Skip to main content

© 2026 WEKU

Lexington's Choice for NPR

Support WEKU!

Play Live Radio

Next Up:

0:00

0:00

0:00 0:00

Available On Air Stations

The 1850 campaign is replacing lost federal funds one supporter at a time. Thanks to our listeners and supporters, we are now just 137 away from reaching this goal of 1850 new supporters donating at least $10 a month. Click here to join the campaign!

Ashton Carter Said To Be Front-Runner For Defense Secretary Nomination

NPR | By David Welna

Published December 2, 2014 at 4:17 PM EST

The White House is close to nominating someone to replace Chuck Hagel as Secretary of Defense. Ashton Carter, the former number two at the Pentagon, is said to be the front-runner. Several other top candidates withdrew their names from consideration in the past week. Carter, a former Rhodes Scholar, is known as a strong manager and an expert on many issues facing the department.

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

David Welna

David Welna is NPR's national security correspondent.

See stories by David Welna

Support nonprofit, fact-based public service journalism

WEKU depends on support from those who view and listen to our content. There's no paywall here. Please support WEKU with your donation.

Contribute now

Related Content

CNN founder Ted Turner dies

David Folkenflik

Ted Turner — the founder of CNN and a suite of other cable channels, not to mention a restaurant chain, anti-nuclear nonprofit and sports competition — has died.
NPR News

Trade court strikes down a second round of Trump tariffs

Scott Horsley

The Court of International Trade has struck down a second round of global tariffs ordered by President Trump, after his earlier import taxes were outlawed by the U.S. Supreme Court.
NPR News

U.S. military says it intercepted Iranian attacks on 3 Navy ships in Strait of Hormuz

The Associated Press

The U.S. military also says that it "targeted Iranian military facilities responsible for attacking U.S. forces." The exchange occurred Thursday as U.S. Navy destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Central Command said in a social media post.
The show still goes on: Federal employees are honored after a tumultuous year

Andrea Hsu

Amid tumultuous times for federal workers, a team of USDA researchers is being honored with the Service to America medal. Their work over decades has helped to revolutionize the dairy industry.
NPR News

Alcohol warning labels that link drinking to cancer are effective, study says

Maria Godoy

A new study finds updated warning labels pointing out the increased risks of specific diseases, like cancer, would do a better job of encouraging people to drink less alcohol than the current warning.