From NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh.

 

　　The White House remains on the defensive as more questions emerged about a series of controversies. Before the weeks up, President Obama is expected to announce a new person to oversee the internal revenue service, which is under federal investigation for inappropriately singling out conservative groups that applied for tax-exempt status. Today he also addressed anger over a decision by the Department of Justice to confiscate journalist phone records in a probe related to leaks. When it comes to protecting national security, Obama says he makes no apologies.

 

　　The President addressed the latest controversies during a joint news conference with visiting Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Turkish leader's visit to the White House comes days after Turks were killed in bombings, raising fears that the country has been pulled into the conflict raging in neighboring Syria. Obama says Turkey is an important ally in the global effort to end the crisis.

 

　　Turkey is going to play an important role as we bring representatives of the regime and opposition together in the coming weeks.

 

　　The President is also meeting today with Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel about recent reports of sexual assault in the military. NPR's Larry Abramson reports military leaders are struggling to develop new ways of dealing with the problem.

 

　　President Obama has warned he wants more than mere speeches in response to incidents of sexual assault in the military. Secretary Hagel has announced that all workers in sexual assault response offices will be rescreened and retained. That comes after an army sergeant running one of those offices at Fort Hood, Texas, was accused of sexual offenses. An air force lieutenant colonel who worked on sexual assault, also faces charges for groping a civilian. The Pentagon recently announced that the number of assault is rising that's despite years of intensive training and awareness programs for members of the armed forces. Larry Abramson, NPR News. Washington.

 

　　The Top Federal Appeals Court in Washington D.C. could finally be getting a new judge. The Senate Judiciary Committee has unanimously approved a Justice Department lawyer to fill that post. NPR's Carrie Johnson reports the nominee has sailed through an often fractious senate process.

 

　　Principal deputy U.S. Solicitor General Sri Srinivasan won 18:0 vote from the Senate Judiciary panel. President Obama's judicial nominees have faced hard times in the Senate lately with waits of months if not years. But Srinivasan can now seek, gain support from key Republicans including a home state senator in Kansas. He'd failed a long open slot on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, considered the second most important bench in the country, after the U.S. Supreme Court. Carrie Johnson, NPR News, Washington.

 

　　At last check on Wall Street, Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 15 points at 15,261; NASDAQ was up for a point at 3,476; and the S&P 500 down four at 1,655.

 

　　This is NPR.

 

　　A massive wildfire in northwestern Wisconsin has been contained. Marti Mikkelson from member station WUWM in Milwaukie reports the cause of the blaze is still under investigation.

 

　　The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says the fire is 100% contained and crews are working to put out hot spots. It was the largest forest fire to hit northern Wisconsin in 33 years, turning up 9,000 acres over a two-day period. While nobody was hurt, the fire destroyed 17 homes and 30 other structures. Authorities have evacuated more than 60 people and were allowing residents to return to their homes Thursday. Officials are investigating whether logging operation sparked the fire. Governor Scott Walker has declared a state of emergency. For NPR News, I'm Marti Mikkelson, in Milwaukee.

 

　　Meanwhile, a fast spreading fire's keeping hundreds of firefighters in southern California extremely busy this hour. That blaze has charred about 3,500 acres in Los Padres National Forest since yesterday. As of this morning, it was only about 10% contained. And the fire, the cause of the fire remains under investigation. Meanwhile, cooler temperatures and lighter winds reportedly are making firefighting efforts a little bit easier.

 

　　The battle for overhead-bin space is prompting one major airline to make it change. American Airlines is allowing passengers with only carry-on bags to board sooner provided those items fit under the seat and the carrier says passengers will be allowed to check those carry-on bags and dedicate no charge.

 

　　U.S. stocks mixed this hour. With the Dow down 16 points; NASDAQ up three and the S&P500 down slightly.

 

　　This is NPR.