talks with Frank Stoltze of member station KPCC, who was been watching the developments in L.A.

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Now, the Occupy protests have focused on economic issues, which are also motivating a massive strike in Britain today. It is being described as the largest national strike in a generation. It is estimated that as many as 2 million public sector workers may be taking part, the latest in a wave of protests over austerity measures.

NPR's Philip Reeves is covering that story in London. And Philip, where are you?

The Federal Reserve joined other major central banks Wednesday in a coordinated effort to shore up the global financial system. The move comes at a time when credit is becoming tighter, especially in Europe, because of doubts about the health of big banks.