Morning Edition on WEKU

Washington D.C. Man Advertises For Wedding Date

Fri, 17 May 2013 11:27:00 +0000

On Cragslist, he describes himself as "a clean man" with a job and no arrest record, who adds, "I don't like murder." For extra motivation, he promises an open bar.

Theater Lover Takes A Stand Against Annoying Cell Phone

Fri, 17 May 2013 11:19:00 +0000

Writer Kevin Williamson of the National Review attended a musical in New York. He says a woman was web surfing on her phone, violating theater rules. He tells Gothamist he complained to the woman. She replied, "So don't look." That's when Williamson grabbed her phone and threw it across the theater.

After shooting, New Orleans Neighborhood Begins To Return To Normal

Keith O'Brien — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:14:00 +0000

Police in New Orleans have arrested six people in connection with last Sunday's mass shooting at a Mother's Day parade. Two brothers have been charged with 20 counts of attempted murder, for firing guns into a dancing crowd. Four others have been charged with assisting them after the fact.

Select Young Afghans Chosen As Commandoes In Training

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:02:00 +0000

From the Afghan capital Kabul, Morning Edition's Renee Montagne talks to Gen, Joseph Dunford, the commander of all U.S. and international forces there. They discuss the challenges of the current situation on the ground, and look ahead to the withdrawal of NATO combat troops in 2014.

Kiss In 'Bombay Talkies' Breaks New Ground In Bollywood

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:02:00 +0000

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Indian cinema, four famous Bollywood directors have made an anthology movie, Bombay Talkies. Commentator Sandip Roy says one of the shorts is pretty revolutionary because it has a gay protagonist, and what is probably Bollywood's first gay kiss.

Obama Names OMB Controller As Acting IRS Commissioner

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:02:00 +0000

On Thursday, President Obama named Daniel Werfel, 42, acting IRS commissioner. The announcement comes a day after the resignation of Steven Miller, who got caught up in the controversy over the IRS targeting Tea Party groups.

A Gift Of Life And Friendship After A Family's Loss

Fri, 17 May 2013 07:06:00 +0000

Today, Rick Bounds is a 58-year-old triathlete, with four competitions and a 100-mile bike ride to his credit.

But six years ago, he was diagnosed with a nonhepatitis liver disease. Rick's doctors told him that if he didn't have an immediate kidney and liver transplant, he would die.

He was given eight months to live and told that his chances of getting organs were slim.

'No Hope'

"I woke up my husband. I said, 'Baby, you've got to get up,' " says 50-year-old Dorothy Biernack. "He had a construction company.

Why Is There An Ammunition Shortage In The U.S.?

Fri, 17 May 2013 07:04:00 +0000

Sales of guns and ammunition rose after President Obama took office in 2008, and they went through the roof starting late last year, when a school shooting led to a push for new gun control measures. That's led to a prolonged ammunition shortage, even with manufacturers running at full capacity.

A gun owner in Florida told me he has had a hard time finding .380 ammo for a small handgun for the past six months. Customers at Bob's Little Sport Shop in southern New Jersey told me it's hard to find ammo for some rifles and for the popular 9 mm.

AP Case Adds To Obama Team's Tough Record On Leaks

NPR: Ari Shapiro — Fri, 17 May 2013 07:03:00 +0000

President Obama had a reputation when he took office as a liberal former constitutional lawyer who had condemned Bush-era national security policies.

But he has proven to be even tougher than President George W. Bush on prosecuting national security leaks.

LA Mayor Candidates Try To Persuade Voters To Pay Attention

Kirk Siegler — Fri, 17 May 2013 07:02:00 +0000

The candidates have spent a record amount of money.

Sam Amidon: Reshaping An American Folk Tradition

Fri, 17 May 2013 06:03:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCHcH2xCBlE

New York Cat Is Finally Reunited With Owner

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:49:00 +0000

Luna ended up stuck in a tree. A New York City police officer who came to the rescue got stuck in the tree too. Cat and man were rescued by the fire department.

Some Leaders In Saudi Arabia Condemn Twitter

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:44:00 +0000

Religious authorities responded after Saudis used Twitter to show images of human rights activists on trial. The BBC reports the kingdom's most senior cleric called Twitter users "fools." The head of the religious police says any social media user will lose the afterlife.

Researchers Don't 'Wine' About The Cold, Their Grapes Thrive

Thu, 16 May 2013 08:33:00 +0000

A dozen universities are collaborating on a sort of extreme winemaking project: How cold a climate can a grape survive and still make good wine? The Northern Grapes Project is inventing wines the world has never seen before, winning wine awards and creating a new crop for struggling rural economies.

Yen's Drop In Value Could Fuel Curency War

John Ydstie — Thu, 16 May 2013 08:24:00 +0000

Japan has embarked on a massive effort to stimulate its economy. Both the government and the central bank are collaborating to end a long period of stagnation and deflation. But the effects are also being felt outside Japan.

Wrestlers Grapple To Save Sport From Olympic Chopping Block

Mike Pesca — Thu, 16 May 2013 08:24:00 +0000

Transcript

DAVID GREENE, HOST:

How often do you find Iran, Russia and the United States united behind a single message? Well, representatives from all three countries were in New York City yesterday rallying support for the sport of wrestling, which could be excluded from the upcoming Olympic Games. It was quite a show of sportsmanship and diplomacy. Of course, there was time for some conflict among the wrestlers.

Unsatisfied Fan Uses Tweets To Torment Players

Wed, 15 May 2013 11:45:00 +0000

The NBA's New York Knicks lost to the Indiana Pacers Tuesday night, falling further behind in their playoff series. Knicks shooting guard J.R. Smith took responsibility. A new Twitter account followed each shot he took.

Security Tapes Show Supermarket Glutton Stuffing Himself

Wed, 15 May 2013 11:40:00 +0000

Police in Kentucky say Trevor Runyon slipped into a supermarket and waited for it to close.Surveillance cameras show he then had a feast. He cooked and ate six steak, and washed them down with beer, shrimp and birthday cake. Police found him hiding in the ceiling.

Attorney General Holder Called To Capitol Hill To Answer Questions On Controversies

Carrie Johnson — Wed, 15 May 2013 10:04:00 +0000

In an NPR interview, Attorney General Eric Holder answers questions about the IRS's processing of tax-exemption applications, the Justice Department's subpoenas for reporters' phone records and other hot issues. Holder faces questions on Capitol Hill Wednesday during an oversight hearing.

1 Month Since The Bombings, Signs Of Progress In Boston

Tovia Smith — Wed, 15 May 2013 10:04:00 +0000

Explosions rocked the finish line of the Boston Marathon one month ago. Four Boston-area families continue to mourn their loved ones and dozens of the 250 injured push on with their rehab. In the area of the bombing, only one business has not reopened.

Stay-At-Home Dads, Breadwinner Moms and Making It All Work

NPR: Jennifer Ludden — Wed, 15 May 2013 09:32:00 +0000

The next time you see a father out shopping with his kids, you might need to check your assumptions.

"I'll get the, 'Oh, look, it's a dad! That's so sweet!' "says Jonathan Heisey-Grove, a stay-at-home father of two young boys in Alexandria, Va., who is pretty sure the other person assumes he's just giving Mom a break for the day.

IRS Inquiries Crossed The Line, Tea Party Groups Say

NPR: Don Gonyea — Wed, 15 May 2013 07:35:00 +0000

Tea Party activists are calling for a full investigation, and possibly lawsuits, following revelations that the Internal Revenue Service flagged so-called patriot groups for extra scrutiny in applications for federal tax-exempt status.

Among those claiming unjust and unconstitutional targeting by the IRS is a group called TheTeaParty.net, which bills itself as the largest grass-roots conservative Tea Party organization in the country.

Washington-based attorney Dan Backer, who represents the group, says he does not have a problem with the IRS checking to make sure applicants for nonprofit s

Eating Much Less Salt May Be Risky In An Over-Salted World

Wed, 15 May 2013 07:33:00 +0000

Americans are repeatedly told to cut back on salt to reduce the risk of heart disease. But there are new questions being raised about the possible risks of reducing sodium too much.

No. 1s: The Latest Greatest Of All Time

Frank Deford — Wed, 15 May 2013 07:32:00 +0000
The Great Gatsby is on the screen again, re-opening the perennial debate about whether or not it is the great American novel. Or was that Huckleberry Finn? Or are we still waiting for the great American novel? Is the title vacant, like most recent Tour de France championships? In the arts, the argument over the great American novel is a rather unusual great fuss about the greatest. In most disciplines there simply doesn't seem to be a passion to constantly assess who's No. 1.

Budget Woes Mean Big Delays For Small Claims Courts

Wed, 15 May 2013 07:30:00 +0000
Across the country, cash-strapped state and local governments are not just cutting services — they're also cutting access to courts. The tip of the iceberg may be small claims courts.
These courts, dealing with disputes involving small sums of money, are the workhorses of the judicial system.

Vermont Legislature Approves Assisted-Suicide Bill

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:59:00 +0000
Transcript
DAVID GREENE, HOST:
And some other news now: Vermont is set to join three other states that allow doctors to prescribe lethal doses of medication to terminally ill patients. Last night, the state's House approved the bill. It now heads to Vermont's governor, who is a strong supporter. This makes Vermont the first state in the nation to pass a measure like this through legislation. Oregon and Washington approved their rules through public referendum, and a court order made physician-assisted suicide legal in Montana. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

Hipsters Singled Out For Being Annoying

Tue, 14 May 2013 11:20:00 +0000
Transcript
DAVID GREENE, HOST:
Good morning. I'm David Greene. Hipsters: They're known for roasting their own coffee, riding vintage bicycles, listening to vinyl records from obscure bands, and now also for being unpopular. A new report from Public Policy Polling finds only 16 percent of Americans think hipsters are still hip. More than a quarter of those polled said hipsters should have to pay a special tax for being so annoying.
Hipsters: uncool, misunderstood, pushed to the fringe. Really? It's like they wrote the report. It's MORNING EDITION.

Series Of Vehicle Accidents Blamed On Zombie Attack

Tue, 14 May 2013 11:10:00 +0000
Transcript
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
Good morning, I'm Steve Inskeep.
Americans have celebrated Charles Ramsey almost every possible way and that includes Stephen Munhollon's tattoo. Ramsey saw trouble at a neighbor's house and rescued the three kidnapped women. Munhollon says he was caught up in the celebration. He's a tattoo artist. Fox 8 in Cleveland says he sat for five hours while another artist tattooed Ramsey's face on the back of his leg. Munhollon says people will ask to have their picture taken next to his calf.
It's MORNING EDITION. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

Court: Philly Doctor Guilty Of Murder In Late-Term Abortions

NPR: Jeff Brady — Tue, 14 May 2013 08:49:00 +0000
Transcript
DAVID GREENE, HOST:
A Philadelphia doctor who performed late-term abortions is now facing multiple murder convictions and a possible death sentence. A jury found Kermit Gosnell guilty on three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of three babies that prosecutors said were delivered alive and then killed. Gosnell was also found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of a female patient. He was acquitted on one count of murder in a fourth abortion.
In a moment, we'll get reaction from both sides in the abortion debate.

Younger Generation Poised To Lead Afghanistan's Future

Renee Montagne — Tue, 14 May 2013 08:49:00 +0000
Transcript
RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:
This is MORNING EDITION, from NPR News. I'm Renee Montagne, in Kabul, Afghanistan.
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
And I'm Steve Inskeep, in Washington, with David Greene.
Renee's been in Afghanistan as the United States prepares to substantially draw down its presence in that country, which puts the focus on the Afghans who will try to run the country next.