NPR 2008-02-25

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Raum.

The National Assembly of Cuba meets today to select a new leader, now that Fidel Castro is stepping aside after 49 years in power. The delegates are expected to name his brother Raul as head of state. Raul has been acting 1 president since July of 2006 when Castro announced he had surgery and was temporarily relinquishing 2 power. He hasn't been seen in public since then.

Turkey's military operation in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq is now in its fourth day. Kurdish PKK militants 3 are claiming they've shot down a Turkish helicopter. The Turkish military did not confirm the claim. NPR's Peter Kenyon reports from Baghdad.

A pro-Kurdish news agency reported that fighters from the Kurdish Worker Party, or PKK, hit down a Cobra helicopter near the Turkey-Iraq border. There was no confirmation 4 either from the Turkish military or independent sources. Casualty claims are also impossible to verify. The Turkish army says its forces have killed scores of Kurdish fighters in the first three days of the operation while confirming just 7 fatalities 5 of its own. PKK spokesmen say at least 15 Turkish troops have died while refusing to comment on Kurdish casualties. The PKK wants a separate Kurdish state in southeastern Turkey. The Bush administration says it respects Turkey's right to defend itself, but cautions that any military action must be limited to PKK targets and not include the Peshmerga security forces which control northern Iraq. Peter Kenyon, NPR News, Baghdad.

Governors from both parties are reportedly expressing strong objections to new Medicaid regulations that they say would shift billions of dollars in expenses to the states. As a result, the governors say some states may be forced to cut back on Medicaid services. NPR's Craig Windham has more.

The governors who've gathered in the nation's capital for the winter meeting of the Governor's Association say the Medicaid changes could not come at a worse time with the economic slowdown already shrinking state tax revenues. The rules are set to take effect later this year unless Congress intervenes. The New York Times reports the changes include a reduction in federal payments for teaching hospitals, public hospitals and services for the disabled. The new rules are designed to bolster 6 the financial integrity of Medicaid, the federal program that provides health insurance to more than 60 million low-income Americans, about half of them children. But California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger told the Times the changes would effectively end the federal government's participation 7 in many crucial components 8 of Medicaid. Craig Windham, NPR News, Washington.

Another major topic at the meeting is energy. Some governors want more work done to promote renewable fuels such as ethanol and bio-diesel. The House will consider legislation this week that would shift about 18 billion dollars in tax breaks from Big Oil companies to renewable sources by extending and expanding tax incentives 9 for items such as hybrid 10 cars and energy-efficient homes.

This is NPR News from Washington.

Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan is scheduled to deliver a major speech today in Chicago. It would be his first public appearance in a year. Natalie Moore reports from Chicago Public Radio.

Today's event marks annual Savior's Day convention that honors the Nation of Islam founder 11. "The Gods at War" is the title of Farrakhan's speech. Minister Ishmael Muhammad says that's the theme because of gang and youth violence afflicting 12 cities. "We all are well familiar with the violence that is in the streets and the incidents of violence that is taking place in high schools, in the college campuses" Farrakhan will give the speech in downtown Chicago to an expected crowd of 20, 000. The minister turns 75 in May and has battled prostate cancer. In the fall of 2006, Farrakhan announced he was turning over the daily operations of the Chicago-based Nation of Islam to an executive committee because of medical problems related to his illness. For NPR News, I'm Natalie Moore in Chicago.

In the race for the Democratic nomination 13 for president, Hillary Clinton accused Barack Obama yesterday of distorting her record on health care and trade issues. Obama said his recent mailings on those subjects are accurate and she's playing politics. Mike Huckabee remains 14 in the race for the Republican nomination. He appeared as himself last night on Saturday Night Live during the "Weekend Update" segment. He said he will not overstay his welcome that when it's time, he'll exit the race with class and grace. Then Huckabee stayed and stayed and stayed on the set despite repeated cues from the anchorman to leave. This was the first new episode of "Saturday Night Live" since the writers' strike in November.

I'm Nora Raum, NPR News in Washington.