Search results for

The governor of Montana is expected to announce today the closure of vast areas of public land in the southwestern corner of the state. Nearly a million acres are blackened across the West as firefighters try to keep up with the worst wildfire season in fifty years. Kathy Witkowsky reports from Missoula, Montana.

President Clinton has authorized the release of thirty-million barrels of oil from the nation's emergency reserves. Energy Secretary Bill Richardson made the announcement this afternoon. He denied that the move was political -- but instead said it was aimed at ensuring enough supply heading into the winter heating season. Linda talks to NPR's Pam Fessler about the news.

In addition to DEET, health authorities are recommending two more chemicals for use as mosquito repellents: picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus. The main object is to address the dangers of West Nile virus and other disease threats. But most Americans still won't use repellents.

Commentator Steven Waldman says that this is a season of remarkable religious unity in the U.S. In the next few weeks Americans will celebrate: Hanukkah, Christmas, Ramadan, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice and Rohatsu, an important Buddhist holiday. Religious variety has flourished without it being seen as a horrible threat to any particular religion. Americans have gotten pretty good at figuring out how to be different without being divisive.

Oregon's college football teams are accustomed to losing. But they are laughing stocks no more. This season, as NPR's Tom Goldman reports, the University of Oregon and Oregon State University are both ranked in the top 15. The Ducks and the Beavers don't have fearsome nicknames, but the two schools could square off in one of the most important games in Oregon's history --- for a berth in the Rose Bowl.

Rep. Michele Bachmann suspended her campaign. Texas Gov. Rick Perry headed home to reassess his bid after Iowa. And while Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and Rep. Ron Paul carry the momentum into New Hampshire and South Carolina, Newt Gingrich and Jon Huntsman promise to continue their campaigns.

Celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse's newest cookbook pays homage to a 110-year-old New Orleans dining institution. The Food Network star and restaurateur talks about his mission to preserve the culinary history of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

For the third straight day, California officials issued a power emergency that allows electricity to be cut to industrial customers. As Scott Horsley reports, electricity remains in short supply in California, even though the peak summer season is long past. So dire is the shortage that Governor Gray Davis switched off the lights on the state's official Christmas tree a few minutes after the official lighting ceremony.

TV Critic David Bianculli reviews the season premiere of Ally Mc Beal and the premiere of the new show, Boston Public. Both shows air on FOX and both were created by David E. Kelley.

Comic and journalist Stephen Colbert is the fake senior correspondent on Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. We talk with Colbert about his reports, from "Rathergate" to "This Week in God."