NPR 2009-01-30

Illinois state senators have begun debating the fate of Governor Rod Blagojevich with a vote on whether to remove the governor from office expected shortly. Republican State Senator Dale Righter was among those who said Blagojevich needs to go. "This governor should be convicted of that articles impeachment 1. He should be removed from office and he should be barred from ever holding public office in the state again. "Earlier today, the Illinois governor in an impassioned address before state Senate lawmakers maintained he's done nothing wrong. The prosecutor 2 in the case says Blagojevich could have testified at his trial but chose not to. The governor faces charges he sought to sell Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat.

President Barack Obama is apparently 3 not happy over reports of multi-billion-dollar bonus payouts by Wall Street banks last year. Speaking with his Treasury 4 Secretary, Mr. Obama called the CEO bonuses at the time banks are asking the government for loans "the height of irresponsibility" and "shameful 5". The Obama Administration comments come on heels of a report from the New York comptroller's office this week that Wall Street firms paid out just under $18. 5 billion in bonuses to employees last year.

The suicide rate among soldiers increased once again over the past year and is now at a three-decade high. NPR's Tom Bowman has more.

At least 128 active-duty soldiers killed themselves last year. That translates into the highest suicide rate since 1980 when record started being kept. 15 additional soldier deaths were still being investigated as possible suicides. And for the first time since the Vietnam War, the rate of soldier suicides is higher than their age group in the civilian 6 population. The majority of soldiers who took their own lives did so after returning home from a combat deployment 7, just like in 2007 when 115 soldiers committed suicide. The Army says most of the soldiers committed suicide because of failed relationships. They were strained by long and repeated deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. The Army is starting new programs for soldiers and one Army official pleaded for more counselors 8, saying "We are hiring and we need your help. " Tom Bowman, NPR News, the Pentagon.

Sales of new homes fell last month to the slowest pace on record. Giles Snyder reports.

Home builders ended their weakest year since 1982 with a dramatic drop in new home sales in December. The Commerce Department says sales fell nearly 15% last month. Economist 9 Adam York of Wachovia. "We saw a big decline here down to 331, 000. The market had only been looking for a small decline down to about 400, 000 in the place. You know, this is now the lowest number on record since back to the 1960s. Generally speaking, you know, a very bad report. " New home sales were the weakest in the Northeast and the West. At the current sales pace, it would take more than a year to exhaust the inventory 10 of new homes on the market. The Commerce Department report also says the medium price of a new home sold in December was $206, 500, a drop of 9. 3% from a year ago. Giles Snyder, NPR News, Washington.

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President Barack Obama signed his first bill into law today, a measure handing a victory to labor 11 and women's rights advocates by reversing a 2007 Supreme 12 Court decision that made it harder to sue for pay discrimination. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act passed by the Democratic-led Congress this week is named for an Alabama woman who discovered after 19 years on the job at Goodyear Tire & Rubber that she was the lowest-paid supervisor 13 at the plant despite having more experience than a number of male co-workers. Jury found Ledbetter was a victim of discrimination but the Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision had ruled discrimination claims must be filed within 180 days of the first defense 14.

Cuban President Raul Castro is in Russia for the first visit by a Cuban leader since the Soviet 15 collapse 16 abruptly 17 ended the close alliance between the countries. During the Cold War, Moscow supported Cuba with billions of dollars in trade and subsidies 18. NPR's Gregory Feifer reports from Moscow.

Russian television showed Castro bundled against the wrong winter cold at the airport after landing in Moscow for an 8-day trip. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was in Cuba last November, part of a symbolic 19 trip to Latin America meant to display Moscow's interest in rebuilding relations with countries in Washington's backyard. Moscow is keen to rebuild the image of a global power it held when former Cuban leader Fidel Castro was a Cold War icon 20. But analysts 21 say current cooperation with Cuba is largely symbolic. Russia says it's considering a $20 million loan to Cuba, Castro is also expected to discuss air defense cooperation and possible offshore 22 oil drilling by Russian companies. Gregory Feifer, NPR News, Moscow.

On Wall Street today, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 226 points.