Search results for

Tess Vigeland of member station WBUR reports that the Boston Latin School has settled out of court with a family that sued the school to protest a special entrance provision for minority students. As part of the settlement, the city's school board will drop special racial admissions categories for the city's prestigious Boston Latin School, and for two other top schools. The student and her family sued after she was denied admission despite receiving higher test scores than some minority students who were admitted.

Noah Adams speaks with Madeleine Peyroux (pe-ROO), a twenty-two-year-old singer, who's just released her first CD, "Dreamland." Her career began on the streets of Paris when she was just 15 years old. She specializes in material from the 1920's, '30's and '40's including songs originally made famous by Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday. While her style pays homage to the originators, Madeleine Peyroux adds her own unique imprint to the material.

A newly unsealed report suggests energy companies deliberately manipulated California's electricity market. The report details conversations between the Williams Cos. and AES Corp., in which employees talk about extending power plant outages to profit from higher prices. Hear NPR's Scott Horsley.

President Bush's tax-cut plan revives debate about the fairness of the nation's tax system. By eliminating tax on stock dividends, the plan would give big savings to the wealthy. But supporters say an across-the-board cut would not be fair to those who are taxed at a higher percentage rate. NPR's Kathleen Schalch reports.

The Justice Department reviews a proposed union of two Spanish-language media companies to see if it violates federal media ownership rules. Some consumer groups say Univision's acquisition of the radio chain Hispanic Broadcasting -- a $2 billion deal -- would give the new company unprecedented control of the Hispanic market. NPR's Laura Sydell reports.

The U.N. special envoy for AIDS in Africa praises President Bush's pledge to combat global AIDS. Half of the $15 billion program would be spent on treatment, a third on prevention and the rest on care. NPR's Bob Edwards talks to Rachel Swarns of The New York Times.

In Beijing, Assistant U.S. Secretary of State James Kelly continues efforts to end the impasse over North Korea's nuclear program. The United States wants China, North Korea's closest ally, to pressure Pyongyang to give up its nuclear ambitions. Anthony Kuhn reports.

NPR's Steve Inskeep reports that Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens received a dubious award yesterday. The Republican was given an "oinker award" by the Citizens Against Government Waste, citing the amount of federal pork barrel spending the group says he's brought home to Alaska. But Sen. Stevens didn't shy away from the award. Stevens says he's proud of the federal dollars he's won for his state.

Motown founder Berry Gordy has decided to sell his stake in 15,000 Motown songs known as the Jobete collection to EMI Music Publishing. The catalog includes hits by the Supremes, Marvin Gay, Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson, as well as many songs never released. With the deal, Gordy breaks all ties to the Motown empire he created and nourished. Hear NPR's Bob Edwards.

We'll hear the speech made by New York City police officer Steven McDonald last night before the Republican National Convention. He talks about the need for politicians to address morality, and expressed his support for right-to-life delegates. A former Navy corpsman, he talked about his pride in serving his country, about the need to rekindle the pride of the nation, and the need to ground political discourse within a moral and familial framework.

NPR's Jim Zarroli reports that the Justice Department is trumpeting its $100 million dollar settlement with the Archer Daniels Midland company as the largest penalty ever paid for an antitrust violation. ADM pled guilty to antitrust charges today and said the plea and fine put an end to the government's investigation of the company. Conspicuously absent from the company press release though, was any mention of two top ADM executives. A Justice Department official says the two executives "remain available for prosecution."

NPR's Ann Cooper reports that severe budget cuts at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation have touched off a debate over what it means to be a Canadian. The CBC--Canada's public broadcasting system--has tried to produce Canadian programming to counter the flood of material coming over the airwaves from the United States. The cutbacks could make it harder to keep producing Canadian programs, which the CBC's defenders warn could lead to a national identity crisis.

Linda talks with Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson about Bob Dole's upcoming speech before the Republican National Convention. That speech is being widely regarded as critical to the tone and tenor of the 1996 presidential race. Thompson believes that Dole will need to focus on his proposed economic plan, and on his vision for the country as it enters the twenty-first century. Thompson also looks forward to the speech as a chance for America to get to know what he calls "the real Bob Dole."

Linda dropped in on the delegates from Pennsylvania this morning, asking if they could hear Bob Dole say only one thing in his speech tonight, what would it be? Answers included tax cuts, women and the glass ceiling, party inclusion of abortion rights supporters, and issues of character...but delegates especially seem to want Bob Dole to define himself for the American people...something the candidate has been unable to do thusfar in the presidential race.

NPR's Jim Zarroli reports Wall Street's top brokerage firms agreed to pay nearly $1.5 billion in fines to settle conflict-of-interest charges. Regulators accused the firms of continuing to recommend stocks they privately had turned against. Besides fines, the firms agree to spend several hundred million dollars in coming years buying research from independent firms that don't mix stock research with investment banking.

Blossom, Buttercup, and Bubbles: these cartoon superheroes might be dainty, but threaten their hometown with annihilation, and they turn fierce. As The Powerpuff Girls, they also get the highest ratings on the Cartoon Network. Host Madeleine Brand talks with animator Craig McCracken, the man behind the crime-fighting trio, about the TV show and about the new compact disc issued in its honor. Heroes and Villains features 13 songs inspired by the Powerpuff Girls, performed by Devo, Frank Black from the Pixies, Dressy Bessy, and Shonen Knife. (7:07

The national marriage rate has declined by 54% over the last century, according to the National Center for Family and Marriage research.

The text accounting for about three-quarters of all federal discretionary spending was released early Thursday. Now, lawmakers are racing against the clock to vote before a Friday midnight deadline.

Among a series of other weather records, Hurricane Milton set a one day state tornado record as well.

Students are moving in this week to their homes for the school year at the University of South Florida.While there are a number of new halls in "The…

Following the implementation of the "Remain in Mexico" policy, migrants have been returned from El Paso to the neighboring Mexican city of Juarez, where the humanitarian situation is worsening.

On "The Florida Roundup," the former branch chief of the National Hurricane Center's Hurricane Specialist Unit described how cuts could lead to poorer forecasts and increased response needs.

It was just over a month ago that hundreds of extremist supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro, stormed the capital and ransacked the Congress, Supreme Court and the presidential offices.

The money is for key infrastructure and public safety improvements associated with the planned district.

Investigative reporter Seymour Hersh was among the first to publish details of the abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib in Iraq. In a new book, Chain of Command, Hersh alleges that the Bush administration knew in the fall of 2002 about abuse at the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He speaks with NPR's Steve Inskeep.