NPR 2011-06-11

The Dow is hovering 1 just beneath the 12,000 mark, with US stocks turning sharply lower earlier today. NPR's Jim Zarroli says there are a number of factors rattling 2 investors 3.

There's been a lot of pessimism 4 in the markets. We had a series of disappointing economic reports really over the past six weeks. The housing market is weaker than people expected. Job growth has been weak. Industrial output. All of these things point to an economy that is just weaker than it was supposed to be at this time.

NPR's Jim Zarroli reporting.

Alaska officials are releasing thousands of pages of Sarah Palin's emails from her first 21 months as governor. The emails were first requested by citizens and media during the 2008 presidential race.

Newt Gingrich is trying to reassure 5 supporters that his presidential campaign will not be affected 6 by the loss of his senior aides, who all walked out yesterday. He says he's forging ahead.

"What we've been trying to do is carry messages to the American people and listen to the American people, and you'll see us over the next few weeks doing it in new and dynamic and much more open ways than the traditional consultants 7 are comfortable with."

But political observers say there's mounting concern that Gingrich will not remain a viable 8 candidate.

A devastating 9 wildfire that's destroyed more than 30 homes and forced thousands to evacuate 10 in eastern Arizona is 5% contained. It's already burned over 600 square miles, and as Arizona Public Radio's Daniel Kraker reports, weather conditions are expected to get worse.

Winds are forecast to gust 11 30 miles per hour this weekend. Fire information officer Jim Wilkins says that places extra urgency on firefighters to get a firmer handle on the so-called Wallow Fire.

"Today, we are gonna really try to improve the lines we have because that front move is true. It's gonna test our lines. It's gonna push the fire actively 12 into it."

Wilkins says strong winds will also bring back to life embers that are smoldering 13 beneath trees. For NPR News, I'm Daniel Kraker.

Syrian state media report the military is advancing on the northern town of Jisr al-Shughour, where the government says 120 security personnel were killed earlier this week. Following events from Beirut, NPR's Deborah Amos says Jisr al-Shughour is said to be nearly deserted 14.

Some 3,000 Syrians have already crossed into Turkey. There are thousands more who have found refuge in Syrian villages on the border. So they are fighting against a ghost town. However, there are other towns in that province, and there are reports of shelling in some of those towns. Most of the people who died today were in the northern province.

NPR's Deborah Amos reporting.

Before the close, the Dow was down 172 points at 11,952.

This is NPR News.

Witnesses in the Syrian town of Maarat al-Numaan are accusing Syrian forces of using air power to disperse 15 a large gathering 16 of pro-democracy activists 17. They report seeing a crowd of tens of thousands being fired upon by helicopter crews.

Supplies are being ferried to hundreds of people in southeastern Montana who are stranded 18 by weeks of flooding from rain and heavy snowmelt. Among the hardest-hit is the town of Roundup, where washed-out roads have blocked people from leaving. More rain is forecast this week, which could trigger more floods.

Hockey Stanley Cup finals return to Vancouver tonight for a pivotal Game 5. The series between the Canucks and Bruins is tied at two games apiece. NPR's Giles Snyder reports the Canucks will be back on home ice after two crushing losses in Boston.

The Canucks hope the return home will help them regain 19 the advantage. Vancouver took a two-game lead into Boston, but the celebrations were put on hold after the Bruins leveled the series, putting the Stanley Cup up for grabs. Goalie Roberto Luongo is getting much of the blame for the Canucks' troubles in Boston. He'll be looking to redeem 20 himself after allowing a dozen goals during the past two games. The Canucks need to win Game 5 to check Boston's momentum 21. They'll have to find a way to get around Bruins goalie Tim Thomas, who posted his third shut-out of the playoffs in Boston's 4-0 victory in Game 4. Giles Snyder, NPR News.

Here's the latest from Wall Street. The Dow was down 172 points before the close, or nearly 1.5%, at 11,952 in trading of three billion shares; NASDAQ down 41, or 1.5%, at 2,644.

I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News.