NPR 2012-07-27

 The Olympic torch is passing London landmarks 1 today just ahead tomorrow's ceremonies. Britian's Prince William and his wife Kate welcomed the Olympic torch debarking in palace today. It's also being carried by athletes and charity workers. The torch will light the Olympic flame tomorrow signalling the start of the games. US Olympic simmer Michael Phelps says for him, these games will be emotionally overwhelming. 

These are the last. In a competitive moments that I will have in my career. So, you know, it's big, you know, it's something that I haven't been able to ever experience.
 
 
Republican presidential candidate Mitt 2 Romney is in London for the Opening ceremonies. He is a former Olympic organiser. He raised eyebrows 3 yesterday by suggesting London might not be ready to host the games. He softened 4 his tone today after meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron.
What I have seen shows imagination and forethought and a lot of organisation 5. And I expect the Games to be highly successful.
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
 
 
Democratic leaders in the senate are stepping up pressure for a vote in the house on a measure to extend Bush-era tax cuts for a year for families making 250,000 dollars a year or less. The White House says that would cover 98% of Americans and nearly every small business owner. NPR's Craig Windham reports the Senate passed such a bill last night.
Senate Majority Leader Harry 6 Reid is calling on House speaker John Boehner to bring the measure up for a vote.
House speaker Boehner needs to bring the bill to the floor. He should do it and should do it soon. 
Boehner says he will do just that. 
If our Democratic colleagues want to offer the president's plan or the Senate Democratic plan, we are more  than happy to give them a vote.
But Boehner says he will also bring up the GOP proposal to extend all expiring tax cuts including those benefiting the 2% of Americans who earned more than 250,000 dollars a year. Republicans say rising taxes on  high earners would take away money from business owners that might otherwise be used to create jobs. Craig Windham, NPR News, Washington. 
 
 
Some of the victims of the movie theatre shooting  in Colorado who don't have medical insurance are getting help with steep bills. Donations from the public have reached two million dollars according to the Associated Press. Three of the five hospitals treating victims including Children's Hospital Colorado say they will limit or forgive medical bills. They warned doctors working at the hospitals may still charge fees. 
 
 
Reports from Syria say a billet of armored troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad continues on the outskirts 7 of the city of Aleppo. The reporters say that there is great columns of smoke and people are having trouble fleeing this city. 
 
 
India is sending more troops to the northeast part of the country to quell 8 ethnic 9 violence. There is fighting reported there between ethnic Bodo and Muslim settlers. 
 
 
On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 207 points. 
 
 
This is NPR.
 
 
The Labor 10 Department says unemployment claims  dropped last week by 35,000 to 353,000. It's the best report in more than two years. A less volatile 11 jobless figure is the four-week moving average. Those claims dropped by more than 8,700 last week. Economist 12 say that is the lowest level reported since March. 
 
 
Ford 13 is recalling nearly half a million Escape SUVs. NPR's Sonari Glinton reports the problem involves sticky gas pedals that could cause crashes.
This recall involves models of the Ford Escape from 2001 until 2004. They called it the Maverick 14 in Europe. On these old models of the Escape, cruise-control cables can snag on top of the engine. That could cause the gas pedal to get stuck. According to a Ford spokesperson, this only happens when the accelerator is fully 15 depressed 16. So if someone slams on the accelerator all the way, there is potential it can get stuck there. Ford is quick to point out that vehicles do not accelerate on their own. But the Department of Transportation says there have been 13 crashes and one death related to the Ford Escape accelerator problem.  Sonari Glinton, NPR News.
 
 
The wife of a disgraced  Chinese politician is charged with murdering a British businessman.  Gu Kailai allegedly argued with businessman Neil Heywood over money. The Chinese government accuses her and her aide of poisoning Heywood last November. He was initially 17 thought to have died at a heart attack. Gu's Husband Bo Xilai was suspended from China's powerful Politburo three month ago. The reason given was displine violations 18. Bo was previously 19 China's most powerful politicians.
 
 
I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News.