NPR People: John Burnett

NPR People: John Burnett http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1936301&ft=1&f=1936301 John Burnett has served as NPR's Southwest correspondent based in Austin, Texas, since 1986. His reports are heard regularly on NPR's award-winning newsmagazines Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and Weekend Edition He currently covers the Southwest border, primarily focusing on trade, the drug war, natural resources, and immigration. Copyright 2009 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:49:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/thumbnail/npr_generic_image_75.jpg John Burnett http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1936301&ft=1&f=1936301 yes Hard Lessons From Two Mass Killings In Texas The Senate is conducting hearings into the recent shootings at Fort Hood — a tragedy that took place just miles from the site of a deadly 1991 attack. That episode, in which a gunman killed 23 people at Luby's Cafeteria in Killeen, Texas, reshaped how police, medical and psychological personnel respond to such tragedies. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:49:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120542319&ft=1&f=1936301 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120542319&ft=1&f=1936301 The Senate is conducting hearings into the recent shootings at Fort Hood — a tragedy that took place just miles from the site of a deadly 1991 attack. That episode, in which a gunman killed 23 people at Luby's Cafeteria in Killeen, Texas, reshaped how police, medical and psychological personnel respond to such tragedies. 267 no The Senate is conducting hearings into the recent shootings at Fort Hood — a tragedy that took place just miles from the site of a deadly 1991 attack. That episode, in which a gunman killed 23 people at Luby's Cafeteria in Killeen, Texas, reshaped how police, medical and psychological personnel respond to such tragedies.

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]]> Health Issues Follow Natural Gas Drilling In Texas Vast new natural gas fields have opened up thanks to an advanced drilling technique. While natural gas is a cleaner burning fuel than coal or petroleum, extracting it is still hard, dirty work. Some people who live near the massive Barnett Shale gas deposit in north Texas, have complaints. Health and environmental concerns are prompting state regulators to take a closer look. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120043996&ft=1&f=1936301 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120043996&ft=1&f=1936301 Vast new natural gas fields have opened up thanks to an advanced drilling technique. While natural gas is a cleaner burning fuel than coal or petroleum, extracting it is still hard, dirty work. Some people who live near the massive Barnett Shale gas deposit in north Texas, have complaints. Health and environmental concerns are prompting state regulators to take a closer look. 438 no Vast new natural gas fields have opened up thanks to an advanced drilling technique. While natural gas is a cleaner burning fuel than coal or petroleum, extracting it is still hard, dirty work. Some people who live near the massive Barnett Shale gas deposit in north Texas, have complaints. Health and environmental concerns are prompting state regulators to take a closer look.

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]]> 2004 Execution Haunts Texas Governor's Race Did Texas execute an innocent man? That question, and the controversy surrounding it, continues to swirl around Gov. Rick Perry. Critics say the governor has tried to squelch an investigation into the case. Now the issue has moved to the forefront of Perry's effort to win re-election. Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:48:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114005470&ft=1&f=1936301 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114005470&ft=1&f=1936301 Did Texas execute an innocent man? That question, and the controversy surrounding it, continues to swirl around Gov. Rick Perry. Critics say the governor has tried to squelch an investigation into the case. Now the issue has moved to the forefront of Perry's effort to win re-election. 223 no Did Texas execute an innocent man? That question, and the controversy surrounding it, continues to swirl around Gov. Rick Perry. Critics say the governor has tried to squelch an investigation into the case. Now the issue has moved to the forefront of Perry's effort to win re-election.

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]]> In Texas, A Police Officer For Everyone? Texas has more than 73,000 sworn peace officers — roughly one for every 330 people, serving everything from local water districts to schools to the State Board of Dental Examiners. But the proliferation of these police forces raises serious questions of resource allocation and jurisdiction. Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:20:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113805196&ft=1&f=1936301 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113805196&ft=1&f=1936301 Texas has more than 73,000 sworn peace officers — roughly one for every 330 people, serving everything from local water districts to schools to the State Board of Dental Examiners. But the proliferation of these police forces raises serious questions of resource allocation and jurisdiction. 297 no Texas has more than 73,000 sworn peace officers — roughly one for every 330 people, serving everything from local water districts to schools to the State Board of Dental Examiners. But the proliferation of these police forces raises serious questions of resource allocation and jurisdiction.

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]]> Narcocorridos: Ballads Of The Mexican Cartels The news of Mexico's bloody cartel war is reflected in a controversial folk-music genre called <em>narcocorridos</em>, or drug ballads. They're like journalism put to song — telling stories of drug lords, arrests, shootouts, daring operations and betrayals. But, like the cartel war itself, writing corridos about drug traffickers can be risky business. Sat, 10 Oct 2009 12:37:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113664067&ft=1&f=1936301 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113664067&ft=1&f=1936301 The news of Mexico's bloody cartel war is reflected in a controversial folk-music genre called <em>narcocorridos</em>, or drug ballads. They're like journalism put to song — telling stories of drug lords, arrests, shootouts, daring operations and betrayals. But, like the cartel war itself, writing corridos about drug traffickers can be risky business. 474 no The news of Mexico's bloody cartel war is reflected in a controversial folk-music genre called narcocorridos, or drug ballads. They're like journalism put to song — telling stories of drug lords, arrests, shootouts, daring operations and betrayals. But, like the cartel war itself, writing corridos about drug traffickers can be risky business.

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]]> Mexico's Ferocious Zetas Cartel Reigns Through Fear On the Texas-Mexico border, Los Zetas are mythic — their crimes chronicled in the media and memorialized in song. Considered the most dangerous drug cartel in Mexico, the Zetas have earned a reputation as super-gangsters adept at paramilitary-style ambushes and bold jailbreaks. Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:05:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113388071&ft=1&f=1936301 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113388071&ft=1&f=1936301 On the Texas-Mexico border, Los Zetas are mythic — their crimes chronicled in the media and memorialized in song. Considered the most dangerous drug cartel in Mexico, the Zetas have earned a reputation as super-gangsters adept at paramilitary-style ambushes and bold jailbreaks. 445 no On the Texas-Mexico border, Los Zetas are mythic — their crimes chronicled in the media and memorialized in song. Considered the most dangerous drug cartel in Mexico, the Zetas have earned a reputation as super-gangsters adept at paramilitary-style ambushes and bold jailbreaks.

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]]> Swine Flu Sweeps Through Austin, Hitting The Young Twenty-six states are experiencing high H1N1 virus activity — most in the lower half of the nation, according to the CDC. In Austin, Texas, hundreds are seeking treatment; most of them are young and resilient enough to get through it. One medical center recently erected three field tents on its parking lot to deal exclusively with swine flu. Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:13:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113347469&ft=1&f=1936301 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113347469&ft=1&f=1936301 Twenty-six states are experiencing high H1N1 virus activity — most in the lower half of the nation, according to the CDC. In Austin, Texas, hundreds are seeking treatment; most of them are young and resilient enough to get through it. One medical center recently erected three field tents on its parking lot to deal exclusively with swine flu. 290 no Twenty-six states are experiencing high H1N1 virus activity — most in the lower half of the nation, according to the CDC. In Austin, Texas, hundreds are seeking treatment; most of them are young and resilient enough to get through it. One medical center recently erected three field tents on its parking lot to deal exclusively with swine flu.

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]]> Once-Feared Medellin A Lesson To Drug-Hit Juarez Medellin, Colombia, was once a drug battleground; today, it is a colonial jewel with sidewalk cafes and open-air bars. Mexico's border city of Juarez has taken Medellin's place as the ground zero in the war against drug cartels. The former mayor of Medellin will be in Juarez to talk of his city's transformation. Juarez residents, traumatized by the highest homicide rate of any major city in the hemisphere, are desperate for answers. Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113088233&ft=1&f=1936301 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113088233&ft=1&f=1936301 Medellin, Colombia, was once a drug battleground; today, it is a colonial jewel with sidewalk cafes and open-air bars. Mexico's border city of Juarez has taken Medellin's place as the ground zero in the war against drug cartels. The former mayor of Medellin will be in Juarez to talk of his city's transformation. Juarez residents, traumatized by the highest homicide rate of any major city in the hemisphere, are desperate for answers. 0 no Medellin, Colombia, was once a drug battleground; today, it is a colonial jewel with sidewalk cafes and open-air bars. Mexico's border city of Juarez has taken Medellin's place as the ground zero in the war against drug cartels. The former mayor of Medellin will be in Juarez to talk of his city's transformation. Juarez residents, traumatized by the highest homicide rate of any major city in the hemisphere, are desperate for answers.

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]]> Independent Farmers Feel Squeezed By Milk Cartel With the price of raw milk at historic lows, dairy farms are going under across the United States. As the crisis deepens, many blame two dairy giants that they say are trying to monopolize the industry, to the detriment of independent farmers and consumers. Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112002639&ft=1&f=1936301 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112002639&ft=1&f=1936301 With the price of raw milk at historic lows, dairy farms are going under across the United States. As the crisis deepens, many blame two dairy giants that they say are trying to monopolize the industry, to the detriment of independent farmers and consumers. 769 no With the price of raw milk at historic lows, dairy farms are going under across the United States. As the crisis deepens, many blame two dairy giants that they say are trying to monopolize the industry, to the detriment of independent farmers and consumers.

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]]> Small Farmers See Promise In Obama's Plans Less than 2 percent of America's farms account for half of the country's agricultural sales. The antitrust division of President Obama's Justice Department says that scrutinizing agriculture monopolies is a top priority — a shift that gives hope to independent farmers. Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:47:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112035045&ft=1&f=1936301 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112035045&ft=1&f=1936301 Less than 2 percent of America's farms account for half of the country's agricultural sales. The antitrust division of President Obama's Justice Department says that scrutinizing agriculture monopolies is a top priority — a shift that gives hope to independent farmers. 306 no Less than 2 percent of America's farms account for half of the country's agricultural sales. The antitrust division of President Obama's Justice Department says that scrutinizing agriculture monopolies is a top priority — a shift that gives hope to independent farmers.

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]]> Health Care Uproar Swallows Whole Foods Whole Foods has taken pains to distance the corporation from founder and CEO John P. Mackey, but it may be too late. His article slamming Obama's health care plans has caused an uproar and led some to boycott the store. Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:55:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112035655&ft=1&f=1936301 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112035655&ft=1&f=1936301 Whole Foods has taken pains to distance the corporation from founder and CEO John P. Mackey, but it may be too late. His article slamming Obama's health care plans has caused an uproar and led some to boycott the store. 203 no Whole Foods has taken pains to distance the corporation from founder and CEO John P. Mackey, but it may be too late. His article slamming Obama's health care plans has caused an uproar and led some to boycott the store.

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]]> Kayaking To A Different View Of The Rio Grande The Rio Grande is far more than a border between the United States and Mexico, and it's more than a barrier to illegal immigrants and drug smugglers. To one man who lives in the borderlands, the river is a kayaker's paradise. Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:47:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106993934&ft=1&f=1936301 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106993934&ft=1&f=1936301 The Rio Grande is far more than a border between the United States and Mexico, and it's more than a barrier to illegal immigrants and drug smugglers. To one man who lives in the borderlands, the river is a kayaker's paradise. 343 no The Rio Grande is far more than a border between the United States and Mexico, and it's more than a barrier to illegal immigrants and drug smugglers. To one man who lives in the borderlands, the river is a kayaker's paradise.

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]]> Crackdown On Smuggled Guns Hindered By U.S. Laws Mexican President Felipe Calderon has asked the United States to do more to curb the flow of weapons smuggled into Mexico. But the U.S. has the most permissive gun laws in the developed world, making it difficult for federal agents to battle arms trafficking. Sat, 01 Aug 2009 00:59:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111442173&ft=1&f=1936301 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111442173&ft=1&f=1936301 Mexican President Felipe Calderon has asked the United States to do more to curb the flow of weapons smuggled into Mexico. But the U.S. has the most permissive gun laws in the developed world, making it difficult for federal agents to battle arms trafficking. 313 no Mexican President Felipe Calderon has asked the United States to do more to curb the flow of weapons smuggled into Mexico. But the U.S. has the most permissive gun laws in the developed world, making it difficult for federal agents to battle arms trafficking.

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]]> For Illegal Immigrants, Jobs Down, Deportations Up At a shelter in Reynosa, Mexico, a group of men reflect on their recent deportations. Many were sent back to Mexico after committing crimes in the United States. On top of that, the distressed economy is squeezing illegal workers out of their low-wage jobs. Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:14:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106491521&ft=1&f=1936301 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106491521&ft=1&f=1936301 At a shelter in Reynosa, Mexico, a group of men reflect on their recent deportations. Many were sent back to Mexico after committing crimes in the United States. On top of that, the distressed economy is squeezing illegal workers out of their low-wage jobs. 303 no At a shelter in Reynosa, Mexico, a group of men reflect on their recent deportations. Many were sent back to Mexico after committing crimes in the United States. On top of that, the distressed economy is squeezing illegal workers out of their low-wage jobs.

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]]> In Texas, A Living Lab For Studying The Dead Only a few universities in the world have facilities devoted to studying human bodies as they decompose. Texas State University's Forensic Anthropology Research Facility is the newest. Students there learn to recover and study human bones. Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:26:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105479033&ft=1&f=1936301 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105479033&ft=1&f=1936301 Only a few universities in the world have facilities devoted to studying human bodies as they decompose. Texas State University's Forensic Anthropology Research Facility is the newest. Students there learn to recover and study human bones. 307 no Only a few universities in the world have facilities devoted to studying human bodies as they decompose. Texas State University's Forensic Anthropology Research Facility is the newest. Students there learn to recover and study human bones.

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