NPR 2012-03-21

 The case of an unarmed black teen who’s fatally shot by a neighborhood watch captain will go before a grand jury in central Florida in April. Authorities say Trayvon Martin was killed during a confrontation 1 with George Zimmerman last month in a gated community. Zimmerman says it was self-defense. But an attorney for Martin's family, Benjamin Crump, says 911 calls released to the public reveal just the opposite.

 
“George Zimmerman said to the police about he’ll be suspicious and up to no good is completely contradicted by this phone log, showing all day he was just talking to his friends.”
 
Martin's death has sparked protests for Zimmerman to be charged.
 
Voting in the primary is underway in the crucial state of Illinois. Turnout appears steady, especially in many Republican areas of that state. But NPR's Cheryl Corley's report said some election officials are reporting big problems with their ballots 3.
 
Big problems indeed, election officials say nearly a quarter of the counties in Illinois are reporting that some primary ballots are just too large and don't fit in voting scanning machines. The Illinois State Board of Election says all votes will be counted, but it might take longer than usual in the counties where there are problems. It's a smooth operation though in Winnetka, a suburb north of Chicago. That's where Republican Allison Buchi, a stay-at-home mom, came out to vote for Mitt 4 Romney in the Republican presidential race.
 
“I think he has the best chance at beating Obama.” 
 
“That's simple?”
 
“That's simple.”
 
Even some Democrats 5 have asked for Republican ballots here. Cheryl Corley, NPR News.
 
The US commander of the Afghanistan war says coalition 6 forces are on track to ensuring Afghanistan doesn't become a haven 7 again for al-Qaeda or Taliban control. The Gen. John Allen paints a complicated picture of the US path toward withdrawing in two years. On Capitol Hill today, Allen reminded congressional members of the dangers NATO and US forces will continue to face.
 
“Just since the first of January, the coalition has lost 60 brave troops in action from six different nations. Thirteen of them were killed at the hands of what appeared to have been Afghan security forces, some of whom were motivated, we believe, in part by the mishandling of religious materials.”
 
Allen on Capitol Hill today.
 
Peyton Manning is officially a Denver Broncos. Pro 2 Football's four-time MVP finalized 8 a 96-million-dollar, five-year contract with Denver today, two weeks after the quarterback was cut from the Colts. Manning, who have been recovering from multiple neck surgeries, told reporters moments ago that he’s gearing up for a tough workout.
 
“I’m gonna start right away on that process. I have a lot work to do in getting to where I wanna be from a health standpoint and, you know, learning this offense 9. This is going to take a ton of work, and so sooner I can get started, the better.”
 
Manning will wear No. 18 on his jersey 10 as he did in Indianapolis.
 
Before the close, Dow was down 70 points.
 
This is NPR.
 
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake has struck near the Mexican resort town of  Acapulco. There have been no immediate 11 reports of injuries or major damage, but authorities are warning of possibly strong aftershocks in the coming hours. 
 
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has notified members of Congress that ten European countries and Japan should be exempt 12 from sanctions because they have reduced their reliance on Iranian oil. Details from NPR's Michele Kelemen.
 
A top State Department official is praising Japan for cutting its imports from Iran by somewhere between 15% and 22%. The official called that extraordinary, given the great hardship Japan has been facing since the disaster at the Fukushima nuclear plant. The official who spoke 13 to reporters on background says Japan and the European Union, which is imposing 14 an embargo 15 on Iranian oil, should serve as models to others hoping to avoid US sanctions. Michele Kelemen, NPR News, Washington.
 
In France, a search is intensifying 16 for the gunmen who killed a teacher and three children at a Jewish school yesterday, as well as three soldiers last week in the Toulouse area. 
 
Stocks have been trading lower today in part because of investors’ concern about the Chinese economy. Asian shares fell sharply yesterday following a report that home prices had fallen in 45 Chinese cities last month. The trouble in the Chinese economy, of course, threatens the global economic recovery. 
 
Before the close on Wall Street, Dow was down nearly 70 points, more than 0.5%, at 13,170; NASDAQ off four points, with the S&P 500 down four.
 
I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News.