NPR 2011-12-13

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“Iraq faces great challenges, but today reflects the impressive progress that Iraqis have made. Millions have cast their ballots--some risking or giving their lives to vote in free elections.”

 

Mr. Obama also said other nations must not interfere² with Iraq’s sovereignty, stopping short though of mentioning other countries by name.

 

The Supreme³ Court is jumping into the debate over illegal immigrants. Today the Justices said they will review a federal appeals court ruling that blocked several tough provisions in Arizona’s new law. Elena Lacayo is an immigration specialist with the National Council of La Raza. She says the court will decide if the state is overstepping its authority. 

 

“The federal government has historically had full responsibility for regulating immigration. And the states are overstepping their bounds. They are overstepping their authority by trying to kind of usurp⁴ immigration law and create immigration law at the state level.” 

 

Ira Mehlman is with the Federation⁵ for American Immigration Reform. He says there is a good reason states want to regulate immigration. 

 

“States do have a compelling interest because that’s where the cost occurs. States now have to pay more than $80 billion a year to provide basic services and benefits to illegal aliens and their dependents.”

 

It’s estimated there are 12 million illegal immigrants in the US. 

 

It’s an emotional afternoon in Blacksburg, Virginia, where a funeral is underway for a Virginian Tech police officer who was killed in the line of duty. Officer Deriek Crouse's funeral is being held at the school’s Cassell Coliseum. A big contingent⁶ of law-enforcement officials is on hand to pay their respects. 

 

International debt inspectors⁷ are back in Athens today to examine the progress of financial reforms in Greece. As Joanna Kakissis reports from Athens, EU leaders want to see reforms before moving forward on the latest bailout package agreed to in October. 

 

The debt inspectors are expected to focus on efforts to cut the deficit⁸ as well as a new tax code that the coalition⁹ government will soon submit to parliament. The new code will revoke¹⁰ several exemptions¹¹ and a law for a close scrutiny¹² over returns by the self-employed. Tax evasion¹³ has been a problem in Greece for years. Austerity has introduced new taxes which many Greeks say they can’t pay with reduced wages and pensions. Private sector¹⁴ creditors¹⁵ are also expected in Athens this week to discuss a write-down plan in the bailout package that could significantly cut the country’s debt load. For NPR News, I’m Joanna Kakissis in Athens.

 

On Wall Street, the Dow is down 215 points. 

 

This is NPR News. 

 

San Diego’s Occupy movement joined a larger effort today to shut down West Coast ports. Organizers are trying to hit corporations in their pocket books by slowing down the transport of goods. From member station KPBS, Katie Orr reports. 

 

About 70 protesters gathered early this morning at a city park before marching through the streets to the San Diego Port’s 10th Avenue Marine¹⁶ Terminal. The local Longshoremen’s Union did not join the protest, but protester Mitchell Sterling¹⁷ says the unions should get involved. 

 

“Well, the ports are really indicative of Wall Street right on the waterfront. You know, the few companies that control all the imports coming into the country, they have it made offshore¹⁸ with really cheap labor¹⁹, and then they bring their cheap goods in through the port.” 

 

“Shut it down. We shut it down.”

 

Protesters rallied and blocked cars from entering the terminal at two entrances. Several protesters were arrested for blocking the street, but a port spokesman says it was business as usual. For NPR News, I’m Katie Orr in San Diego.        

 

A lawyer tells the Associated Press that no plea talks are underway in advance of tomorrow’s preliminary hearing in the Penn State child sex-abuse case. Jerry Sandusky, the former defensive²⁰ coordinator²¹ for the school’s football team, is charged with more than 50 counts of child sex-abuse involving 10 boys he met through his children’s charity. The alleged²² victims are scheduled to speak at tomorrow’s preliminary hearing. 

 

A prosecutor²³ in southwest Ohio will consider criminal charges following the fist fight between players at the end of the Cincinnati-Xavier basketball game. Hamilton County prosecutor Joe Deters²⁴ says he’ll review the brawl²⁵ to see if charges are appropriate. 

 

I’m Nancy Lyons, NPR News in Washington.

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