NPR 2009-12-01

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack 1 Speer.

The health overhaul 2 bill now being debated in the Senate will boost average premiums 3 for people who buy their own coverage 4. That’s according to a new report but they’ll get more for their money. NPR's Julie Rovner has details.

If there was ever any doubt about just how complicated tinkering with the health care system is, here’s proof. It took the Congressional Budget Office and the Joint 5 Tax Committee 29 single-spaced pages to explain how the Senate’s health bill would likely affect health insurance premiums. The analysis found that for the majority of people who get insurance on the job the impact will be small, ranging from no change to a reduction of 3 %. Average premiums from those who buy their own coverage could rise 10 to 13% compared to doing nothing. But they’ll get substantially more coverage for those premiums compared to insurance currently available in the individual market. And the 57% of people in that market eligible 6 for government's subsidies 7 will see their premiums drop by more than half. Julie Rovner, NPR News, Washington.

President Obama spent part of the weekend briefing top officials on his plan for Afghanistan and tomorrow night he will spell it out to the American people in a prime time address. The president has also been making calls to key allies in the now nine-year-old war. Mr. Obama, along with expected announcement he is sending more troops to Afghanistan, will reportedly detail an exit strategy. However, he will have to win over some Democrats 8 in Congress who want to set conditions for additional troop deployments. According to the White House, Robert Gibbs says Mr. Obama held an unannounced meeting with members of the war council last night.

US Supreme 9 Court has thrown out a federal appeals court ruling that ordered the release of photos showing detainees in US custody 10 being abused. NPR's Nina Totenberg reports.

The justices sent the photo case back to the federal appeals court in New York, telling that court to examine the controversy 11 in light of a recent change in the law. The case began in 2003 when the Bush administration while conceding that the photos were not classified information, sought to keep them secret. The federal appeals court in New York ruled unanimously that the photos must be released and the Obama administration at first said it would not appeal. Three weeks later though, President Obama reversed course and ordered an appeal to the US Supreme Court. While the case was pending 12, the administration worked with Congress to enact 13 a new law governing such photos. And earlier this month, Secretary Robert Gates for the first time invoked 14 that law, saying that widespread distribution of the photos would endanger American soldiers. Nina Totenberg, NPR News, Washington.

The Institute for Supply Management, a key purchasing managers group, says business activity in the Midwest and New York City region expanded more than expected. The group says its key index rose to more than 56. And a reading above 50 denotes economic expansion.

On Wall Street today, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 34 points to end the session at 10,344. The NASDAQ was up six points today.

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A top Dubai financial official says Dubai World, the large conglomerate 15 that last week announced it would seek a 6-month reprieve 16 on billions of dollars in debt is not guaranteed by the emirate’s government. That news sent more shockwaves to already worried global markets which sold off last week on concerns a possible collapse 17 could harm a number of large global banks, especially European banks. Dubai's main stock exchange fell more than 7% today. Dubai World announced it was seeking a reprieve on some 60 billion dollars in debt.

Police are still hunting for the man they think shot and killed four police officers in a coffee shop in suburban 18 Tacoma, Washington yesterday. NPR's Martin Kaste reports.

Investigators 19 are looking for a man named Maurice Clemmons, an ex-con from Arkansas who was facing prosecution 20 here in Washington State on multiple felonies. He reportedly told an associate that he wanted to kill police and watch it on the news. Meanwhile, in the small Tacoma suburb of Lakewood, Police Chief Bret Farrar made his first public statement since losing four of his officers.

"We will get through this. However, it is a very very tough time for us and the families of our fallen officers. In that respect I had the opportunity to meet with the families yesterday and it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done. And I hope I never have to do it again."

The police officers were shot while sitting in a coffee shop, working on their laptops. Officials are calling the killings 21 "an execution". Martin Kaste, NPR News, Seattle.

For Notre Dame 22 Football coach Charlie Weis the hammer fell today. The Notre Dame announcing it is firing Weis who has been estimated six years left on his current contract in a buyout that could reach as much as 18 million dollars. Weis finishes his career with a 35-27 record.

I’m Jack Speer, NPR News in Washington.