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NPR's in-depth roundup of what made news overnight, along with reports, analysis, and commentaries.
Includes Marketplace Morning Report at 4:50 and 5:50 AM, and The California Report at 8:50 AM
The emerging consensus in Afghanistan is that military action alone will not win the war against the Taliban and a political solution will be necessary. Afghan President Hamid Karzai has reached out to some Taliban leaders. But analysts say the Taliban and the U.S. are not ready for full-scale negotiations — yet.
Colleen LaRose, a petite, 46-year-old blonde from the Philadelphia suburbs, is accused of trolling the Internet as "Jihad Jane" to recruit others who might take part in possible terrorist attacks. She allegedly looked for people like herself — people who don't fit a terrorist profile that now seems to be falling by the wayside.
Elkhart, Ind., is known as the RV-making capital of the world. The mayor wants to claim a new title: The electric vehicle capital of the world. Stimulus grants and other incentives are attracting companies planning to build electric vehicles to Elkhart. It's hoped the electric vehicles will fill the void created by a serious slump in recreational vehicles sales.
A producer of the Academy Award-winning documentary The Cove helped set up a sting at a hip sushi restaurant in Santa Monica, Calif. The restaurant and the chef have been charged with serving illegal and endangered whale meat.
Someone in West Cape May, N.J, has been covering tree branches and lamp posts with brightly colored little scarves and sweaters. Police are on the lookout for the perpetrator dubbed The Midnight Knitter by a local paper. Technically the action is illegal because it's being done on public property without permission.
With the midterm elections approaching, Democrats and Republicans are battling to claim the clean-ethics crown. That's one reason why Rep. David Obey (D-WI), chairman of the Appropriations panel said he's killing off one of lawmakers' most lucrative perks: corporate earmarks. Most of the earmarks come from the subcommittee that oversees defense spending.
With a net worth of about $53 billion, Mexico's telecommunications mogul Carlos Slim tops Forbes magazine's list of the world's richest people. Bill Gates was second. Warren Buffett was third.
Britain's Foreign Secretary David Miliband talks to Renee Montagne about how political negotiations with the Taliban in Afghanistan will help end the war there. He says it complements military and civilian efforts already underway.
President Obama says the time for talk is over and that Congress needs to take an up-or-down vote on the health care overhaul plan. He traveled to St. Charles, Mo., to sell his plan Wednesday. It was his second trip outside of Washington this week to try to win congressional support for the plan. He also helped raise some cash for Democrats made vulnerable by the long legislative fight.
Senate Democrats and Republicans are trying to work out differences over how to overhaul financial regulations following the financial crisis. One of the big sticking points is the proposed Consumer Financial Protection Agency. Democrats, including President Obama, want a separate and independent agency. Republicans want it to be part of an existing agency but Democrats say that's been tried and didn't work.
The health care plans before Congress require individuals to purchase insurance. But the penalty for violating the individual mandate may be so low that healthy people might be tempted to pay it instead of buying insurance. That would leave insurers with less healthy customers, prompting companies to raise their rates, prompting more people to drop out, and so forth.
Cesarean birth rates are steadily rising and still less than 10 percent of women have successful vaginal births after cesareans. A National Institutes of Health panel has been examining the clinical risks and benefits of vaginal births after cesareans — as well as legal, ethical and economic considerations.
Teacher layoff's in the Los Angeles school system have hit inner city schools especially hard, and more layoff notices are being sent out this week. Markham Middle School in Watts has lost at least half its faculty since the last round of layoffs. In many cases, school officials haven't been able to find new full-time teachers and have to rely on subs.
The major trade unions in Greece went on a national strike to protest the government's austerity measures Thursday. It's the second general strike in a month. The latest polls show Greeks deeply divided over the plan to restore the economy and restore confidence in the Euro.
World airlines can expect a better year as economies recover and passenger demand picks up. The International Air Transport Association had the sunniest forecast for Asia. Carriers there could make nearly $3 billion this year. Latin American airlines also are expected to turn a profit but North American airlines will likely struggle with losses.
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Thu Mar 11, 2010 — Home foreclosures slowed down in California last month.
Thu Mar 11, 2010 — Cellist David Requiro has performed with the National Symphony and the Tokyo Philharmonic. He won the prestigious Naumberg Competition in 2008. Now, he's tackling a challenging Shostakovich concerto with the Stockton Symphony.
Wed Mar 10, 2010 — The state’s political watchdog agency has released a new list of the 15 interest groups who’ve spend the most on elections and lobbying over the past decade. The grand total is more than one billion dollars. What are they getting for their money?
Wed Mar 10, 2010 — Sacramento’s acting city manager will remain right where he is for at least the next year or so. Mayor Kevin Johnson announced Wednesday that the city council has named Gus Vina the interim city manager.
Wed Mar 10, 2010 — Bus riders who take a popular route into downtown Reno will soon be in for a quieter and cleaner experience thanks to federal stimulus funds.
Wed Mar 10, 2010 — There’s more grim news on the employment front. The Sacramento area lost 4,400 jobs in January, according to the latest unemployment figures out Wednesday.
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