Search results for

NPR's Dan Charles explains how the kind of jet engine that exploded on a Delta flight over the weekend works, and how such incidents can occur.

A government study released today says that driving a cab is the most dangerous job in America. The second most dangerous job is being a sheriff. NPR's Melissa Block reports on how people who hold these jobs are reacting to this news. She talks with one New York cab driver who was held up at gunpoint several years ago says for three months after the attack he was too scared to drive his cab; now he never drives it at night. And a sheriff in Washington State says he's not surprised sheriffs have the second highest on-job homicide rate; he says there's a continual struggle to make the job safer, and more funding is the answer.

Robert talks with Dr. Robert Ciccone (sih-KOH-nee), a professor of Psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center and the chair of the Commission on Judicial Action of the American Psychiatry Association, which filed a brief in the Jaffee v. Redmond case which was decided today by the Supreme Court. The case involved the "psychotherapist-patient privilege," which protects confidential communications between a psychotherapist and her patient. The Court ruled that psychotherapists, including social workers who offer counseling, generally cannot be forced to testify or provide other evidence about their patients in federal cases.

NPR's Brian Naylor reports from the White House on President Clinton's first meeting with the new Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Though Clinton favored the election of Netanyahu's more moderate opponent in last May's election, both he and the new Prime Minister sought to patch up their differences and reaffirm traditional US-Israeli solidarity.

NPR's Jim Zarroli reports that the stock market sustained serious losses today, with its key barometer off as much as one hundred thirty-three points at one point. Technology stocks were particularly hard-hit, following computer manufacturer Hewlett-Packard's announcement that it would discontinue making disk-drive components. This news, combined with Motorola's announcement of lower-than-expected earnings and a lower bond market, sparked a sell-off that triggered the Stock Exchange's "uptick rule" that restricts computer-driven sell programs to stabilize the market.

Noah talks with Colonel John R. Bourgeois (BOOR-zhwa), who is retiring today after seventeen years as the director of "The President's Own" U.S. Marine Band. The band, once led by the legendary John Philip Sousa, has only had twenty-five directors in its history. Tonight marks Col. Bourgeois's last time conducting the group.

NPR senior news analyst Daniel Schorr says that the verdict in the Whitewater trial has cast a shadow over President Clinton, who just a week ago was far ahead of Dole in the polls. Funder 0:29 XPromo 0:29 CUTAWAY 1B 0:29 RETURN1 0:29 NEWS 2:59 NEWS 1:59 THEME MUSIC 0:29 1C 6. CHINA DISSIDENT -- Noah talks with Mike Jendrzejczyk (jenn-DREEZ-sick), the Washington Director of Human Rights Watch-Asia. Chinese police have detained dissident Wang Donghai (WAHNG dong-HY) after he and six other activists petitioned the National People's Congress on May 27th, demanding the release of political prisoners. Mr. Jendrzejczyk believes that paranoia in the Chinese government toward the democracy movement has increased in recent months as economic reforms have triggered more unrest. This recent round of arrests comes one week before the anniversary of the military crackdown that ended pro- democracy protests in Beijing's Tiananmen Square on June 4th, 1989.

In Illinois, a former military base has been transformed into a unique community of foster families. Each family gets a house rent-free and a yearly salary. Brent Wolf of W-I-L-L in Urbana, Illinois reports that although fifty percent of the children in the community have been abused or neglected, the program is thriving because of the attentiveness of the adults.

In New York's Fourth Congressional District, an interesting race is shaping up for the seat currently held by freshman Republican Dan Frisa (FREE-zuh). Carolyn McCarthy, whose husband was murdered in the 1993 Long Island Railroad shooting, has decided to run against Frisa because of his position on gun control. NPR's Melissa Block reports.

Recently-elected Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott is finding out quickly about the frustrations of gridlock. The Defense appropriations bill is being held hostage to a dispute over nuclear waste disposal, and a range of other bills are being held up as well. NPR's Peter Kenyon reports.

Noah talks with Willie Stern, a staff editor for Business Week magazine, about the news that federal authorities have begun a criminal investigation of the crash of ValuJet Flight 592. Stern says that the targets of the investigation are ValuJet and SabreTech Inc., an aircraft maintenance company that acknowledged it mistakenly labeled as "empty" a shipment of oxygen canisters that may have played a role in the crash. Investigators are examining the possibility that both companies may have lied to authorities after the crash.

NPR's senior news analyst Daniel Schorr says that Bob Dole is doing more than courting Colin Powell as a running mate.

NPR's Tom Gjelten reports on the latest discussions among America's major trading partners about their possible retaliation for the Helms-Burton law. Helms-Burton punishes certain foreign companies that do business in Cuba; it's the most drastic law of its kind ever enacted in the United States. Mexico, Canada, and the European Union have not yet announced specific counter-measures, but recent history with similar laws shows that foreign governments can make it illegal for their companies to follow U-S orders.

Linda talks with U-S Capt. Hector Jamili (HA-mee-lee), a civil engineer stationed at the military complex outside Dhahran (DAH

Linda Wertheimer talks with Yaron Ezrachi (ya-ROWN ez RAHK ee) and Tommy Lapid (la PEED) about shifts in attitudes about the peace process, as reflected in the Israeli election. Ezrachi is a political science professor at Hebrew University, and a fellow at the Israeli Democracy Institute. Lapid is the chief editorial writer for the newspaper Ma'ariv (ma- a-REEV).

Noah talks with NPR's Tom Gjelten about hearings today on Capitol Hill about Iranian arms being shipped to Bosnia through Croatia. The House International Relations Committee today heard testimony from the U.S. Ambassador to Croatia, Peter Galbraith.

Rolf Ekeus, the head of the U.N. Commission in charge of monitoring Iraq's compensation with orders to disarm itself, has stated that he believes Iraq still has significant stores of chemical and biological weapons, as well as long-range missiles. The BBC's Rob Watson reports.

- Daniel talks with David Tuller about his book, "Cracks in the Iron Closet: Travels in Gay and Lesbian Russia" (Faber & Faber) which looks at the life of homosexuals in Russia. Tuller says although Russian society is more tolerant of homosexuals in some aspects, it is still far from embracing homosexual lifestyles. Gay bashing is still prevalent and police often turn a blind eye to crimes against homosexuals.

Commentator Leslie Lang describes the charming tradition in Hawaii of draping graduating seniors in stacks of colorful leis, one on top of another, and how she had three near misses in terms experiencing this tradition at her graduations... until finally getting it right, this year, at the University of Hawaii.

NPR's Sunni Khalid reports that Palestinians have mixed feelings about the apparent victory of Benjamin Netanyahu (net-ahn-YAH-hoo). Some say that Israelis have voted against peace, while others believe that a Likud government may not be so bad after all.