Search results for

Federal regulators sign off on the merger of AT&T Broadband and Comcast, the nation's largest and third-largest cable TV companies. The deal creates a company with 27 million subscribers. NPR's Jack Speer reports.

U.S. officials and analysts seek to confirm the authenticity -- and gauge the import -- of a recording that may feature Osama bin Laden's comments on recent events. Hear from NPR's Michele Kelemen, voice recognition expert Steve Cain, and Egyptian political scientist Mamoun Fandy.

America's Catholic Bishops overwhelmingly approve new rules for handling cases involving the sexual abuse of minors. The policy was crafted at the Vatican, and is expected to receive quick approval from the pope. NPR's Barbara Bradley Hagerty reports.

Robert Siegel remembers his cameo voice role on the TV show Northern Exposure in 1995. He played himself introducing actress Margaret "Peg" Phillips as a commentator on All Things Considered. Phillips, who won fame as the shopkeeper Ruth-Anne Miller in the television series, died Thursday of lung disease. She was 84.

A new blood test that checks for a certain protein proves just as good at predicting the risk of a heart attack as conventional cholesterol tests, according to a new study. The results leave heart experts at odds over whether the test should become a part of routine checkups. NPR's Richard Knox reports.

Pub-goers in London cheer Queen Elizabeth II's announcement that Parliament will soon consider allowing pubs to stay open 24 hours. Currently, pubs must close at 11 p.m. NPR's Robert Siegel talks with London pub manager Charlotte Renick. (This story was corrected on air on Nov. 14, 2002: "It's Thursday, the day we read from your letters, and we start with a correction to yesterday's program. I said that Britain's pubs have closed early, ever since World War II. Our thanks to Charles Day in Bozeman, Montana, Marc James Small in Roanoke, Virginia and Peg Willingham in Arlington, Virginia. All pointed out that closing the pubs early was a World War I innovation, part of the Defence of the Realm Act. Mr. Day notes that the law was "affectionately known to the British' by its acronym 'DORA.' The logic of the pub closings was, he writes, 'to keep factory production levels high. Factory workers, particularly the ammunition factory workers, would be home from the pubs at a reasonable hour so that they would show up well rested on the factory floor the next morning.'"

The Republican-controlled House approves the creation of a Homeland Security Department in a 299-121 vote. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) predicts the bill will pass in the Senate by next week. NPR's David Welna reports.

The FBI says hospitals in four major U.S. cities might be the target of terrorists. Authorities say threats indicate that attacks could occur between December and April in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Houston and Chicago. Jason Lopez reports.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops continues its meeting in Washington, D.C., to discuss changes to the bishops' proposed new policy for dealing with sexually abusive priests. The Vatican seeks revisions to items it says conflict with church law. NPR's Duncan Moon reports.

Cleanup efforts are underway after more than 70 tornadoes kill at least 35 people, injure dozens and destroy towns across five states. In Morgan County, Tenn., two tornadoes killed at least seven people and leaving dozens of families homeless. NPR's Brian Naylor reports.

As talk of war against Iraq intensifies, many military families get ready for possible deployments to the Persian Gulf. Russell Lewis and Beth Ford of member station KPBS report.

Lynn Neary talks with Kathleen McChesney, FBI executive assistant director for Law Enforcement Services. She'll be taking on the new role as executive director of the Office for Child and Youth Protection.

The U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments in a trademark case that pits lingerie chain Victoria's Secret against a small Kentucky novelty store called Victor's Little Secret. At issue is whether Victor's Little Secret, a seller of sex toys and videos, is violating federal law by diluting the value of the Victoria's Secret trademark. NPR's Nina Totenberg reports.

NPR's Ivan Watson reports from Incerlik in southeastern Turkey, base for the U.S. and British warplanes that monitor the no-fly zone over northern Iraq. The pilots say their daily forays into Iraqi airspace, and their increasingly frequent clashes with Iraqi anti-aircraft gunners, are good practice in the event of a new war with Iraq.

NPR's Barbara Bradley Hagerty reports on the ongoing meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, where the discussion is focused on child abuse by the clergy. Among the votes planned for tomorrow is one on a statement that bishops will hold one another responsible for implementing the policies by fraternal correction. One bishop also said public pressure will hold the bishops accountable. But lay groups pushing for stronger protections for minors say the bishops promised 10 years ago they would be accountable, but went on placing offending priests in parishes.

Music Critic Jim Fusilli has a review of the latest recording from Tin Hat Trio, a group that blends an eclectic array of styles. The CD is called The Rodeo Erodes. (3:45) The CD is on Rope-a-Dope Records.

Members of the House and Senate return to Washington for a "lame-duck" session of the 107th Congress. Meanwhile, the White House and lawmakers reach agreement on a compromise plan to create a new Department of Homeland Security. Hear NPR's David Welna, Pam Fessler and Mara Liasson.

Arab TV network Al-Jazeera broadcasts an audiotape it claims features the voice of Osama bin Laden. In the tape, the voice praises recent terrorist acts and threatens Western nations against any attack on Iraq. NPR's Kate Seelye reports.

Residents in Morgan County, Tenn., comb through wreckage after Sunday's devastating tornadoes. The storms killed at least 35 people in five states, including at least 16 people in Tennessee. NPR's Brian Naylor reports.

New research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests there is no medical reason for post-menopausal women to avoid attempting pregnancy using donated eggs. Hear Richard Paulson, the study's chief researcher.