NPR美国国家公共电台 2013-06-28

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　　NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh.

 

　　The Democratic-controlled Senate is on the verge² of approving the biggest overhaul³ of immigration policy in a generation. NPR's David Welna reports while the bill is expected to win strong bipartisan support today, its prospects⁴ look dim in the GOP-led House.

 

　　Supporters of this more than thousand-page bill that tightens⁵ border control while offering a path to citizenship⁶ for millions in the country unlawfully are confident the measure will get a big vote today. Robert Menendez is a New Jersey⁷ Democrat¹.

 

　　"We are on the verge of historic change, and I’m proud to have been part of the Gang of Eight that hammered out a strong bipartisan effort. "

 

　　The bill's opponents are all Republicans. John Cornyn of Texas is one of them.

 

　　“We're about to pass deeply flawed legislation that will not be taken up by the House representatives.”

 

　　Indeed, House Speaker John Boehner declared today the House won't take up the Senate immigration bill, but will instead be doing its own bill. David Welna, NPR News, the Capitol.

 

　　Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has been indicted⁸ on a string of charges, including the deaths of four people and the use of a weapon of mass destruction in April. Today a federal grand jury handed up the 30-count indictment⁹ against Tsarnaev. NPR's Tovia Smith reports the 19-year-old faces the death penalty on 17 of the charges.

 

　　Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is charged with carrying out an attack prosecutors¹⁰ say was designed to shred¹¹ skin, shatter bone and cause extreme pain, suffering and death. More than 260 were injured and three killed. He's also charged with killing¹² an MIT police officer and with conspiracy¹³. US Attorney Carmen Ortiz:

 

　　“The defendant's alleged¹⁴ conduct forever changed lives. And it is with the victims in this case in mind that we proceed to seek and make sure that justice is served.”

 

　　The indictment quotes a note allegedly from Tsarnaev. “I don't like killing innocent people and it’s forbidden Islam,” he allegedly wrote, but added it was justified¹⁵ because the US government was “killing our innocent civilians¹⁶.” Tovia Smith, NPR News, Boston.

 

　　New developments are emerging from another high-profile case out of the region. Former New England Patriots¹⁷ tight end Aaron Hernandez will remain behind bars. His bail¹⁸ appeal’s been denied. Hernandez is charged with murdering semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd. The investigation¹⁹ into Lloyd's death has widened to include a second arrest in Connecticut.

 

　　The Obama administration is now working to bring federal statues in line with (the) Supreme²⁰ Court ruling that has cleared the way for married gay and lesbian couples to receive federal benefits. During a trip to Senegal, Obama hailed the historic development for gay rights in the US, saying equality should be universal. Obama heads next to South Africa, where people are holding vigil for Nelson Mandela. The revered²¹ 94-year-old leader is hospitalized in critical condition.

 

　　Before the close, Dow was up 115. This is NPR.

 

　　It has been an especially somber²² day for James Gandolfini's loyal fans. A funeral service for the actor was held today in New York’s Cathedral of St. John the Divine. NPR's Margot Adler reports that the public filled many of the 1,500 seats.

 

　　David Chase, the creator of the Sopranos, said at Gandolfini (at James Gandolfini’s funeral) that he brought the traits of a sad boy, “amazed and confused,” to the role of Tony Soprano. “You could see it in your eyes,” he said in an open letter to the late actor. Written in the present tense, “That’s why you are a great actor.” Celebrities²³ and theater people were in the audience, and many members of the Sopranos cast, but also members of the public and fans, many coming in from New Jersey. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie came to the funeral. James Gandolfini died of a heart attack last week while in Italy. Besides his defining role in (the) Sopranos and his working films, he was nominated for a Tony for his role in “God of Carnage.” On Wednesday night Broadway theaters dimmed their lights in his honor. Margot Adler, NPR News, New York.

 

　　The mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina is the latest addition of President Obama's second-term Cabinet. Today the Senate unanimously confirmed Anthony Foxx as transportation secretary.

 

　　Texas Governor Rick Perry is accusing abortion²⁴ rights advocates of hijacking²⁵ the democratic process when the state Senate was blocked for a filibuster²⁶ and protest earlier this week from passing tighter abortion restrictions²⁷. In remarks of the National Right to Life Convention, Perry pledged to move forward with the ban on abortions²⁸ after 20 weeks of pregnancy²⁹.

 

　　Mortgage rates still climbing in the US. For the first time in at least two years the average rate on a fixed³⁰ 30-year loan hit 4.46%, doing it in half on a 15-year loan.

 

　　I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News in Washington.

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