Search results for

An audio postcard from Mandalit del Barco. Spring meand one thing in Hollywood -- the Oscars. And preparations are well underway for Monday night's festivities.

Commentator David Brooks thinks that the Whitewater scandal shouldn't be brushed under the rug and overlooked. He says it's about upholding our leaders to certain standards and about what quantity of corruption America should tolerate.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today reported a case that's likely to raise new questions about the safety of the nation's blood supply. A Utah man repeatedly tested negative for HIV when he donated plasma even though he was apparently infected with the AIDS virus, according to the CDC. Officials say the case is extremely unusual and the blood supply remains very safe. But NPR's Joe Neel reports that the Food and Drug Administration wants blood banks to start using a new, more accurate test to reduce even further the chances of becoming infected with HIV through a blood transfusion from such donors.

Tandaleya Wilder of Connecticut Public Radio reports that some residents of Greenwich, Connecticut are in a snit over the issue of private music lessons taught in homes. One teacher hired a lawyer when she was told she was breaking the law by having students pound the ivories in her living room.

Joanne Silberner reports that today, the House Ways and Means Committee began consideration of a health insurance bill that would guarantee that millions of Americans would not lose coverage because of a pre-existing condition when they become unemployed or switch jobs. The legislation has broad bipartisan support, but House Republicans have tacked on a lot of amendments that are opposed by the Senate. How Senator Dole handles the Republican mavericks in the House has implications for his presidential candidacy.

NPR's Peter Overby reports..advocates of campaign finance reform haven't given up on the idea of passing a bill this year. One thing they are trying to do is to tie it to public interest issues. For example..saying reform is needed to make sure more women get elected to congress..or to make sure there are toughter cigarette regulations.

NPR senior news analyst Daniel Schorr says that the power, both political and financial, that tobacco companies have long had seems to be waning.

Robert Siegel speaks with Jeff Rosen, legal affairs editor for The New Republic magazine. They discuss a decision by a federal appeals court which held that the University of Texas Law School program to ensure diversity in entering class is illegal. The case could have a profound impact, possibly eliminating affirmative action programs of any sort, if upheld.

Noah talks to Frank Rich, the culture and society columnist for the New York Times, about the music that's being heard at political rallies. Last night Senator Dole played "Soul Man" and "What I Like About You," two songs which Rich says are bad matches for the candidate.

Homer Groening (Grane-ing), the namesake of the cartoon character Homer Simpson, died last Friday. he was 76 years old. Mr. Groening was a Portland filmaker and advertising man. But in recent he better known for being the father of cartoonist Matt Groening creator of the FOX program the Simpsons.

Commentator Reuven Frank says it's the horserace (who's ahead, who's behind?) that the people are interested in hearing about -- and it should be the horserace that reporters report. (3:15) CUTAWAY 1A 0:59 1B 3. TOBACCO -- NPR senior news analyst Daniel Schorr says that the power, both political and financial, that tobacco companies have long had seems to be waning.

The first museum devoted exclusively to "outsider" or "visionary" art: the work of untrained artists who, more often than not, don't care about being in museums. Some of them have gotten famous despite themselves - Howard Finster is the most famous. They're called outsiders because they're outside of the art establishment (even though they've become quite trendy and "inside" in recent years). One of the interesting things about the museum - as a way of subverting the way works are usually selected for inclusion in a collection - is that museum goers will help select their favorite works. (9:30) (IN S

Two candidates have dropped out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination. NPR's Peter Kenyon reports that both Senator Richard Lugar and Lamar Alexander have thrown their support to Senator Bob Dole.

NPR'S Eric Weiner reports on Israel announcement today that it will ease the closure of the West Bank and Gaza by allowing a few thousand Palestinians from Gaza to travel to their jobs in Israel. It is the first step in a larger plan to assuage the economic plight of the Palestinians.

NPR's Don Gonyea reports on the beginning of another trial against Dr. Jack Kevorkian. Kevorkian is accused under common law for aiding two people in their effort to commit suicide. Kevorkian was recently acquitted in a similar trial, and has never been convicted for a crime in his efforts to provide help to those who wish to end their lives because of serious illnesses.

Daniel Zwerdling talks to Washington Post reporter Nora Boustany about suicide bombers. Boustany spent almost 20 years reporting from the Middle East. She says the process of indoctrinating young Palestinian men into martydom cults begins during childhood. Boustany says these young men are convinced that they are giving their lives for their faith and that they will be rewarded in heaven.

Comedian George Burns died today, just weeks after celebrating his 100th birthday. Bob Mondello has this appreciation of a man whose career saw vaudeville, film, television and more than 90 years.

Robert talks with China expert Harry Harding, dean of the Elliot School of International Affairs at George Washington University, about the relationship between China and Taiwan. Harding says that Taiwan already has de facto independence from China and that the most likely resolution of the current crisis will be a continuation of the status quo.

Court proceedings began today against Poland's former military strongman Wojciech Jaruzelski (WOY-shee-ek) YAH-roo-zel-skee) over the killing of 44 demonstrators by Polish security forces in 1970. Sanchia Berg of the BBC reports.

NPR's Michael Goldfarb reports that the World Health Organization said today that the link between mad cow disease and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease remains uncertain. But even if there is a connection, the WHO said current precautions would minimize any risk of acquiring the extremely rare disease from eating beef.