Tornado In Moore, Okla.: Friday's Developments

Credit Lucas Jackson / Reuters /Landov
Rita Green carried a plastic bin of items as she helped a family friend salvage things from a home Thursday in Moore, Okla.

As the residents of Moore, Okla., and surrounding communities continue to recover from Monday's devastating tornado that killed at least 24 people and injured more than 375, we're keeping an eye on the news from there:

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Europe
3:48 am
Thu March 7, 2013

Bolshoi Dancer Confesses To Masterminding Attack

Originally published on Thu March 7, 2013 5:53 am

In Russia, a prominent dancer with the fabled Bolshoi Ballet has confessed to ordering an attack on the company's director. The director suffered third degree burns after acid was thrown onto his face. For more on the scandals at the Bolshoi, Renee Montagne talks to writer Christina Ezrahi, author of Swans of the Kremlin: Ballet and Power in Soviet Russia.

Movies
3:48 am
Thu March 7, 2013

Will 'Oz The Great And Powerful' Live Up To Emerald Status

Originally published on Thu March 7, 2013 4:19 am

The newest movie version of The Wizard of Oz, opens this weekend. Oz the Great and Powerful stars James Franco as the wizard. The movie goes beyond the Technicolor wonder of the famous MGM film to a full-blown 2013 treatment with 3D and surround sound.

Politics
3:48 am
Thu March 7, 2013

Senate Panel Considers 4 Gun Control Measures

Originally published on Thu March 7, 2013 4:14 am

The bills that would restrict the right to own and sell some guns will be heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday. It's the most progress gun legislation has made in nearly two decades, in the aftermath of the elementary school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.

Politics
3:48 am
Thu March 7, 2013

Rand Paul Ends Filibuster After Nearly 13 Hours

Originally published on Thu March 7, 2013 4:24 am

On Capitol Hill, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul launched a "talking filibuster" a little bit before noon on Wednesday, and he stopped talking shortly before 1 a.m. on Thursday. He was trying to block Senate confirmation of the president's nominee to lead the CIA John Brennan.

Business
3:48 am
Thu March 7, 2013

The Last Word In Business

Originally published on Thu March 7, 2013 6:35 am

The company is interviewing candidates on Sunday at the South By Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas. So in the Twitter age of 140 characters, company officials figure applicants should be able to prove they're great in 140 seconds.

Religion
3:48 am
Thu March 7, 2013

Vatican Manages Pope Selection Process

Credit Alessandro Bianchi / Reuters /Landov
U.S. Cardinal Timothy Dolan (right) chats with other cardinals as they arrive for a meeting at the Synod Hall in the Vatican on Thursday.

Originally published on Thu March 7, 2013 12:08 pm

As Roman Catholic cardinals prepare to elect the next pope, old-style Vatican secrecy has prevailed over American-style transparency.

Under pressure from Vatican-based cardinals, their American counterparts canceled their daily briefings that drew hundreds of news-starved journalists.

The clampdown was part of what is shaping up as a major confrontation over the future of the church between Vatican insiders and cardinals from the rest of the world.

Just an hour before the scheduled American briefing, an email announced it had been canceled.

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Sports
3:48 am
Thu March 7, 2013

Chicago Blackhawks Continue Impressive Winning Streak

Originally published on Thu March 7, 2013 4:33 am

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Pro hockey's Chicago Blackhawks have played 24 games without a loss in regulation time. They defeated the Colorado Avalanche last night. That gets the Blackhawks to the midpoint of the season with 21 wins, no defeats in regulation, three losses in shoot-outs or overtime. It's a league record start for the team that last won the Stanley Cup in 2010, possibly a big deal for a sport playing a season shortened by a lockout.

NPR's David Schaper is a lifelong Blackhawks fan, and just happened to be at last night's game. Hi, David.

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Business
3:48 am
Thu March 7, 2013

Business News

Originally published on Thu March 7, 2013 6:20 am

A statement from the company says that unit will become a separate publicly-traded company by the end of the year, and allow Time Warner to focus on its TV side. Time Warner had been in talks to combine its magazines with another company but those negotiations broke down.

Energy
2:07 am
Thu March 7, 2013

BP Bows Out Of Solar, But Industry Outlook Still Sunny

Originally published on Thu March 7, 2013 11:50 am

The solar energy business is growing quickly, but future growth will not include oil giant BP.

At the IHS CERAWeek energy conference in Houston, BP's CEO made it clear the company is done with solar.

"We have thrown in the towel on solar," Bob Dudley said after delivering a wide-ranging speech Wednesday.

"Not that solar energy isn't a viable energy source, but we worked at it for 35 years, and we really never made money," he added.

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It's All Politics
2:05 am
Thu March 7, 2013

Obama Looks For A Spring Thaw With Congress To Start Melting Deficit

Credit Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP
President Obama speaks to reporters in the White House briefing room on Friday following a meeting with congressional leaders.

Originally published on Thu March 7, 2013 11:44 am

President Obama is hoping for a spring thaw in White House-congressional relations.

The president had dinner Wednesday night with a small group of Republican lawmakers. He's also planning rare visits to Capitol Hill next week to discuss his agenda with both Democrats and Republicans.

Aides say Obama is trying to locate what he calls a "caucus of common sense" in Congress to tackle the country's long-term budget challenges.

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