NPR 2011-09-21

 The country's defense leaders are calling this a historic day for the military and the nation. The ban on openly gay service in the military is officially over. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen says the military's stronger with greater character and honor.

 
"Today is really about every man and woman who serves this country, every man and women in uniform, regardless of how they define themselves. And tomorrow they'll all get up, they'll go to work, and they'll all be able to do that work honestly, and their fellow citizens will be safe from harm."
 
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta also spoke a short time ago and said he was committed to removing all barriers that prevent Americans from serving their country.
 
One of the last remaining lawsuits connected to the September 11th terrorist attacks and airlines has been settled. NPR's Tovia Smith reports a Boston family has settled for an undisclosed amount with united airlines and its security contractor Huntleigh USA.
 
The family of Mark Davis who was 31 when he was killed on United Flight 175 had long refused to settle out of court. Attorney Donald Migliori says they wanted to use the legal process to get answers about what went wrong. They settle now only because a court limited the scope of trial, and they'd accomplished their goal in hundreds of depositions detailing security breakdowns.
 
"The screen is working that day. We're not all English speaking as required by law. They did not all understand the aviation security threat we were at that time. Many couldn't identify what remains were, remains were actually used from the hijacked No.175. That's wholesale failure at the checkpoint."   
 
In a statement, United says: "The tragic events of 9/11 impacted all of us, and we are pleased to resolve this case." Tovia Smith, NPR News.
 
Housing starts are down for August from the already low July levels. NPR's Paul Brown reports the monthly numbers offered no big signs of improvement or decline for builders.
 
The new Commerce Department numbers reflect what the National Association of Home Builders calls a market bouncing along the bottom. Overall, August housing starts are down 5% from July with a bigger multi-family drop in places where Hurricane Irene hit. National Association of Home Builders economist Robert Denk says don't look for much improvement until the job market improves and individuals pay off debts, and he says builders report banks are  still very stingy with credit.
 
"We had builders who complained of banks that not only won't offer new loans, but are calling in existing loans, even those loans that are performing."
 
Denk says his trade group is raising the credit issue everywhere it can. Paul Brown, NPR News, Washington.
 
Dow is up 114 points at last check at 11,515.
 
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The International Monetary Fund's outlook for the US economy through next year is worse than previously thought. It's downgrading projections this year from 2.5% to 1.5% for growth, and the IMF says it expects economic growth next year will be under 2% instead of closer to 3% as it had forecast in June.
 
The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles is denying clemency for death row inmate Troy Davis, who is scheduled to be executed tomorrow. The case has drawn international attention as the inmate's supporters point to a lack of physical evidence used to convict Davis 20 years ago. NPR's Kathy Lohr reports the broad says it did not make the decision lightly.
 
The Georgia Board said it thoroughly deliberated the case before rejecting clemency. Davis was convicted of killing a Savannah police officer but has always maintained his innocence. Seven of nine witnesses changed their testimony since the trial, and no weapon was ever found. Davis's supporters, including Amnesty International and the NAACP, say the board's decision is unconscionable. They claim there's two much doubt to carry out the death penalty in this case, but the family of the murdered officer says police got the right man, and they are relieved the execution is moving forward. Kathy Lohr, NPR News.
 
Japan is investigating a cyber attack on its largest weapons contractor. Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa says there's no evidence yet that sensitive data's been lost at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. However, the company still plans to strengthen its security systems at the request of the Japanese government.
 
I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News, Washington.