NPR 2010-05-01

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh.

BP is coming under mounting pressure to step up its response to the country's worst ever oil spills in the Gulf 1 of Mexico. It's coming down from top Obama administration officials who've been dispatched to Louisiana including Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.

"It's clear that after several unsuccessful attempts to secure the source of the leak, it's time for BP to supplement their current mobilization as this slick of oil moves toward shore."

The spill has already reached the Louisiana coastline and also poses a threat to three other states. Meanwhile, the Obama administration says it will not authorize 2 new oil drilling until it finds out what caused the rig explosion off the Louisiana coast last week that led to the devastating 3 oil spill.

An investigation 4 into a deadly explosion at a West Virginia mine this month is turning into a criminal probe by the FBI. NPR's Howard Berkes has learned that authorities are looking at the Mine Safety and Health Administration as well as Massey Energy which owns the West Virginia site.

This is an indication that there are much more serious allegations than we've been aware of surrounding the explosion at the Upper Big Branch mine where 29 people died. Experts in mine safety enforcement tell me that the FBI is rarely involved in the investigation of mine accidents, and that this is an indication that there are serious allegations out there that the FBI must look into.

NPR's Howard Berkes covering developments from Beckley, West Virginia. Another law enforcement official denies that the Mine Safety and Health Administration is being investigated.

With Greece on the verge 5 of bankruptcy 6, Prime Minister George Papandreou says drastic cuts and tax hikes are necessary for the country's survival. From Athens, NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports on the austerity measures expected by European leaders negotiating a multi-billion euro bailout for Greece.

Papandreou is expected to review the austerity package Sunday. That will follow talks with the European Union and the IMF on the steps Greece must take as a condition for rescue loans of $60 billion this year and up to perhaps 160 billion over three years. Papandreou said the measures are necessary for the protection of our country, for our survival, for our future. They're expected to include a further slash 7 in public sector 8 wages as well as state and private pensions and a new hike in value-added taxes. Greece's debt is equal to 115% of its GDP. Germany which has criticized Greece's handling of the crisis will review the measures before it passes legislation to free its 11-billion-dollar share of the loans. Sylvia Poggioli, NPR News, Athens.

With the debt crisis in Greece, ongoing 9 investors 10 still wary 11. At last check, the Dow was down nearly 160 points.

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Across the US, home buyers are rushing to sign on the dotted line before a federal tax credit expires today. From member station WBUR in Boston, Curt 12 Nickisch reports.

Homes have to be under contract today and the sale needs to close within two months before buyers can get up to $8,000 back on their taxes.

"It is lot of money. You got to work a lot of hours for that. It nearly could buy you a new kitchen. It could, uh, buy you a lot of furniture."

Brian Ashley bought a house in Boston this week. He was going to buy it anyway so he figured why not now. That's where criticism of the stimulus 13 program is coming from. Housing economist 14 Gibb K. says it didn't create enough new home sales to stabilize 15 the market.

"It did have an effect, but it doesn't seem yet to be a long-run effect."

Other economists 16 disagree, saying the tax incentive 17 was expensive for the country but worth it. For NPR News, I'm Curt Nickisch in Boston.

A jury has convicted a 22-year-old former college student from Tennessee of hacking 18 into Sarah Palin's email. David Kernell is charged with two counts of unauthorized access to computer and obstruction 19 of justice. Prosecutors 20 say Kernell broke into Palin's email account while she was the Republican vice 21 presidential candidate in 2008.

Researchers on the Texas Gulf Coast who are closely monitoring the oil spill off Louisiana worry that if it keeps spreading, it could add to the troubles surrounding endangered sea turtles on beaches south of Houston. Marine 22 biologist Lyndsey Howell says that since the start of April, more than 30 Kemp's ridley turtles have been found dead. That is double what normally occurs during nesting season. Howell says the turtles were so decomposed 23 that there were few clues left to determine what killed them.

I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News.