Ongoing Coverage:
The Two-Way
7:10 am
Thu March 1, 2012

Death Toll From Midwest, Southern Storms Put At 13

Credit Scott Olson / Getty Images
Vehicles and other possessions lie scattered in Harrisburg, Ill.

A fourth death in Tennessee appears to have brought the toll from severe storms that swept through parts of the Midwest and South on Wednesday to at least 13.

Chrissy Keuper of WUOT-FM in at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville has told our Newscast Desk about the fourth fatality in the Volunteer State.

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Business
6:34 am
Thu March 1, 2012

Virgin Atlantic Hires Whispering Coach

The airline hired the coach to train its flight attendants to speak in hushed tones while serving passengers. Crews will be trained on tone and volume. The low tones are reserved for Virgin's new upper class dream suite.

The Two-Way
6:30 am
Thu March 1, 2012

Two More Americans Killed In Afghanistan

Credit AFP/Getty Images
Feb. 23: Afghan demonstrators burn a U.S. flag during a protest in Afghanistan's Helmand province.
  • NPR's Tom Bowman, on 'Morning Edition'

Two more American military personnel were killed in Southern Afghanistan today when, officials believe, an Afghan civilian grabbed a weapon from an Afghan soldier and opened fire, NPR's Quil Lawrence reports from Kabul. At least one other attacker may also have been involved.

Quil adds that "we don't know yet whether this attack is linked to the Quran burnings, which set off so much violence — including the killing of four U.S. servicemen in the week that followed."

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Around the Nation
6:18 am
Thu March 1, 2012

Even In Court, A Wallet Must Be Monitored

Originally published on Thu March 1, 2012 11:18 am

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Good morning. I'm Steve Inskeep. A suspect in Iowa will not have to go far to find a jury of his peers. Jury selection was underway in a court in Waterloo when a potential juror left her wallet on a bench. She returned from a break and found cash missing. Witnesses and security cameras in the court led authorities to a suspect. The man was another potential jury member. Police arranged a court date for him in the same legal system he had been serving a short time before. It's MORNING EDITION. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

Business
3:00 am
Thu March 1, 2012

Bernanke: Economic Growth Is Uneven, Modest

Originally published on Thu March 1, 2012 11:18 am

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

NPR's business news starts with a prognosis from Ben Bernanke.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

INSKEEP: Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is back on Capitol Hill today, for a second day of testimony. He's speaking to Senators one day after he told House members that the economic recovery is, quote, "uneven and modest." He showed no sign of what his predecessor once called irrational exuberance.

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Asia
3:00 am
Thu March 1, 2012

Hong Kong To Elect New Chief Executive

Later this month, an election will be held to select Hong Kong's next chief executive. The race has been tarnished with accusations of extra-marital affairs and conflicts of interest. As the local press puts it: Beijing has lost control of the puppet strings.

Around the Nation
3:00 am
Thu March 1, 2012

Midwest Hit By Massive Storms

Originally published on Thu March 1, 2012 11:18 am

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

We're going next to the town of Harrisburg, Illinois, one of many Midwestern towns struck by tornados. Harrisburg suffered the most of those towns. The tornado killed six people, with winds of up to 170 miles per hour. NPR's Cheryl Corley is there.

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Politics
3:00 am
Thu March 1, 2012

Congress Works To Mend Economy, Approval Ratings

House Majority leader Eric Cantor is pushing a package of small business bills that also has the support of President Obama. The rare instance of cooperation could mark a change in strategy for the House following historically low approval numbers for Congress and rising poll numbers for the president.

Middle East
3:00 am
Thu March 1, 2012

Syria Continues Crushing Offensive In Homs

Originally published on Thu March 1, 2012 11:18 am

Transcript

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

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Law
3:00 am
Thu March 1, 2012

Georgia, Ala. Immigration Laws Challenged In Court

A federal appeals court hears arguments Thursday in legal challenges to tough new state immigration laws in Alabama and Georgia. The Justice Department and civil rights groups have sued. At issue are both civil rights violations, and whether states can constitutionally engage in immigration enforcement.

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