Search results for

Scott Aiges reviews the new CD from The Blind Boys of Alabama, called Spirit of the Century. All of the band members are in their 70s, and got their name when they started singing together at the Talledega Institute for the Blind in 1939. They have always sung in the traditional jubilee style -- hymns, spirituals and other Christian music -- with tight harmonies and little if any accompaniment. The new CD puts a fresh new spin on old-time religious music. (5:00) Spirit of the Century by the Blind Boys of Alabama is on Realworld records, catalog # 70876-15319-2-3.

NPR's Nina Totenberg has the second of two reports on what to expect when the Senate begins considering President Bush's nominees to the federal bench. There are 100 vacancies to fill, largely because the Republican- controlled Senate refused to even consider many of President Clinton's nominations. Today's report focuses on the main players. White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales heads a team of young conservative lawyers who are compiling a list of nominees. Republican Sen. Orin Hatch, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Sen. Patrick Leahy, the ranking Democrat on the committee, are trying to work out a set of confirmation rules acceptable to senators from both parties.

David Schaper of member station WBEZ in Chicago reports that gas prices are up sharply in the Midwest, rising $.20 or more in the past two weeks.

Robert Siegel talks with Mike Moore, attorney general for Mississippi, about the settlement of a lawsuit against the state of Mississippi. The lawsuit was brought by a group of African-Americans trying to improve the academic programs at Mississippi's black universities.

Robert Siegel speaks with Latvian President Vaira Vike Freiberga whose country is facing a language question of its own. For many years, Latvia was a part of the Soviet Union and Russian became an official language. No longer, says the president, who is seeking to make fluency in Latvian a mandatory requirement for citizens. The Latvian leader is in Washington this week for talks with President Bush and Vice President Cheney. Among the items on the agenda: possible Latvian membership in NATO.

NPR's Nina Totenberg looks at two 5-4 decisions released by the Supreme Court today. One says police may arrest and jail someone for a minor offense, even when the punishment is no more than a fine. The case involved a woman whose car was pulled over because she and her children were not wearing seat belts. The other decision rejected a lawsuit by a woman who sued Alabama for not allowing her to take her driver's test in Spanish. The justices said the statute in question does not provide for an individual to sue a state for the type of discrimination she alleged.

Students at Harvard rallied today to demand "a living wage" of $10.25 an hour for the university's lowest paid workers. Their week long sit-in has attracted support from the state's two Democratic senators, as well as national union officials and the NAACP. NPR's Philip Martin has a report.

NPR's Claudio Sanchez reports on the slow progress in the Senate over President Bush's education proposals.

Commentator Daniel Ferri on a teacher's nightmare -- he dreams he is unprepared for class -- unprepared and uncertain until he begins to draw a problem on the board. Long division helps ground him safely back in reality.

NPR's David Kestenbaum reports that millionaire and "space tourist" Dennis Tito will be allowed to visit the international space station.

Host Bob Edwards speaks with Bishop John Ricard of The Catholic Conference, which is lobbying the Bush administration to work for peace in Sudan.

Linda Wertheimer talks with Larry Elmore, a retired airplane pilot who is planning to jump from an airplane 60 times Tuesday. Elmore was forced retire from Trans World Airlines at the age of 60. He's decided to prove that he's still in top shape.