NPR 2008-12-14

Utility crews have been working around the clock to restore power to the more than 800, 000 homes and businesses still without power after a severe ice storm ripped across the northeastern states, just getting to downed power lines is proving difficult because many roads remain impassable in the region. New Hampshire was one of the hardest hit states. From New Hampshire Public Radio Amy Quinton has more.

New Hampshire Governor John Lynch and emergency management officials are warning 385, 000 residents without power to expect to remain without power. Utility officials say residents may have to wait until next week before it's restored. Forty-six shelters across the state have opened and more than 500 utility crews from as far away as Virginia and Ohio are helping¹ out. During a conference call, Governor Lynch said he has also called in the National Guard. "We have 100 National Guard soldiers on alert, 95 soldiers have been deployed² at this point helping primarily with traffic control and debris³ removal. " He's also warning those without power to be careful of frostbite and hypothermia inside cold homes. For NPR News, I'm Amy Quinton in Concord⁴, New Hampshire.

President-elect Barack Obama has chosen New York City's Housing Commissioner⁵ Shawn Donovan as his nominee⁶ for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. If confirmed by the Senate, Donovan would help deal with the housing market problems that are at the heart of the nation's economic crisis.

European Union leaders have agreed on the package of measures aimed at protecting their economies as well as the environment. French President Nicolas Sarkozy who's completing his tenure⁷ as president of the EU says getting the plan approved was not as difficult as some had expected. Now as Terry Schultz reports from Brussels, the leaders are calling on the Obama Administration to follow Europe's lead in addressing the issue of climate change.

Beating expectations, Sarkozy managed to get the other 26 heads of state to agree with the EU executive branch's proposal for boosting the European economy by 1. 5% of EU GDP. And they also promised to abide⁸ by previous commitments to slash⁹ carbon dioxide emissions¹⁰ and use cleaner fuels by the year 2020. Sarkozy was elated as heard here through an interpreter. "This is quite historic what's happening here. " European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso meanwhile stole a line from President-elect Obama's campaign, in urging him to combat global warming. "Yes, you can also do what we are doing. Yes you can achieve the targets we have committed ourselves to achieve. " Environmental groups nonetheless say the final climate deal gives too much leeway to business and industry. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz, Brussels.

There was more violence in Athens today, as young Greek protestors attacked stores, banks and a police station. The rampages began last weekend after police shot and killed a 15-year-old boy.

This is NPR News, from Washington.

An Atlanta man has been sentenced to life in prison for killing¹¹ four people in a rampage at a courthouse in 2005. The victims included a local judge and a federal agent. From Georgia Public Broadcasting, Valarie Edwards has the story.

Brian Nichols escaped the death penalty after jurors deadlocked¹² earlier this week. When a jury can't agree on the death penalty, Georgia law kicks in and requires a judge to consider life in prison with or without a chance of parole. In 2005, Nichols was on trial for rape¹³ in Fulton County, when he grabbed a guard's gun, fatally shot the judge overseeing his case, a court reporter and a sheriff's deputy. During his day long escape, Nichols shot and killed an off duty federal agent, and took a local woman hostage. In his defense¹⁴, Nichols claimed to be a slave revolting against his captors. Judge James Bodiford sentenced Brian Nichols to seven life sentences and four sentences of life without parole plus 485 years. For NPR News, I'm Valarie Edwards in Atlanta.

President Bush says the latest government figures show that use of illegal drugs by young people has declined further. Mr. Bush said, for example, that methamphetamine use was down 50% and marijuana use declined 25% over the past seven years. There were also drops in teen alcohol and cocaine¹⁵ use. "Overall, illegal drug use by Americans is down by 25%, meaning we have helped approximately 900, 000 young people stay clean. " Mr. Bush speaking in his weekly radio address. He said the coast guard has confiscated¹⁶ more than 360, 000 pounds of cocaine destined¹⁷ for the US from South America this year. That's a record amount.

1 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

2 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

3 debris   

n.瓦砾堆，废墟，碎片

参考例句：

• After the bombing there was a lot of debris everywhere.轰炸之后到处瓦砾成堆。
• Bacteria sticks to food debris in the teeth,causing decay.细菌附着在牙缝中的食物残渣上，导致蛀牙。

4 concord   

n.和谐；协调

参考例句：

• These states had lived in concord for centuries.这些国家几个世纪以来一直和睦相处。
• His speech did nothing for racial concord.他的讲话对种族和谐没有作用。

5 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

6 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

7 tenure   

n.终身职位；任期；(土地)保有权，保有期

参考例句：

• He remained popular throughout his tenure of the office of mayor.他在担任市长的整个任期内都深得民心。
• Land tenure is a leading political issue in many parts of the world.土地的保有权在世界很多地区是主要的政治问题。

8 abide   

vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受

参考例句：

• You must abide by the results of your mistakes.你必须承担你的错误所造成的后果。
• If you join the club,you have to abide by its rules.如果你参加俱乐部，你就得遵守它的规章。

9 slash   

vi.大幅度削减；vt.猛砍，尖锐抨击，大幅减少；n.猛砍，斜线，长切口，衣衩

参考例句：

• The shop plans to slash fur prices after Spring Festival.该店计划在春节之后把皮货降价。
• Don't slash your horse in that cruel way.不要那样残忍地鞭打你的马。

10 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

11 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

12 deadlocked   

陷入僵局的；僵持不下的

参考例句：

• The plan deadlocked over the funds. 这个计划由于经费问题而搁浅了。
• The meeting deadlocked over the wage issue. 会议因工资问题而停顿下来。

13 rape   

n.抢夺，掠夺，强奸；vt.掠夺，抢夺，强奸

参考例句：

• The rape of the countryside had a profound ravage on them.对乡村的掠夺给他们造成严重创伤。
• He was brought to court and charged with rape.他被带到法庭并被指控犯有强奸罪。

14 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

15 cocaine   

n.可卡因，古柯碱（用作局部麻醉剂）

参考例句：

• That young man is a cocaine addict.那个年轻人吸食可卡因成瘾。
• Don't have cocaine abusively.不可滥服古柯碱。

16 confiscated   

没收，充公( confiscate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Their land was confiscated after the war. 他们的土地在战后被没收。
• The customs officer confiscated the smuggled goods. 海关官员没收了走私品。

17 destined   

adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的

参考例句：

• It was destined that they would marry.他们结婚是缘分。
• The shipment is destined for America.这批货物将运往美国。