NPR 2012-07-02

 Millions of people in eastern states are still without electricity in a heat wave after major storms swept the region Friday night. Utilities warn it may be days before power is restored to everyone. But NPR’s Alison Keyes reports some people are sticking to their normal routine.

 
Out of the National Mall, Angeline Patil is dripping with sweat. She stands under a tree.
 
“Ah, it’s really hot.”
 
But despite sweltering temperature, she is out for a usual run.
 
“Almost maybe a mile or less.”
 
The mall seems nearly deserted 1 as many seek air conditioned shelter in the nearby museums. But Patel is still smiling and hoping to make close to ten miles.
 
“Yeah, I feel it’s good to get it done with. I’m probably not gonna be smiling. You know, a mile air of green thing."
 
Patel isn’t carrying water, saying she relies on the water fountains.
 
“But today I would say bring my extra water ’cause I still need more of it.”
 
Alison Keyes, NPR News.
 
About 10,000 people are still out of their homes in Colorado Springs because of a major wildfire that’s been burning for a week. Nearly 350 homes were destroyed. Don Reeves owns a house in a neighborhood called Caro Lakes. He says the firefighters are doing a great job, but he is frustrated 2 that he can’t get any information on his home.
 
“Because our home is in the neighborhood that is in the National Forest, we are concerned that obviously with the break-ins that have occurred in Colorado Springs, whether or not our area is actively 3 patrolled.”
 
Officials warn of another problem: bears. Black bears have been displaced from their usual habitat by the fire, and they are loyal to neighborhoods by the scent 4 of garbage. People rushing to leave failed to secure their trash against wildfire. 
 
The problem in northeastern India is too much water. Monsoon 5 rains had inundated 6 more than 2,000 villages in Assam state. Officials say at least 62 people died in floods and landslides 7. Thousands of homes have been destroyed.
 
If the polls are right, Mexicans are poised 8 today to bring back to power the PRI or PRI Party which lost the presidency 9 12 years ago. This is the same party that ruled Mexico for more than 70 years. The PRI’s presidential candidate Enrique Pe?a Nieto has been waiting the polls for months. From the central state of Mexico, NPR’s Carrie Kahn reports.
 
Here in Mexico State, just outside the capital, Enrique Pe?a Nieto is very popular. He was recently the governor and left office with high marks. Voters today have said they believe he is the best to fix the sluggish 10 economy and violence that is good to Mexico for the past six years. And many voters say they believe Pe?a Nieto is different and not like the old PRI that ruled the country with an iron fist for most of the 20th century. Primary on voters minds are the economy, jobs and crime. Many say they are unhappy with the current administration of Felipe Calderón who promised to create jobs but spent much of his term launching a violent war against drug traffickers. Carrie Kahn, NPR News, Mexico State.
 
This is NPR News from Washington.
 
The European Union implemented 11 new sanctions against Iran today, barring EU countries from buying oil from Iran. The embargo 12 was designed to pressure Iran not to pursue a nuclear weapons program.
 
British Prime Minister David Cameron says he’s considering putting the United Kingdom’s continued relationship with the EU to a public vote. Larry Miller 13 reports.
 
Cameron doesn't want to leave the EU, saying that’s not in Britain’s best interest, nor does he want further integration 14 with a 27-nation bloc 15. He wants to scale it back. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Cameron says there’s too much bureaucracy in the EU, too much meddling 16 in internal British issues and too much binding 17 EU legislation that should be scrapped 18. Cameron concedes his government’s coalition 19 partners won't agree. The Liberal Democrats 20 are dedicated 21 to European integration. So a referendum would not happen before the next election. And that’s if the Conservatives win. Cameron’s trying to appease 22 his party and also lay out now what’s likely to be a key part of the Conservatives' campaign strategy. For NPR News, I’m Larry Miller in London.
 
If you are a fan of My Little Pony 23, there’s only one place to be this weekend, the Meadowlands in Secaucus, New Jersey 24 for a convention of enthusiasts 25 for the Hasbro toy line first released in 1983. The Pony’s popularity led to television specials and movie and a cartoon series. About 4,000 people are attending the convention, many in costume. There’s a subset of fans that call themselves “bronies,” boys and men who love My Little Pony. Twenty-six-year-old Zac North from Dayton, Ohio says he likes the show because it’s colorful and innocent, which he says is something he doesn't have in his life.
 
I’m Nora Raum, NPR News in Washington.