Search results for

NPR's Neal Conan reports that Congress is considering legislation that would streamline and reorganize this country's intelligence services. This hasn't been done in three decades. Some of the proposals are controversial...especially those that would give the CIA director more authority over agencies that have been under the control of the Secretary of Defense up until now.

Linda talks with George Yapko (YAWP-koh), a cook at Pacers Restaurant in Euclid, Ohio, about the Memorial Day festivities at "America's Largest Outdoor Barbecue." being held this weekend in Cleveland. An estimated 126 thousand people are expected to attend. Restaurants from as far away as Sydney, Australia are competing to acquire the title of "Best Barbecue."

In the second of two reports, NPR's Michael Skoler explores the issue of foreign intervention in Burundi's mounting internal crisis. The United Nations is discussing the idea of forming some sort of force that could stabilize the situation, but no country can figure out how a peacekeeping force could stop the killing. In addition, Burundi's government and the Tutsi minority--which still controls the army--don't want any foreign troops in the country.

One year ago, President Clinton and House Speaker Newt Gingrich held an unprecendented joint town meeting in Claremont, New Hampshire. It was described as "cordial", "low-key", and a "love-in", where both leaders talked about the future of the country with little arguing and without raising their voices. They shook hands and pledged to do something about campaign finance reform. One year later, the Claremont resident who asked them to "clean up Washington" wonders why nothing's been done. (2:30)

- Tom visits National Geographic's Explorers' Hall in Washington, D.C. to meet Juanita, the five-hundred year old mummy discovered in Peru last year. Juanita was an Inca human sacrifice. She was around 13 years old at the time of her death. Her body has been frozen all these years and is extremely well preserved. Tom talks with archaeologist Johan Reinhard who found Juanita about the circumstances of her death and the significance of her discovery.

The Democratic Party hopes to raise $11 million at a Washington, DC shindig tonight, just a little less than Republicans hauled in at a gala of their own early this year. What do donors get for the checks? What about voters? Peter Overby reports.

Alan Cheuse a short new novel by first time writeer Laura Kasischke (Kah-SHISH-kee). Her new novel is called A Suspicious River, a look at the troubled life of Leila, a young married women from Northern Michigan. The book is published by Houghton Miffin.

Commentator Kristine Holmgren says in the nation's heartland, young people are suffering from the same issues as the rest of the nation---single parent familes, poverty...and then isolation, boredom and a tendency to reckless behavior.

Robert talks with Michael McFaul (mick-FALL) about the upcoming presidential election in Russia. McFaul is a senior associate at the Moscow Carnegie Center, and a professor of political science at Stanford University. McFaul says the vote between Yeltsin and Zyuganov presents a stark choice.

NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports from Florence, Italy, where an international conference is reviewing the progress of peace in the former Yugoslavia. The fighting has stopped, the armies are separated and the one-year-long NATO mission is nearly half over. Two important issues are on the agenda in Florence: finding a solution to re-settling an estimated two-million people uprooted by the war, and deciding whether the elections scheduled for September should be held.

NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports from Florence, Italy, where more than 40 nations have concluded their review of the peace process in Bosnia. The final statement calls for the ouster of Bosnian Serb President Radovan Karadzic (RAH-doh-vahn KARE-uh-ditch). It also sets September 14th as the date for national elections.

- Voters in the far east of Russia have already started going to the polls, but for most of the country voting begins on Sunday. NPR's Ann Cooper visits a village near Moscow where she talks with people there about how they view the presidential elections, who they're supporting and why.

The International Olympic Committee cut short its probe following the unexpected death of the shot-putter's mother on Tuesday. She died just two days after watching her daughter win a silver medal.

- Daniel talks with clinical psychologist Dr.Sherry Turkle about how the Internet has transformed the way people define themselves. Because people are able to take on code names and virtual personas on-line, they are able to take on roles they may have never explored before. Although some people may argue that this is unhealthy, Dr.Turkle insists that it can actually be therapeutic. Her new book on the subject is called "Life on the Screen: Identity in the Age of the Internet" (Simon & Schuster).

Linda talks with NPR's White House correspondent Mara Liasson about President Clinton's three-day campaign trip out West and his visit tomorrow to a South Carolina church that recently burned down. They will talk about how the differences between when a President goes out to campaign and when a challenger campaigns, and how the public can tell the difference between what's political and what's presidential.

South Korea, Japan and the United States have pledged millions in food aid to North Korea, which is said to be experiencing the worst food crisis in its history. Robert talks with Douglas Coutts (KOOTS), North American director of the United Nations World Food Program about the food shortages in North Korea. Mr. Coutts recently traveled to North Korea to work at various rural food distribution sites. It has been said that the country is experiencing food shortages because of the nation's collective farming structure...and the worst flooding in a century. Sixty-five percent of the population receives food allotments of 250 grams per day.

Robert talks with Leon Aron (AH-rohn), a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, about his assessment of Russian President Boris Yeltsin. Aron says that negatives about Yeltsin are exaggerated and that Russians associate two very positive things with Yeltsin; that lines for goods have disappeared, and that the ruble is now a valued, exchangeable currency.

Gene Johnson of member station WNYC reports on the arrests today of nineteen people suspected of leading the nation's strongest Mafia family. The charges include murder and illegal gambling, and reportedly stem from a two-year probe of the Genovese (jehn-uh-VEES) crime family.

Hillary Rodham Clinton has sent the Senate Whitewater committee written answers to the panel's last-minute questions about her actions related to Whitewater. Mrs Clinton told the committee today she did not know how billing records for her legal work showed up at the White House after being lost for two years. Her lawyer, David Kendall, has criticized committee Republicans for leaking conclusions of their final report before they received Mrs. Clinton's written answers. Kendall says the leaks make it clear that the conclusions were reached without regard to the facts. NPR's Mara Liasson reports.

NPR's Anne Garrels reports from Moscow on Russian President Boris Yeltsin's manuevers to improve his chances of re-election in next month's run-off. Yeltsin appointed former general Alexander Lebed ((LEH-bed)) to the Security Council. In turn, Lebed pledged his support to Yeltsin in the final round of voting. In the first round, Lebed came in third behind Yeltsin and Communist candidate Gennady Zyuganov ((gen-NAH-dee zyu-GAH-noff)). Zyuganov had also wooed Lebed for his support.