NPR News 2015-03-11 加文本

NPR News 2015-03-11

From NPR News in Washington, I’m Jack Speer.

Republican objections to President Obama’s negotiations on a possible deal to end Iran’s nuclear program found new voice – a letter from 47 GOP senators to Iran’s leaders. The letter points out while Obama leaves office in 2017, many Republicans in Congress will be around a lot longer, possibly decades, and they may not honor a deal struck by the president. NPR’s S.V. Dáte reports Democrats are not amused.

Senate Democrats say the letter is motivated by Republicans’ dislike of President Obama in a desire to embarrass him and that it destroys the long-standing tradition that politics ends at the water’s edge. Obama says he will continue negotiations.

“I think it’s somewhat ironic to see some members of Congress wanting to make common cause with the hardliners in Iran. It’s a non-usual coalition.”

He says he will worry about selling it to the American people if and when a deal is reached. Republicans argue Obama is naïve in his dealings with Iran and that his deal is not likely to end the threat that the country will develop nuclear weapons. S.V. Dáte, NPR News, Washington.

Amid the latest protests over a police shooting an unarmed black man, the police chief from Madison, Wisconsin today says he hopes the family of Tony Robinson can find forgiveness in their hearts. Meanwhile, around 1,500 protesters were demonstrating in front of the state Capitol today. Turin Carter, the uncle of a 19-year-old who was shot to death says the family is encouraged by the demonstrations but also notes they are not against police.

“We are not proponents of anti-police. In terms of the chants that I hear going on, in regards to not trusting police, we don’t condone that.”

An unarmed black teen was shot by an officer who responded to a call about an individual jumping in and out of traffic and reportedly assaulting someone.

Regulators in New York today announced a nation-wide settlement with credit rating agencies. And as NPR’s Chris Arnold reports, the goal is to get better with fixing errors on people’s credit card reports.

A bad credit score can keep you from getting a job or renting an apartment. And a recent government study finds that more than ten million Americans have significant errors on their credit reports. So New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has just announced a settlement with Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.

“The settlement agreement we’re announcing today provides an extraordinary set of reforms. It will impact hundreds of millions of families across the United States.”

The settlement pushes credit rating firms to be more proactive about fixing mistakes. Also people with medical debt will get some more breathing room. But consumer advocates say regulators are only to enforce this deal and existing laws. Chris Arnold, NPR News.

An upstart of the trading week on Wall Street: The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 148 points, closing at 17,995; the NASDAQ rose 15 points today. You’re listening to NPR News in Washington.

South Korea’s president today paid a visit to injured US Ambassador Mark Lippert. Lippert was attacked by a knife-wielding man during an event last week and had to be hospitalized after having his face slashed. Lippert is currently at Seoul’s Severance Hospital with South Korean President Park Geun-hye who was hospitalized after she was attacked by a man wield a box cutter during an election rally. The man alleged to have attacked Lippert is now in custody.

In North Carolina, authorities are investigating an Amtrak train crash earlier today that resulted in 40 passengers receiving care at a local hospital. From North Carolina Public Radio WUNC, Jessica Jones has more.

The Carolinian 80 is a popular train for both commuters and business passengers traveling from the Carolinas to New York. This was heading north and collided with a tractor-trailer at a railroad crossing near an intersection. The collision caused the train’s locomotive and baggage car to derail. Fifteen passengers were taken to a local hospital by ambulance and 25 were transported by bus. The rest of the passengers were taken to a community center. An Amtrak spokeswoman says none of the injuries have been reported as life-threating. Local law enforcement authorities and Amtrak officials are investigating the incident. North Carolina’s Department of Transportation is also providing support. For NPR News, I’m Jessica Jones in Chapel Hill.

Somewhat rare occurrence in South Carolina where a 500-pound leatherback sea turtle nicknamed Yawkey had become stranded on a beach. The turtle’s now being treated in an aquarium there. According to a biologist with the Department of Human Resources, it’s the first she’s aware a live turtle of this kind has been found beached in the state. The leatherback is endangered and can grow as large as 800 to 1,000 pounds.

I’m Jack Speer, NPR News in Washington.