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Despite uneven economic signals, the stock market boomed to record levels in 2013. To find out why, NPR's Linda Wertheimer speaks with Jeremy Siegel from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business about what's behind the rise, and what to expect in 2014.

Emergency unemployment benefits are ending, the auto bailout is over, and the Federal Reserve is scaling back its market support. All these are signs that federal stimulus is coming to an end. NPR's Linda Wertheimer talks with TIME magazine's Michael Grunwald about the winding down of government recovery efforts following the financial collapse of 2008.

Thirty-four firefighters died in the line of duty this year. The unusually high number is sparking a larger conversation about the dangers firefighters face as more homes are built in and around drought-stricken forests.

This year saw a major development in a story that NPR's Ina Jaffe has been following since 2011. NPR's Arun Ruth checks in her about a group of homeless, disabled veterans who filed a lawsuit seeking housing on the sprawling campus of the VA health care facility in West Los Angeles.

Stories that titillate, amuse or arouse flash-in-the-pan outrage may be more widely read and shared than solid information. Celebrity and scandals have always attracted media attention, but in the Internet age, the balance is shifting more toward entertainment.

Ten cities and states have passed laws guaranteeing access to some kind of family leave this year, according to the National Partnership for Women and Families. NPR's Jennifer Ludden speaks with director Vicki Shabo about efforts to make family leave mandatory.

The secretary of state set big goals this year, from restarting the Mideast peace process to ending the civil war in Syria and curbing Iran's nuclear program. NPR's Jennifer Ludden talks with David Ignatius of The Washington Post about how much progress Kerry has made this year.

The end of December is a crucial deadline for removing chemical weapons from Syria. Now the OPCW, the international organization overseeing that transfer, is backing away from that deadline. NPR's Geoff Brumfiel discusses the plan for chemical weapons removal and disposal, and why it's been so hard.

On Wednesday, Egypt declared the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization. New York Times Middle East reporter Kareem Fahim speaks with NPR's Jennifer Ludden on the latest developments from Cairo.

Despite news that hackers stole PIN data from the giant retailer Target during prime buying season, shoppers say they will still use their cards to ring up purchases there. Target says the PINs are encrypted, but security experts say that given time, hackers could still outwit the system.