NPR 2010-01-07

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Barbara Klein.

The man accused of the deadly shooting at Washington's Holocaust 1 Museum in June has died. 89-year-old James von Brunn died today at the federal prison in North Carolina. The self-declared white supremacist was waiting trial for killing 2 a museum security guard.

President Obama has announced a 250-million-dollar public-private plan to recruit more math and science teachers. The President says he wants American students to lead the world in those fields within the next decade.

Democratic Senator Christopher Dodd of Connecticut says he is ending his nearly 40-year career in Congress, leaving Senate Democrats 3 with four seats to defend in November so far. NPR's Giles Snyder reports.

Dodd's decision to not seek reelection marks a turnaround from just last week when he said he was committed to running for a sixth term. But at his Connecticut home, he said it was his moment to step aside. "That in the long sweep of American history, there are moments for each elected public official to step aside and let someone else step up. " Dodd is the chairman of the Senate Banking 5 Committee. He's been a major player in both of financial and healthcare overhauls 6. Bit he acknowledged that he is in the toughest political shape of his career. He's embattling questions about his financial industry connections, and trailed his Republican opponent in the polls. And he said it's been a tough year personally with the deaths of a sister and Ted 4 Kennedy and his battle against prostate cancer. Giles Snyder, NPR News, Washington.

Forecasters warn unusually cold weather across much of the US is likely to continue through the weekend. In the south, farmers are working to protect their crops from freezing. In Atlanta, the cold weather has forced authorities to shut down a major interstate used by hundreds of thousands of people every day because of ice. Meanwhile, across Georgia the cold has led to a large increase in the number of house fires. Josephine Bennett of Georgia Public Broadcasting has that story.

In the last five days, firefighters in the Macon area have responded to six major house fires. No lives have been lost, but 30 people no longer have a place to live. All of the fires were started by people trying to stay warm using space heaters. Ryan Logan is with the Red Cross. He says they've seen a 200 percent increase in the number of fires this year. "They have to take whatever measures they can in order to heat their home and do it without maybe the conveniences of typical heat resources, electricity or natural gas. " Logan says there is also an increase in the number of people affected 7 by the fires as many extended families have consolidated 8 and are now living under one roof. For NPR News, I'm Josephine Bennett in Macon, Georgia.

An hour before the close on Wall Street, the Dow was up 17 points. The NASDAQ is down three. The S&P is up two.

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Two jobs reports out today show the labor 9 market continues to improve. ADP National Employment says 84, 000 private-sector 10 jobs were lost last month, but that's compared to a 145, 000 lost in November. And a survey by consulting firm Challenger Gray & Christmas says plans for layoffs 11 fell last month to the lowest level in two years. The US service sector grew last month, but not enough to boost hiring. The Institute for Supply Management says its service index rose to just over 50, anything over 50 signals growth. Economists 12 monitor the index because those jobs make up more than 80% of non-farm jobs.

One of the nation's best-known abstract artists has died at his home in Port Clyde, Maine. Kenneth Noland was 85 years old. From Maine Public Radio, Susan Sharon reports.

A veteran of World War II, Kenneth Noland used the G. I. bill to study art at Black Mountain College in his native North Carolina. Noland was fascinated with color and shapes. Instead of using landscapes or people as his subjects, Noland distinguished 13 himself with a series of studies of concentric rings or bull's-eyes, and asymmetrical 14 diamonds stripes and other forms. He once told the New York Times that in the best color painting, structure is nowhere evident or nowhere self-revealing. Noland was influenced by artists such as French painter and sculptor 15 Henri Matisse, and American abstract expressionist Helen Frankenthaler. His works are displayed in US galleries and throughout the world. For NPR News, I'm Susan Sharon in Louis, Maine.

And I'm Barbara Klein, NPR News in Washington.