Kerry says it's time to set the record straight about Ukraine. While Russia says it intervened in Crimea to protect ethnic Russians there. Kerry said Moscow is hiding behind falsehoods. Speaking in Kiev, he called on Russia to pull troops back to their barracks, and begin talks with Ukraine's new leaders.

'It is not appropriate to invade a country, and at the end of a barrel of a gun, dictate what you are trying to achieve.'

Kerry seems to be trying to arrange face-to-face talks between the Ukrainians and Russians. Ukrainian's foreign minister hitched a ride to Paris on Kerry's plane. Here Kerry has a busy day ahead including a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. Michele Kelemen NPR News, Paris.

 

 

The Obama administration today unveiled its fiscal 2015 spending plan. According to White House, budget director Sylvia Burwell, the $3.9 tr spending blueprint for the fiscal year begins October 1. It'll be a road map for boosting the economy, fixing the nation's infrastructure and shrinking the deficits.

It includes fully paid-for investments in infrastructure, job training preschool, and pro-work tax cuts. At the same time, it reduces deficits and strengthens our long-term fiscal outlook.

Those spending plans drew immediate condemnation from Republicans who called it little more than election-year pitch. The proposal has little chance to make it into the Republican-controlled House, where Speaker John Boehner labeled the President's most irresponsible budget yet. 

 

 

Los Angeles is joining a growing list of cities effectively banning E-cigarettes for most public spaces. NPR's * reports the city counsel there has unanimously approved the limits. 

Los Aangeles, cities such as New York, Chicago in several states, now put strict limits on the use of E-cigarettes, or what sometime refer to as vaping. E-cigarettes are battery-powered and their nicotine vapor, is built as a safer healthier alternative to conventional cigarettes. And here in Los Angeles, those are still be allowed in vaping lounges and  Cigar and Hookah Bars, while use will be illegal in conventional bars, and restaurants, sands or beaches, parks, outdoor cafes,and workplaces. The counsel narrowly defeated an amendment that would've allowed E-cigarettes in bars and night clubs. *, NPR News.

 

 

After three straight months' decline, it now looks like the home price is around the ascendancy. Real state data company CoreLogic reported * the house price index was up 9/10 a percent in January, after falling by 1/10 percent in December. The rise in prices also comes from the sale of existing homes fell in January in part to the cold weather across much of the country. While with supply of billboard homes on the market somewhat tight, the prices appear to be large enough.

 

 

One day after markets moved lower, stocks turn another way today. The Dow was up 227 points. The NASDAQ gained 74 points. 

 

 

This is NPR. 

 

 

Kentucky's Governor is now saying the state will hire outside attorneys as it seeks to appeal the judges' decision, granting legal recognition to same-sex couples married in other states in jurisdictions. The announcement from Governor Steve Beshear came in just moments after the state's attorney general Jack Conway said he will not seek a higher court review of the judges' ruling, who've came just days after federal judge in Louisville says the state has 21 days to implement ruling that overturns a voter-approved issue, banning recognition of same-sex unions. 

 

 

Oil giant BP says it plans to challenge a federal appeals court decision connecting with the company's 2010 spill in the Gulf of Mexico. NPR's * reports the 5th circuit court of appeals in New Orleans rejected BP's efforts to block payments to some businesses. 

Under a huge settlement intended to compensate those affected by the spill, some businesses that likely suffer no harm from the spill were able to collect money anyway. In a meeting with investors, BP chief executive *  said the company would ask for a review of the most recent decision in the case. 

'We remain committed to paying legitimate claims. But we'll continue to contest claims we believe to be unfounded.'

Attorneys for plaintiff argue BP can't rewrite the deal the company already agreed to. If BP loses, the settlement could cost the oil giant more than a nearly 8 billion dollars as is expected to pay. Jack NPR News.

 

 

A signature voice in NPR for decades, Carl Kasell is announcing affectively this spring he'll be stepping down from his work on the NPR quiz show wait wait don't tell me. Carl's before becoming the show's official score keeper in 1998, was NPR news caster for Morning Edition for 30 years. Kasell, 79, has been in Chicago for the past 15 years take part in wait wait don't tell me.