NPR 2009-4-28

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Barbara Klein.

The World Health Organization has raised its pandemic alert level to four because of the outbreak of the new swine flu virus which has been confirmed in Mexico, the US, Canada, Spain and Scotland. Keiji Fukuda is WHO's Assistant Director-General.

The emergency committee unanimously felt that this was consistent with human-to-human transmission of this swine influenza 1 virus. The Phase Four Alert means health worker should elevate preparations and country should heighten preparations for more outbreaks. A total of 40 cases of the new virus have been detected in the US, 28 are in New York City. One person is hospitalized in the US. In Mexico, the epicenter of the outbreak, the minister of Health has ordered that all schools nationwide close as the swine flu outbreak develops. James Blears is in Mexico City.

Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova says that all school is out throughout Mexico until May 6th. Up to now this has been confined to Mexico City, the State of Mexico, the federal district and the central state of San Luis Potosi. Cases of suspected swine flu have been reported in 14 of Mexico's 32 states. Cordova also explains that of the almost 2000 people have been hospitalized with symptoms of serious pneumonia 2, more than half have been successfully treated and alive home. For NPR News, I'm James Blears in Mexico City.

General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson says it's increasingly probable the automaker will have to restructure in bankruptcy 3 court. From member station WUDET, Sarah Cwiek has details.

Henderson made that comment as he discussed GM's aggressive new restructuring plan. A central component 4 of that plan is getting the company's bondholders to give up at least 24 billion dollars in debt for equity 5. Henderson says the company's ability to restructure hinges on the bondholders' actions.

It's a question of whether we are successful in the bond exchange, er, and I think that's the key. The bond exchange needs to be successful in order for us to avert 6 bankruptcy.

Henderson acknowledges it will be very difficult to convince bondholders to take major losses. The new restructuring plan also increases and accelerates the number of hourly job cuts, plant idlings, dealership 7 closings and brand reductions GM's seeking. The automaker has until June 1st to convince the government it's viable 8 and deserves further support or file for bankruptcy. For NPR News, I'm Sarah Cwiek, in Detroit.

Daimler AG has reached an agreement to let go of nearly 20% stake in Chrysler. Under the deal, Daimler will forgive loans and pay 200 million dollars into Chrysler’s pension plan for two years once the deal takes effect.

On Wall Street today, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 51 points, to close at 8025. The NASDAQ lost 14 points, closing at 1679. The S&P fell 8 points at 857.

This is NPR News.

South-central Mexico was rocked by an earthquake today, measuring a magnitude of 5.6. The temblor was felt 130 miles away in Mexico City. There have been no reports of significant injuries or damage.

US attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, a federal prosecutor 9 known for fighting terrorists, mob bosses and ferreting out public corruption 10, will continue to serve as the top federal prosecutor in the Chicago area. NPR's Cheryl Corley reports.

When President Obama took office, he asked all federal prosecutors 11 to stand the job temporarily. Now a more official process begins, Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois say he's recommending and Patrick Fitzgerald has agreed to continue to serve as US district attorney for northern Illinois. Before coming to Chicago, Fitzgerald as an assistant prosecutor in New York helped build cases against Osama bin 12 Laden 13 and the gang Gambino crime family. Since then, some of his higher profile cases include the successful prosecution 14 of former Illinois governor George Ryan and the ongoing 15 investigation 16 and subsequent indictment 17 of now former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich. Fitzgerald was a special counsel in the prosecution of former White House aide Louis Scooter Libby, whose prison term was commuted 18 by former President George Bush. Cheryl Corley, NPR News, Chicago.

Children who take medication to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder 19 do better on academic tests than kids not on medication. The study, published in the Journal Pediatrics compared two groups of children diagnosed with ADHD from kindergarten through fifth grade. The group that took medication help them focus did better than their non-medicated peers. Researchers caution the findings don't indicate all children with ADHD should take medication.