NPR 2011-03-16

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Japan's Transportation Ministry¹ has imposed a no-fly zone over a 20-mile radius² around the badly damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. A military spokesman says the fears of more radioactive particles leaking from the complex after a fire in three explosions prompted the decision. The zone does not apply to helicopters that could be sent into the plant to spray water over a reactor³ where a cooling pool for spent-fuel rods might be overheating. Officials have told residents in the area to stay inside their homes. Doualy Xaykaothao in nearby Koriyama City says many coastal⁴ residents apparently⁵ don't feel safe at home.

The lines continue. People are essentially⁶ moving away from the coast regardless of the 20-mile radius which the government says is safe. And the prime minister said stay inside, but people in fact are disregarding that, putting themselves in their cars and driving away from the area.

Doualy Xaykaothao reporting. Japanese officials are scrambling⁷ to address the safety breaches⁸ at four out of six reactors⁹ at the nuclear complex following Friday's earthquake and tsunami¹⁰.

Iran has denounced the movement of Saudi troops into Bahrain. NPR's Mike Shuster reports from nearby Iraq that the Iranian government had tough words for the Saudi government.

"Unacceptable." That's how Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman characterized the Saudi move during a news conference in Tehran. On Monday night, some 1,000 Saudi troops rode into Bahrain in small armored carriers. They came via the causeway that separates the tiny island kingdom from Saudi Arabia. The king of Bahrain asked for the troops despite pressure from the US to negotiate with demonstrators who have taken to the streets to demand democracy. Bahrain's people are mostly Shia but the Sunni minority rules. Iran has often criticized Bahrain's government for its treatment of the Shia. The Iranian spokesman said the arrival of Saudi troops, in his words, will further complicate¹¹ the issue. He added: "Violent confrontation¹² is not the solution to the legitimate¹³ demands of the people." Mike Shuster, NPR News, Baghdad.

The Fed's keeping its monetary¹⁴ policy unchanged. Steve Beckner reports.

The Fed's policymaking Federal Open Market Committee in a unanimous vote is keeping the federal funds rate near zero, where it's been for more than two years, and repeats it will keep that key short-term interest rate exceptionally low for an extended period. What's more, Chairman Ben Bernanke and his colleagues plan to keep buying treasury¹⁵ bonds through midyear to hold down long-term rates. Making no mention of Middle East turmoil¹⁶ or earthquake damage to Japan's important economy, the Fed says the recovery is on a firmer footing. While acknowledging oil prices have risen significantly, the Fed says that's likely to be transitory and calls underlying¹⁷ inflations "subdued¹⁸", even low relative to the Fed's target. For NPR News, I'm Steve Beckner in Washington.

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Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is telling Egyptians to seize the moment and build on the success of the revolution that has ousted¹⁹ long-time autocratic leaders across the region. Speaking in Cairo today, she said it's going to be hard, work to continue demanding democratic reforms, but says America will help. Clinton says the transition that's happening right now is as important as the peaceful protests that led to the fall of Hosni Mubarak's 31-year leadership.

Owsley Stanley has died. He was known for producing large quantities of LSD during the 1960s and for his sound recording²⁰ work with the Grateful Dead. NPR's Margot Adler reports Stanley was killed in a car crash in Australia at the age of 76.

Owsley Stanley became famous for his LSD, which included names like White Lightning and Monterey Purple. Owsley acid was considered the purest in quality. Stanley was also a very good sound engineer, who worked for the Grateful Dead and was their financial backer. Lyrics²¹ sung by the Dead, by Jimmy Hendrix and Frank Zappa have references to Stanley and his brushes with the law. Stanley was never repentant²² about his role in producing the drug and spent two years in prison. He told the San Francisco Chronicle in 2007: "What I did was a community service, the way I look at it." Stanley moved to Australia in the 1980s, convinced that an ice age was coming to the Northern Hemisphere. A family statement says Stanley is survived by his wife, four children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Margot Adler, NPR News.

In Miami, the mayor could be recalled from office after a campaign led by a billionaire car dealer²³ mobilized thousands upset over property tax increases and a raise for county workers. Carlos Alvarez was twice-elected mayor of Miami-Dade.

On Wall Street, the Dow Industrials are down 136.