Search results for

NPR's Pam Fessler reports on the Democrats' push to get their agenda acted on during these final weeks of the 106th Congress. Led by President Clinton, Senate Leader Tom Daschle and House Leader Richard Gephardt, the Democrats once again urged passage of an increase in the minimum wage and a patients' bill of rights. But both parties know that much of what is going on maybe less about legislation and more about gaining the electoral advantage as November 7 approaches.

School began in most districts across the country today. Many high schools start at 7:30 AM....but in Minneapolis, high schools have, for the fourth year, begun their day later...at 8:40AM. The dramatic change is the result of years of sleep research on adolescents...which finds they naturally fall asleep later, around 11:30PM. And what's more...they need about nine and a half hours of sleep each night. So without the later start times..teens are perpetually in what researchers call "sleep debt." NPR's Michelle Trudeau reports.

Linda talks with reporter Jacky Rowland --who's in Belgrade, about the Yugoslavian police raid on a student-based opposition group and the upcoming elections. The group, called "Otpor" which means "resistance" in Serbian, is known for it's criticism of President Slobodan Milosevic. Although none of the students were arrested, computers and other materials were taken way. Milosevic's biggest challenge is from candidate Vojislav Kostunica, a moderate nationalist. Polls show that in a fair election between him and Milosevic, Kostunica would win.

NPR's Steve Inskeep reports from Allentown, Pennsylvania on the Bush campaign. The Texas Governor is preparing for a speech today on prescription drugs and trying to recover from using profanity in front of an open microphone.

Commentator Richard Rosenfeld talks about the significance of the so-called 2nd American Revolution, the Presidential election of 1800 in which Thomas Jefferson defeated John Adams. He says Jefferson's victory assured the separation of church and state and the protections contained in the Bill of Rights.

Jon Miller reports from Lima that the government of Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori has engaged in talks with the political opposition on democratic reforms. The two sides are considering ways to restructure institutions throughout the government, from the military and intelligence services to the judiciary. Fujimori agreed to the talks under intense international criticism of the country's last election, which returned him to office for a third term. His immediate obstacle is convincing opponents that with his record, he can become a champion of democracy.

Commentator Amy Dickinson tries to find out the recipe for the "secret" sauce that's powered the Methodist barbecue that's been held every summer weekend since 1949 in her hometown in upstate New York. The secret is: there is no secret after all. It's a myth.

Our classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz turns off the turntable and reads us a poem from his new book, Cairo Traffic.

President Clinton is among 150 heads of state gathered in New York City for the UN Millennium Summit. It's the largest gathering of world leaders in history. NPR's Ann Garrels reports.

NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports that the increasing popularity of olive oil in Israeli cooking is creating a thriving olive oil industry. More Israelis are switching from soybean oil, as they acquire a taste for olive oil.