Search results for

Daniel talks with Bob Ward, author of "The Cactus Garden" (Pocket Books), a novel about U.S. Drug Enforcement Agents. Ward - who was a writer and producer for TV's "Hill Street Blues" and "Miami Vice" - researched his book by hanging out with undercover agents.

NPR's John Greenberg reports that the White House and the Republican-controlled Congress continued flinging rhetoric at each other today, as a Monday night deadline looms ahead for the shutdown of the federal government. At issue is legislation extending the government's borrowing and spending authority. President Clinton says he will veto the legislation because the Republicans have attached riders affecting medicare and other programs. This piece examines what the fight is about.

Danny talks with writer Helena Maria Viramontes (Vee-rah-MOHN-tez) about her new novel, called "Under the Feet of Jesus" (Dutton). It focuses on a Mexican-American family that travels with the harvest in California .. picking oranges and peaches and grapes ... Viramontes says she wanted to recapture some of her own memories ... of the times when she and her parents worked in the fields.

Jacki talks to Howard Mansfield about the history of traffic laws. Mansfield recently wrote an article on the subject in the Old Farmer's Almanac. He says most of the traffic rules that are in place today can be traced back to one man...William Eno...a wealthy New Yorker who was obsessed with devising ways to bring order to streets and highways in the U.S. and abroad in the early 1900s. He devised rules of the road ranging from speed limits, one way streets, and driving on the right to pavement markings, licensing drivers and traffic tickets.

NPR's Howard Berkes reports efforts to save the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah which have been shrinking for the past several years. Nearly every land speed record has been set there, and racing enthusiasts and a nearby factory have developed a scheme to replenish the salt on the flats.

The 'surbahar' is a bass cousin of the Indian musical instrument the sitar. Jacki talks with Shuba Shankarin who is one of, if not the only woman in the world who performs this instrument on stage... She brought the surbahar into our studio at NPR for a demonstration.

Lynn Terry (f) reports on efforts in France to save the 'Baguette'. In recent years, the French have turned their tastes towards other kinds of breads and the traditional baguette along with local bakeries are slowly but surely diminishing.

Daniel talks with Karen Schwab of Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital about how it's started offering hotel service to family members of patients who are critically ill. The rooms cost $150 dollars a night and offer amenities such as the New York Times each morning, cable TV service, and high tea in the afternoon.

Halloween's a few days away, and that gives us an excuse to find out what exactly happens to your body when you're scared out of your wits. Danny talks with Dr. Antonio Damasio of the University of Iowa medical school.

Mary Stucky has a report about a St. Paul, Minnesota foster care program that mentors entire families: parents and kids included.