NPR 2011-09-04

 Forecasters are spending another weekend keeping a watch on tropical weather. Tropical storm Lee has stalled along the Gulf Coast. And while the sun has been shining for some of today, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu says it’s not shining now. He says there’s evidence residents are not out of the woods yet.

 
“We’re expecting 15 to 20 inches of rain in the New Orleans region as a result of the tropical storm as all of us who’ve been through this know it’s not how much we get, but it’s how much we get in a short period of the time.”        
 
The storm’s slow pace could strain New Orleans levee system. It’s capable of processing just one inch of rain in an hour. There’re scattered reports of water in low-lying homes and businesses. NPR’s Jeff Brady reports the storms have shut down some of the oil and natural gas production in the Gulf of Mexico. 
 
Federal regulators say about half of the oil production in the Gulf has been halted because of the storm and a third of the natural gas production. Shell Oil Company says it evacuated 858 people from the Gulf of Mexico and will start sending crews back out once it is safe to do so. Hercules Offshore operates primarily in the shallow waters of the Gulf, the company says it evacuated nearly all its rigs and plans to fly over affected infrastructure within the next day. A Hercules official says it could take two days to get crews back out to some of their facilities. Jeff Brady, NPR News.
 
President Obama is preparing to make a major jobs speech to a Joint Session of Congress in the coming week. He’s expected to push for bipartisan action on tax credits and infrastructure spending to pull the economy out of its doldrums. A new jobs report from the Labor Department shows the unemployment rates staying stubbornly at 9.1%. As NPR’s Chris Arnold reports that some economists are calling for more stimulus from Washington.
 
Over the past six months, the economy’s been gaining fewer and fewer new jobs.
 
“But we don’t really understand it.”
 
Martin Barnes is the chief economist of BCA Research. He says at the heart of the problem, is a lack of confidence by businesses.
 
“We’re trapped in this catch-22 where companies are nervous so they don’t hire, so that guarantees consumer spending stays as weakened as companies see. Why don’t they even hire? Look at what a weak economy it is, it just grows in this ghastly loop, we’re going to break over that as some hope.”
 
 
 
Barnes says he’s increasing talk by some policymakers and prominent economists of some form of additional short-term government stimulus coupled with a longer term of deficit reduction plan. Chris Arnold, NPR News.
 
The head of Libya’s National Transitional Council is giving Libyan city still in control by forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi, one week to surrender. Reuters is reporting the interim oil ministers have been told one of those cities may have already changed control. The oil minister also announced oil production will start about 10 days. Libyans are hoping its oil reserves can make them rich.
 
This is NPR News from Washington.
 
Starbucks’ CEO Howard Schultz has been in a letter writing mood lately and that’s earned him lots of supporters to his political cause. A few weeks ago, Schultz called on fellow CEOs to join him in freezing campaign contributions to politicians until they end what he calls their “hyper-partisan” behavior. Now he wants to talk to the rest of America. From member station, KPLU, Vanessa Romo has more.
 
Schultz is calling on all concerned Americans to put down coffee and pick up phone. As part of his highly publicized blitz to end partisan gridlock, Schultz will participate in a “Conversation with America”, a telephone town hall meeting on Tuesday, September 6th. In a full page ad in the New York Times and USA Today, Schultz said America is at a fragile and critical moment in its history. He argues political leaders have created the crisis of confidence and wreaked havoc on the economy, putting ideology above the needs of people. The teleconference is an opportunity for alienated Americans to express their desire for a more effective government. The forum will be hosted by nonpartisan group No Labels. For NPR News, I’m Vanessa Romo in Seattle.
 
A fast-moving wildfire in the main interstate between South California and Las Vegas is slowing down. Now the weather condition is calm. The fire began yesterday on the center divider of the Interstate 15 and quickly grew to more than 1,100 acres. And evacuation of 1,500 homes was ordered when the flames came close to large ranch homes. Many of those residents are now being told it’s safe to go back. 
 
Dangerous weather conditions are interfering with plans for those planning to go to Californian beaches this weekend. The National Weather Service is extending High Surf Advisory through Sunday, warning that waves could be as high as 10 feet in some spots. 
 
I’m Nancy Lyons, NPR News.