NPR 2010-09-09

Scathing 1 words from President Obama to Republican leaders critical of his handling of the US economy. NPR’s Ari Shapiro reports that during an appearance in suburban 2 Cleveland, Mr. Obama singled out House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio.

President Obama parachuted into the backyard of the House Minority Leader John Boehner. And he attacked him directly, mentioning Boehner at least eight times by name in the speech. These economic addresses by the president often take on a part of the tone, but this is the first time he has singled out one individual quite so emphatically by name so many times in a single speech, almost framing Congressman 3 Boehner as some sort of bogeyman. Of course Congressman Boehner will likely be in charge of the House of Representatives if Republicans take back the House in November. And so the argument that President Obama made in Cleveland today was: Are these the people you want running Congress?

NPR’s Ari Shapiro.

BP’s out with the results of an internal probe into a rig explosion in April that led to the unprecedented 4 oil spill in the Gulf 5 of Mexico. NPR’s Dan Charles reports the contractors 6 who drilled the well for BP are calling the report “misleading”.

The report points out eight failures either of equipment or of human judgment 7. Cement that was supposed to seal the bottom of well didn’t, perhaps because that specific formulation wasn’t adequately tested at high pressures. The drilling rig crew didn’t see or understand the pressure readings that hinted at oil and gas pushing up from below. And they didn’t react in time when those hydrocarbons 8 actually started flowing. Also, the blowout preventer on the ocean floor didn’t work. The report immediately set off a dispute among the various companies that may share blame for the disaster. BP contractors like Halliburton, which supplied the cement, and Transocean, which operated the drilling rig, accuse BP of downplaying its own role. Dan Charles, NPR News, Washington.

Economic growth slowed over the summer in most regions of the US. That, according to reports compiled by the Federal Reserve in its so-called Beige Book. NPR’s Anthony Brooks 9 has details.

According to the US Federal Reserve, there were widespread signs that economic growth had eased throughout the summer months. The Beige Book, a compilation 10 of anecdotal reports, found signs of modest growth in the five western districts of St. Louis, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Dallas and San Francisco. Growth was either mixed or slowed down altogether in five other areas: New York, Philadelphia, Richmond, Atlanta and Chicago. According to the Fed, the biggest weaknesses were in real estate and construction. Home sales were also down following the expiration 11 of homebuyer tax credits, but two areas of the country, Boston and Cleveland, reported increases. The Boston Fed said high-tech 12 companies, manufacturers and service sector 13 firms all reported increases in business. Anthony Brooks, NPR News, Boston.

On Wall Street, the Dow was up 46 points at last check at 10,387.

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The search is on for at least eight people since a wildfire broke out outside Boulder 14, Colorado on Monday. That blaze has scorched 15 more than 7,000 acres and destroyed at least 53 homes. Some of those homes belong to firefighters. More than 1,000 people remain evacuated 16.

A new study finds Australia and New Zealand are the most charitable nations in the world. NPR’s Pam Fessler reports the United States ties for fifth place with Switzerland. 

The findings are based on Gallup Poll results from 153 nations representing most of the world’s population. Individuals were asked if they donated money or time to a charity or helped a stranger in the past month. Over all, 20 percent of people said they volunteered time; 30 percent gave money; 45 percent helped a stranger. Those numbers were substantially higher in the US. There was wide variety in the kinds of giving. In Liberia, for example, very few people donated money, but more than 76 percent said they helped a stranger. The study also finds that the level of giving is tied more closely to the happiness of a country’s population than to its wealth. The report was released by the Charities Aid Foundation, an international giving group. Pam Fessler, NPR News, Washington.

A Florida church appears unswayed by outcries from religious, diplomatic and military leaders who drop its plans for burning copies of the Koran in protest Saturday, the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. Critics warn the action will endanger the lives of American troops.

Last check on Wall Street, Dow was up 46 points at 10,387.