NPR 2008-12-20

The Bush administration today announced a more than 17-billion-dollar rescue plan for troubled Detroit automakers Chrysler and GM. NPR's Chris Arnold reports.

President Bush said that under ordinary circumstances he would have let the automakers fail, but he said, in the midst of financial crisis, allowing the US auto 1 industry to collapse 2 is not a responsible course of action. Incoming President Barack Obama warned the automakers though not to expect a blank cheque. “I do want to emphasize to the Big Three automakers and their executives that the American people's patience is running out, and that they should seize on this opportunity over the next several weeks and months to come up with a plan that is sustainable. " In exchange for emergency loans, the automakers will be required to show the government that they are restructuring and lowering costs. Chris Arnold, NPR News.

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich issued a brief statement today that he will refuse to take any questions about his arrest on federal corruption 3 charges. Speaking at a downtown state building in Chicago, Rod Blagojevich would only say he's not guilty of any criminal wrongdoing and will "fight the charges against him every step of the way". The Illinois governor, among other things, is alleged 4 to have sought to sell President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat to the highest bidder 5.

Winter storm is hitting much of the northeast, causing flight cancellations and treacherous 6 road conditions. Craig Moure reports.

Snow started falling this morning and is expected to continue tonight mixing with some sleet 7 and rain. Twelve to 15 inches of snow accumulation is expected in parts of Connecticut and New York. Lieutenant 8 Paul Vance of Connecticut state police say they've assigned additional manpower to watch the roads and what's likely to be a tough commute 9 home. "This is the first big one, and we wanna everyone to be prepared and certainly serve as a reminder 10. If you do not need to go out, stay home, stay off the road. " Connecticut Governor Jody Reil ordered a staggered release of non-critical state workers throughout the day. More than 500 flights have been cancelled at New York City-area airports. The weather is expected to clear by tomorrow but another storm is expected to roll in on Saturday night. For NPR News, I'm Craig Moure in Fairfield, Connecticut.

The man who helped Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein crack the Watergate scandal has died, former FBI official Mark Felt dying yesterday. Woodward says initially 11 both men were shaken by Felt's public disclosure but said they later came to terms with it. "Carl Bernstein and I were kind of horrified 12 at that time but we came to realize that it actually was good because he, Felt, was able to do his own book with his lawyer. It kind of cleared the air on the whole issue of who he was and why he spoke 13 to us. " Watergate scandal ultimately led to President Nixon's resignation. Mark Felt was 95.

On Wall Street today, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 25 points.

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In the latest indication, he has no sign of surrendering powers. Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe said today that "Zimbabwe is mine" and only citizens of the country can wrest 14 it away from him. Mugabe, who's been in power for nearly three decades made his remarks after the top US envoy 15 to Africa called for him to step down. The 84-year-old leader who's ruled the country since its 1980 independence from Britain refused to leave office following disputed elections in March. He's faced renewed criticism amid a humanitarian 16 crisis that has pushed thousands of Zimbabweans to the point of starvation.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is calling lawmakers back into a special session to deal with the state's multi-billion-dollar budget gap. More from NPR's Ina Jaffe.

Democrats 17 pushed through a plan to plug an 18-billion-dollar budget gap on Thursday, but Schwarzenegger said he'd veto it. The Democrats' plan lacked rollbacks in labor 18 and environmental rules that Schwarzenegger wanted as part of his economic stimulus 19 package. Like the Democratic majority in the legislature, Schwarzenegger wants a plan that includes spending cuts and revenue increases, but his fellow Republicans have refused to vote for any tax hikes of any kind. Speaking in Fresno, Schwarzenegger slammed lawmakers for failing to compromise. "Even in the midst of the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression, as we freefall towards a fiscal 20 Armageddon, the legislators still can't cross the special interests and do what is right for the state of California. Schwarzenegger said he's convinced that lawmakers can come up with a budget solution before Christmas. Ina Jaffe, NPR News.

Crude oil futures 21 prices fell $2. 35 a barrel today, ending the session at $33. 87 a barrel in New York.