Search results for

An appeals court in Boston is preparing to hear a case that could give residents of Puerto Rico the right to vote in the upcoming Presidential election. Such an outcome is considered a long shot, but Jason Beaubien reports that supporters believe the time has come to grant the island's citizens a place in the electoral college.

Eric Eldred started the online Eldritch Press to make available literature that had lapsed into the public domain, yet lacked the sales potential that would attract commercial publishers. Then Congress passed the Sonny Bono Copyright Extension Act, and many of the works he'd published came out of the public domain and back under copyright. Eldritch filed suit, claiming the act erodes the Constitution's demand for limited copyright terms and a robust public domain. Appellate arguments begin in August. NPR's Rick Karr has an advance look at the case.

It's not unusual these days to do your banking at your local grocery store... and soon you may be able to get a fill-up as well. NPR's Cheryl Corley reports from Chicago on how supermarkets are hoping to boost profits by selling gasoline. Already, more than a hundred grocery-gas station combinations have been opened across the country. (

NPR's Nina Totenberg reports on today's arguments before the Supreme Court on a hospital that joined with police to test pregnant women for crack cocaine use, and have them arrested. The Medical University of South Carolina defended the practice, saying it was aimed at protecting the health of the fetus. The lawyer for women who sued said the tests were unconstitutional searches.

Alexander Litvinenko, a former Russian intelligence officer, died in London weeks after drinking tea that was later found to have been laced with the deadly radioactive compound polonium-210.

In the back rooms of Kabul's photo shops, thousands of photos dating as far back as 40-plus years sit unclaimed. It remains to be seen if these photo studios can survive a new period of Taliban rule.

In his first speech to delegates at the U.N. General Assembly, President Biden's remarks stood in contrast to his predecessor's approach. "We must work together as never before," Biden said.

Jacki talks to award winning Irish novelist Colm Toibin. His latest book, Blackwater Lightship, was shortlisted for Britain's Booker Prize. Toibin, who is gay, reads from the novel and discusses the conflicts of the between three generations of a family coming to grips with the death of a gay grandson from AIDS.

NPR's Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr discusses the coverage by the New York Times of the Wen Ho Lee case. The Times has questioned its own treatment of the story.

Frank Stasio speaks with Owen Ullman, Washington Editor of USA Today, about the economic news of this past week, which was quite good. President Clinton announced a 230 billion dollar budget surplus, and a new study shows American household incomes at an all-time high.

Frank Stasio speaks with humorist Tony Hendra, author of The Gigawit Guide to the E-nglish Language, full of fanciful definitions for our high-tech age. The book is available through his website: www.gigawit.com.

From Jakarta, NPR's Michael Sullivan reports on the attempts of the Indonesian government to bring former President Suharto to trial. The corruption case against him was dismissed last week, after judges ruled he was too ill to stand trial. But many in the country -- including the new president -- wish to see Suharto and his associates brought to justice.