NPR 2011-04-04

Seventy-nine Southwest's planes remain grounded after a hole tore the fuselage open in a plane out of Phoenix 1 Friday. NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports the issue of metal fatigue 2 is not new to Southwest.

The plane damaged Friday was a 15-year-old Boeing 737-300. A Southwest spokesperson says many of that make have had their aluminum 3 skins replaced, but those planes grounded have not. The Associated Press reports that a year ago the plane damaged Friday was found to have eight instances of cracking in its frame, and records show all were repaired. Two years ago, Southwest was charged with missing required safety inspections 4 for cracks and paid a $7.5 million settlement. Shortly afterwards, a hole ripped open in the plane's fuselage. The cause there was found to be metal fatigue. Jennifer Ludden, NPR News.

Pakistani authorities say a suicide bombing at a shrine 5 in Punjab left dozens dead today. From Islamabad, NPR's Julie McCarthy reports that police did manage to apprehend 6 a suspect.

The two attackers who authorities say were between 13 and 15 struck in Dera Ghazi Khan in the Punjab. They took advantage of several thousand people gathering 7 to mark the annual anniversary of the shrine of Sakhi Sarwar Darbar. Eyewitnesses 8 described the wounded bomber 9 was surprised by his failure to blow himself up. His dead companion, however, caused maximum damage at the Sufi shrine, where the practice of singing and meditating 10 is a long-established part of religious life here, but al-Qaeda-linked Taliban militants 11, who reportedly claimed responsibility for Sunday's attack, abhor 12 the unorthodox Sufi interpretation 13 of Islam. Last year, dozens of people were killed in Lahore when bombers 14 struck Pakistan's most revered 15 shrine, known as Data Darbar. Julie McCarthy, NPR News, Islamabad.

A Japanese official says it could be months before a tsunami-ravaged nuclear power plant is under control. NPR's Anthony Kuhn has more from Tokyo.

Hidehiko Nishiyama, a spokesman for the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, said that work on the crippled reactors 16 would face a crucial turning point in the next few months, but finally resolving the situation would take longer. Workers are still struggling to restore damaged cooling systems and plug cracks leaking radioactive water. Today, the Tokyo Electric Power Company, which runs the plant, confirmed the deaths of two young workers. Their bodies were not discovered until Wednesday as radioactivity prevented workers from searching the area. Prime Minister Nanto Kan, meanwhile, visited an emergency shelter in Fukushima Prefecture, pledging government help and providing evacuees 17 with temporary housing. Anthony Kuhn, NPR News, Tokyo.

An envoy 18 for Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi reportedly is in Athens with a message for Greek officials from Qaddafi. There're no details about that meeting.

This is NPR.

Congress has until Friday to come up with the budget to keep the government running. No one's predicting a deadlock 19 yet. On CBS "Face the Nation", Republican Senator Lindsey Graham says he's optimistic.

"I think we'll get together. I think there are enough Red State Democrats 20 who do not want to take this fight any further. They do want to be seen as reducing spending."

But tough debates are ahead. House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan says he's looking at $4 trillion in spending cuts in the coming decade, including changes in Medicare and Medicaid.

A wildfire in Colorado has forced home evacuations near Fort Collins. We get more on the story from Conrad Wilson of member station KDNK in Carpendale, Colorado.

High winds stoked the blaze that ballooned from just 25 acres Saturday to now over 2,000 acres. Firefighters ordered about 300 homes be evacuated 21 and say there could be more. Eyewitnesses report at least one home was burned, and according to Larimer County Sheriff's Office, those watching the fire hope that's the extent of the damage. More firefighting agencies are expected to arrive on the scene tonight, including air support. Officials say even though winds are strong, a cold front is moving in along with some rain and snow expected later. They say that should help firefighters' efforts. For NPR News, I'm Conrad Wilson in Carpendale, Colorado.

At the box office this weekend, the top spot is claimed by the Easter Bunny. Russel Brand's family comedy "Hop 22" debuted 23 at No.1.

"A human Easter bunny? Come on, Fred. It doesn't make sense."

The movie scored $38 million in sales.

I'm Louise Schiavone, NPR News, Washington.