Search results for

NPR's Nina Totenberg looks at two 5-4 decisions released by the Supreme Court today. One says police may arrest and jail someone for a minor offense, even when the punishment is no more than a fine. The case involved a woman whose car was pulled over because she and her children were not wearing seat belts. The other decision rejected a lawsuit by a woman who sued Alabama for not allowing her to take her driver's test in Spanish. The justices said the statute in question does not provide for an individual to sue a state for the type of discrimination she alleged.

NPR's Kenneth Walker reports on a growing movement for peace in Angola, which has been at war for 40 years. The civilian movement seeks to end the fighting and stem government corruption.

NPR's Jim Zarroli reports consumer confidence slipped again in April. The Conference Board's consumer confidence index has fallen six of the last seven months and fell more in April than expected. The Federal Reserve has been cutting interest rates in a bid to keep the economy from falling into recession. Today's report indicates that consumers are still worried about the economy.

Commentator Ev Ehrlich says it will take more than a rate cut by the Federal Reserve to keep the U.S. economy out of recession.

Host Bob Edwards talks to Dr. Karl Erb, Director of the Office of Polar Programs at the National Science Foundation in Washington. They discuss the daring airlift of a sick American doctor, who was working at a research station at the South Pole. A small plane carried Dr. Ronald Shemenski across Antarctica to a British research center near the coast of the continent. After resting overnight, the crew will take Dr. Shemenski to Chile today where he'll be treated for gall stones.

Commentator Frank Deford ruminates on the ability of the new professional women's soccer league to survive in the world of American sports. Overall, Deford says, the odds aren't too bad.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead continues with part three of his Avant-Garde Made Easy series. This time he considers composer, improviser and saxophonist Anthony Braxton.

NPR's Nina Totenberg reports on today's arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court over limits imposed on tobacco advertising by the state of Massachusetts. At question is whether the state has the power to restrict ads for a product that is legal for adults, illegal for children, and dangerous and addictive for everyone.

KENT WALKER is the oldest son of Sante Kimes, the 66-year old con-artist and convicted killer. Last year Kimes was convicted along with her other son Kenny Kimes of murdering an elderly Manhattan millionaires. The two have also been connected to the deaths or disappearances of three other wealthy people. Sante Kimes has been dubed the "Dragon Lady." Her other crimes include shoplifting, arson, and slavery. KENT WALKER's book is "Son of a Grifter" (written with Mark Schone, published by William Morrow).

Managing a Major League baseball team has never been easy. And with skyrocketing salaries and multi-year contracts, star players can often exert more control over the team than the manager can. In part two of our series, The Changing Face of Sports and Society, NPR's Debbie Elliott examines how White Sox Manager Jerry Manuel keeps his players focused on what's best for the team.