NPR News 2011-08-31 加文本

NPR News 2011-08-31

From NPR News in Washington, I’m Lakshmi Singh.

The National Guard is airlifting food and water to about a dozen Vermont towns where roads and bridges are washed out because of Hurricane Irene, a storm that’s blamed for more than 40 deaths, billions of dollars in damage and widespread power outages in nearly a dozen eastern states. Vermont received more than 11 inches of rain over the weekend which triggered some of the worst flooding in that state in nearly a century. High waters are also inundating homes and businesses in New Jersey, where Governor Chris Christie is visiting residents along the flooded Passaic River today. NPR’s Jeff Brady reports one of the hardest-hit communities is the township of Fairfield.

According to Fairfield’s Mayor James Gasparini, nearly about 60% of the city is flooded, affecting 300 homes. He says residents have plenty of warning to evacuate Sunday as the water is rising.

“It’s starting to receive now. There’ll be a slow process. Probably people won’t even be able to get into some areas till maybe Thursday.”

Gasparini says flooding in the wake of Hurricane Irene was a foot higher than the previous record set back in 1903. Jeff Brady, NPR News.

As communities from the Caribbean to Canada try to put Irene behind them, another potentially dangerous storm is forming. Forecasters say Katia’s track shows it could become a major hurricane over the weekend, but they say it’s too early to say how much of an impact that’ll have on the Caribbean or whether it’ll even hit the US. The storm is still far out in the Atlantic.

Rebel leaders in the Libyan capital Tripoli are calling on police and security forces to return to their jobs. NPR’s Jason Beaubien reports the opposition is also vowing that its armed rebels will be marched into a new national military.

The Interior Minister for the rebels’ Transitional National Council Ahmed Dura says many police officers are now back on the streets of Tripoli, and TNC is reestablishing security across the capital. Speaking at a press conference here, Dura said there may be a few forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi left in Tripoli but only a few. The city streets over the last week had been filled with young men with guns, many of them manning checkpoints throughout the area. Dura said the TNC will call for these rebel fighters to join a national military or turn in their weapons. Asked about his reaction to Algeria taking in the wife and three children of Gaddafi, Dura denounced it as an enemy act. Jason Beaubien, NPR News, Tripoli.

Anti-government activists in Syria are accusing security forces of opening fire on thousands of protesters today. They say at least seven people including a 13-year-old boy were killed. Gunfire reportedly erupted as people were leaving mosques, following prayers, then marked the end of Islam’s holy month of Ramadan.

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Warren Jeffs, the polygamist leader serving life in prison for child sexual assault remains hospitalized but reportedly not in a medically induced coma. NPR’s Wade Goodwyn says sources familiar with Jeffs’ condition say the FLDS president actually has pneumonia.

Warren Jeffs developed pneumonia over the weekend. He was taken to a hospital in Tyler in East Texas, not far from where Jeffs’s incarcerated. According to a source familiar with Jeffs’ condition, the polygamist leader was sedated, pharmacologically paralyzed and put on a ventilator. He was not put into an induced coma as has been reported. Medically induced comas are typically done when a patient is suffering from brain swelling or intractable seizures. Jeffs is said to be improving. He’s serving a life sentence for sexually assaulting two of his underage followers. Wade Goodwyn, NPR News, Dallas.

Voters in one of the nation’s largest cities are picking a new mayor today. NPR’s Ted Robbins says Phoenix residents are choosing from seven candidates.

It’s been nearly 30 years since Phoenix has had such a competitive race for mayor. The candidates include a city councilman, two former city council members, a political consultant, a lawyer and a business owner. If no candidate gets the majority of the votes, there’ll be a runoff election in November. Current Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon is not eligible to run again because of term limits. Ted Robbins, NPR News.

At last check on Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 36 points at 11,575 in trading of just over two billion shares; NASDAQ gaining 14 points, it’s 2,576; S&P 500 up three at 1,213.

I’m Lakshmi Singh, NPR News.