2:15pm

Wed March 28, 2012
The Two-Way

Human Rights Group Says Cuba Arrests, Harasses Activists During Papal Visit

Amnesty International says the Cuban government has increased its harassment of opposition activists.

According to the human rights organization, the government has detained more 150 opponents and in other situations has surrounded some of the activists' homes to prevent them from "denouncing abuses during Pope Benedict's tour."

Amnesty adds that some human rights organizations and prominent activists have had their phones cut off.

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1:32pm

Wed March 28, 2012
The Two-Way

Arab Ministers Call Syria To Enact U.N.-Backed Peace Plan

Originally published on Wed March 28, 2012 1:37 pm

The peace plan backed by the United Nations got the support of Arab foreign ministers today.

The leaders, who were in Baghdad for an Arab League summit, endorsed the plan which calls for a cease fire, the release of political prisoners and dialogue with the opposition. The ministers said Syria should enact the plan.

Reuters reports:

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1:23pm

Wed March 28, 2012
Judging The Health Care Law

TRANSCRIPT & AUDIO: Supreme Court: The Health Care Law And Severability

  • Listen to Wednesday Morning's arguments

The Supreme Court on Wednesday heard the last of three days of oral arguments on the fate of President Obama's health care law. A transcript of Wednesday morning's arguments, as prepared by the court, follows.


CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS: We will continue argument this morning in Case Number 11-393, National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius and case 11-400, Florida v. The Department of HHS.

Mr. Clement. ORAL ARGUMENT OF PAUL D. CLEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE PETITIONERS MR. CLEMENT: Mr. Chief Justice, and may it please the Court:

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1:10pm

Wed March 28, 2012
The Two-Way

Father Of Trayvon Martin: 'I Won't Rest' Until Son's Killer Is Prosecuted

Originally published on Wed March 28, 2012 6:39 pm

The parents of slain Florida teenager Trayvon Martin have been in Washington, D.C., the past two days, meeting with Democratic lawmakers and pleading for the arrest of George Zimmerman, the Sanford, Fla., neighborhood watch volunteer who shot their son.

I talked today with the boy's father, Tracy Martin, 45, about the whirlwind of attention the case has drawn, the latest claims made about his son's role in the Feb. 26 incident in Sanford and his hopes for an arrest.

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12:36pm

Wed March 28, 2012
Shots - Health Blog

Supreme Court Mulls Whether Health Law Can Survive Without Mandate

With the fate of the health law's insurance mandate in doubt, the last day of arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court became even more crucial to the future of the Obama administration's central legislative achievement.

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12:25pm

Wed March 28, 2012
The Two-Way

Hoodie In The House Leads To Shouting In The Capitol

Credit C-SPAN.org

On the floor of the House this morning, Rep. Bobby Rush's effort to call attention to the death of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin turned into a contest of wills between the Illinois Democrat and the presiding officer because Rush donned a hoodie while speaking.

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12:00pm

Wed March 28, 2012
World

At Arab League Summit, High Stakes For Host Nation

Transcript

JACKI LYDEN, HOST:

I'm Jacki Lyden and this is TELL ME MORE from NPR News. Michel Martin is away this week. Coming up, there are a number of people in the U.S. who continue to insist that President Obama is Muslim, despite his Christian faith. But that begs the question: what does it matter? So what if he were? We'll talk about it what it means to be a Muslim in America in just a bit.

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12:00pm

Wed March 28, 2012
Music Interviews

The Thomashefskys: Stars Of The Yiddish Stage

Originally published on Wed March 28, 2012 10:59 am

The names Boris and Bessie Thomashefsky may not sound familiar today, but at the height of their fame in the 1920s and '30s, the Thomashefskys were one of the most famous couples in New York City's burgeoning Yiddish theater scene.

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11:58am

Wed March 28, 2012
The Two-Way

Justices Seem OK With Leaving Some Parts Of Healthcare Law Alone

Credit Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Update at 12:08 p.m. ET. Everyone Had A Hard Go Of It Today:

NPR's legal correspondent Nina Totenberg tells Ari Shapiro that both sides had a tough go of it today.

During the final day of arguments, Supreme Court justices seemed split on the idea of striking the entire Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, if its the "individual mandate" centerpiece was also found unconstitutional.

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11:08am

Wed March 28, 2012
The Two-Way

Lorax Statue Stolen From Dr. Seuss' Garden, Family Hopes For Its Return

Credit San Diego Police Department

The Grinch returned all those stolen presents.

Now the family of Dr. Seuss (Theodore Geisel) is hoping that the person or persons who took a Lorax statue from the garden of the late, great author's home also has a change of heart.

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