|
 |
|
|
An index of the day's stories: SUHARTO -- NPR's Ted Clark reports on the man who's led the country for the past 30 years. He's credited with maintaining generally wise economic policies, used oil revenues well to build infrastructure, dramatically increased literacy rate and increased the standard of living for Indonesians, albeit with a widening gap between rich and poor. On the other hand, he's had little tolerance for dissent, banning newspapers and writers. And he's put forth no designated successor, creating some concern about what will follow. (4:00) U.S. MARKETS TUMBLE -- NPR's Jim Zarroli reports the U-S stock market fell for a fourth day in a row on concerns that the economic crisis in Asia will hurt U.S. exports and earnings. Equity markets were down across the board. (3:00) GATHERING PETITIONS -- In twenty-three states and Washington D.C., ballot initiatives are a way for citizens to adopt laws that their legislators won't. But initiatives require activists to gather thousands of signatures to get a measure on the ballot. So in many states, a new kind of campaign business has sprung up...the paid signature-gatherer. NPR's Steven Rosenfeld reports on one of these businesses based in Berkeley, California. (4:30) GOP FUMBLE -- Commentator Mickey Edwards says that just when the Republicans have learned to bury that rigid, inflexible dogmatism that marked their early days in the majority, they are poised to toss out that big tent. The RNC is considering a strict anti-abortion litmus test. Edwards says this small thinking is a mistake. (3:30) FROZEN CANADA -- Jacki talks with Peggy Curran, the city columnist for the Montreal Gazette. They discuss the effects of the latest ice storm to sweep through eastern Canada, which has knocked out power to millions of people. Montreal's subway, which had been running for the last three days, finally lost power and had to suspend its service. Troops are coming to various areas to supervise the clearing of roads and to deliver water to people in rural areas. (4:30) MELTING TUNDRA -- A study in this week's Science Magazine raises new concerns about the ecological impacts of climate change. Some scientists had thought that as the planet warms, faster growing forests in high latitudes would help absorb carbon dioxide -- the most important greenhouse gas -- and thus, slow additional warming. But NPR's David Baron reports that new research in Canada suggests a warmer climate could cause Northern forests to emit carbon dioxide -- as the frozen soil thaws and decomposes -- accelerating climate change. (5:00) SIR MICHAEL TIPPETT -- Jacki talks about the career of composer Sir Michael Tippett. He died yesterday at the age of 93. Tippett was considered one of Britain's most important musical figures, as a composer of opera, choral and orchestral music, as well as chamber and piano music. His music incorporated influences as diverse as English madrigals, Beethoven, jazz, and spirituals. He was knighted in 1966. His music was notoriously difficult to play, but earned him a reputation as an innovator and experimenter with music. (3:00) EXPANDING UNIVERSE -- NPR's Joe Palca reports on new developments in astronomy announced this week. At a meeting in Washington, researchers announced that the universe will NOT collapse in on itself, as some have proposed. And they revealed that they have detected an infrared glow from the light of all the stars and galaxies that ever burned in the universe. (4:00) SWITZER RESIGNS -- Bill Zeeble of member station KERA reports that Barry Switzer is resigning as coach of the Dallas Cowboys. In 4 years as coach, Switzer had compiled a 40-24 record and the Cowboys won the Super Bowl in 1995. But this year, the Cowboys finished 6-10 and ended the year with 5 straight losses. The team has also endured a series of off-the-field controversies, including Switzer's arrest on handgun possession charges. (3:00) MO'S VISIT -- NPR's Michael Goldfarb reports on the results of an unprecedented trip to prison made by the top British official in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam went inside the Maze prison complex near Belfast to meet with Protestant paramilitary prisoners. She sought and gained their support for continuation of the peace talks scheduled to re-open Monday after a Christmas break. (4:00) IRISH EXTREMISM -- Jacki talks to Tim Pat Coogan, author of "The Troubles: Ireland's Ordeal 1966-1996 and the Search for Peace." Coogan says that Unionist groups are splintering over internal differences and that many of the splinter groups are growing more millitant and extreme in their political convictions. ("The Troubles: Ireland's Ordeal 1966-1996 and the Search for Peace" is published by Roberts Rinehart.) (4:30) THE BOXER -- Movie critic Bob Mondello reviews "The Boxer," starring Daniel Day Lewis and directed by Jim Sheridan. He says the film is a worthy successor to their previous collaborations on the movies "My Left Foot" and "In the Name of the Father." (3:00) OTHER STORIES -- Other stories we're following today: Frozen Canada, Indonesia Crisis, U.S. Markets Tumble. (1:00) IMF & INDONESIA -- NPR's John Ydstie reports the Clinton Administration and the International Monetary Fund are each sending high level officials to Indonesia in a bid to stabilize the country's teetering economy. They'll try to convince the Indonesian government to embrace economic reforms that are a condition to further aid from the IMF. (5:00) ASIA ECONOMY BOX -- Jacki has an update on how other Asian economies are doing in the face of the crisis with Indonesia. She talks about the currencies and economies of Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Taiwan. (2:30) GARDENERS' STRIKE -- NPR's Mandalit DelBarco reports on a group of Los Angeles gardeners who've been on a hunger strike since Saturday over a city ordinance banning gas-powered leaf blowers. After meeting with the city's Mayor and members of the City Council, they hope to reach some sort of compromise. (4:00) TOMATO GROWERS' HUNGER STRIKE -- Valerie Alker of member staton WGCU in Fort Myers, Florida reports farmworkers in South Florida prepared to enter their fourth week of a hunger strike that has already sent one worker to the hospital. The workers are trying to force tomato growers around the town of Immokole (ih-MOCK-uh-lee) to negotiate with them on their demand for higher wages. The growers say increased competition from foreign suppliers makes wage increase impossible. (2:00) BIO CHEM THREAT -- NPR's Dan Charles reports on an unusual drill held today in Washington, D-C. Federal and local officials are testing their preparedness for a biological or chemical weapon attack. Deficiencies in the system were exposed last year when a package marked "anthrax" was delivered to a local religious group. (5:30) DAN ELDON'S JOURNALS -- Jacki talks with Kathy Eldon who has compiled the journals of her son, Dan Eldon, in a new book called "The Journey is the Destination: The Journals of Dan Eldon." At 22, Dan was the youngest photographer ever to work for the Reuters News Service. He was stoned to death by an angry mob in 1993 while covering the famine in Somalia. Dan kept illustrated journals throughout most of his adolescence and young adulthood. With paint, blood, hair, photographs and other small pieces of his life, Dan created vivid images of his life and of his thoughts. Kathy says that she did not publish her son's journals to commemorate his life, but rather to inspire others to "view their lives as works of art." (STATIONS: "The Journey is the Destination: The Journals of Dan Eldon" is published by Chronicle Books.) (8:00) |
