Distilling whisky, an age-old tradition, and stone making for a rapidly growing sport are just two Scottish traditions on display at the Smithsonian Institution's 37th annual Folklife Festival, which began Wednesday. Stone making for the Olympic sport of curling and how Scotch whisky is made are ..

WASHINGTON – It might be hard to see the similarities in the cultures of Scotland, the West African nation of Mali and the Appalachian region of the United States. But one can certainly hear them. In the twanging of the banjo and the singing of the fiddle, Appalachian music combines the ..

Washington -- Everything underneath the Appalachian foodways tent at the Smithsonian Institution's Folklife Festival was reminiscent of simple country living. Peeled apple slices and green bean garlands hung above visitors, while potted herbs sat beneath the cutting table. To the left and right, ..

WASHINGTON -- Janet Goldner, a presenter for the Smithsonian Institution's Folklife Festival, sat patiently as her feet were prepared by henna artist Aminata Doumbia, of Bamako, the capital of Mali. Doumbia, 23, has been working with henna art since she was 7 years old. She put pieces of ..

Washington -- Lloyd Arneach often gets what he considers absurd questions about his American Indian heritage.Once, someone even asked him how long he had been an Indian. He was in a particularly good humor, he recalled this week, and decided to respond with a joke: “Since I was 6 years ..

Defense and State department officials remained firm in congressional testimony Thursday that North Korea must curtail its nuclear weapons program.A trio of top officials also said the United States needs to maintain a strong military presence in the Pacific. When members of the House International ..

The Scripps Howard Foundation Wire incorrectly reported the status of Marcia O. Wright in its story June 23 on reaction to the Supreme Court's affirmative action decisions. The story should have said that Wright said she was one of 47 black students to enter the Catholic University of America ..

WASHINGTON – From the sultry blond glow of Marilyn Monroe to the simplicity of a saluting Boy Scout, the artwork to be featured in a new Smithsonian exhibit is on a smaller scale than most.The exhibit's artists, commissioned by the United States Postal Service, were under orders to keep their ..

Washington -- The White House staff transformed the south lawn from its normal placid beauty into a bustling little league park, complete with grandstands and a five-man jazz band all set for a battle between Navy and Army tee-ball teams Sunday afternoon.In honor of U.S. military families, ..

Washington -- Marcia O. Wright, 24, was so busy studying for the bar exam that she didn't hear about the Supreme Court's rulings in the two Michigan affirmative action cases until almost four hours after they were handed down Monday. But when she heard the news as she left her bar exam review ..