Search results for

NPR's Patricia Neighmond reports on the approval today of the abortion drug RU486. The Food and Drug Administration says the drug is safe and effectively produces an abortion, when used with another commonly available drug. Opponents tried to keep the drug off the market, saying it is unsafe not only for fetuses but also for women. But the FDA said the scientific evidence overwhelmingly favored RU486's approval.

NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports Israeli police and Palestinian demonstrators clashed in Jerusalem today, just after a visit to the city's holiest spot by Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon.

James Murray reports on the death of former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. He was first elected Prime Minister in 1968 as leader of the Liberal Party. In Trudeau's 16 years in office he made French an official language along with English, led the fight against Quebec separatists. He died yesterday at the age of 80 from prostate cancer.

NPR's Peter Kenyon reports that presidential candidate George W. Bush attacked his rival's economic plan during a campaign stop in Michigan yesterday. Bush cast Vice-President Al Gore as an excessive spender who wants to use the federal surplus to expand government. Bush touted his own tax-cut proposal, saying it would help stem future economic down turns by giving the earners and creators of wealth more money. (3:28).

Euen Kerr of Minnesota Public Radio reports on the popularity of the 101 fiberglass statues of Snoopy that are spread around St. Paul. The city commissioned the representations of Charlie Brown's dog to celebrate the 50th anniversary of native son Charles Shultz's Peanuts comic strip. Many of the statues will be auctioned this weekend, with proceeds going to a Charles Shultz memorial scholarship fund.

NPR's Richard Knox reports on a new study showing that treating HIV infection within days of its occurrence may restore the immune system. A few patients have even been able to stop therapy altogether. But doctors are warning that patients should not stop therapy without consulting their doctors.

An article in today's issue of Nature magazine suggests a large single cell organism is capable of solving a labyrinth, finding the shortest distance between it's entry and exit points. Slime Mould experts say this is far from remarkable.

Robert talks to David Macaulay, host of the five-part PBS Television Series "Building Big," and author of the book of the same name, about the secrets of constructing huge structures. Macaulay describes some of the equipment, and techniques used to erect dams, skyscrapers, tunnels and giant domes. (8:00) On the Web, see /www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig. The book, "Building Big," by David Macaulay, is published by Houghton Mifflin, ISBN # 0-395-96331-1, publication date October 2000.

Robert talks with Republican pollster Linda DiVall, and Democratic pollster Celinda Lake, who were part of a team of researchers commissioned to survey women's political attitudes this year, about their findings. DiVall is founder of American Viewpoint. Lake is president of Lake Snell Perry & Associates.

NPR's Martin Kaste talks to Robert Siegel about the OPEC summit underway in Caracas, Venezuela. This is the first summit of OPEC nations in 25 years. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez convened the summit in a bid to reinvigorate the organization, at a time when member nations are benefiting from soaring oil prices. Yesterday, some member nations warned the west against releasing more oil from strategic reserves, saying it could prompt an OPEC response.