President Obama says the shooting spree that killed 3 people at a Jewish community center and retirement complex. It's all more painful at the time when Jews are preparing to celebrate Passover and Christians looking ahead Easter. He notes some Jewish synagogues and community centers have beefed up security in response to the violence.

"Nobody should have to worry about their security when gathering with their fellow believers. No one should ever have to fear for their safety when they go to pray."

Obama promises the federal government will do what they can to assist in investigation. A known white supremacist and former clan leader is being held in connection with shooting. Scott Horsley, NPR News, the White House. 

 

Some cities under the administration's new healthcare law may not be quite as high as first thought. That's based on the latest government assessment from the Congressional Budget Office which says government's subsidies under the healthcare initiative were total abroad 1 trillion dollars over the next 10 years, down from the 1.2 trillion that has been forecasted. CBO says 8% was conducted primarily to tighter control on the parts at insurance companies. 

 

If you are still scrambling to finish income tax return before the final deadline tomorrow, you're not alone. NPR's Craig Windham reports the Internal Revenue Service expects to receive 35 million returns following the final days before April 15. 

More than 19% of the nearly 100 million returns received so far by the IRS have been filed electronically. That makes the process easier, but tax accountant Linda Domoller says return files at the last minute tend to have more mistakes. 

"Why always tell people don't sign until you're sure and don't do anything in a hurry."

To buy more time, you can request automatic 6-month extension of time-to-file through the free file link at IRS.gov. But Domoller says you still need to pay any tax you own with extension request. 

"Any amounts you don't pay on time, you could possibly be subjected to penalty and definitely over subject into the interests."

Craig Windham, NPR News, Washington. 

 

US retail sales rose in March, the Commerce Department reports sales at the retail level posted its biggest uptick in 1.5 years. Just the latest sign US economy appears to be bouncing back after a long slow winter. According to the commerce response, retail sales rose 1.1% last month, the biggest gain since September, 2012. Sales at retail level accounts for about 1/3 of the overall spending by consumers. 

 

Wall Street upstarts the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 146 points, end the session at 16,173; the NASDAQ rose 22 points; S&P 500 was up 14%. 

 

You're listening to NPR News in Washington. 

 

Tonight for the first time in 3 years, people in North America will have a chance to see a total lunar eclipse. NPR's Adam Cole reports it's called "a blood moon".

The earth, the sun and the moon will be arraigned into a perfect line tonight, and the moon will be swallowed up by the earth shadow. Even so the moon won't go completely dark, some light will bend around the earth and travel through its atmosphere or all the blue light will slide away. The lighter remains will turn the moon as thin crescent. If you'd like to see this blood moon, it gets good around 2:00 a.m. on the east coast; 11:00 a.m. on the west coast. And if the clock get away this time, you get second chance soon. Another blood moon is due in October. Adam Cole, NPR News. 

 

The Washington Post, The Guardian, The Boston Global and The Colorado Springs Gazette are all on this year's Pulitzer Prize winners announced by the Pulitzer Committee. The posting The Guardian won the prize of public service for their role on unveiling the massive US government surveillance efforts brought light by NSA leaker Edward Snowden. The Global won for its coverage of the Boston marathon bombing. The much smaller Colorado Springs Gazette won for a frighten investigation how the military cut wounded veterans loose. Dan Steever, the paper's publisher. 

"We're pleased, proud and humbled to be in the same companies as the other final of our category, and other winners for other categories and Pulitzer."

Also winning this year, The New York Times is also received 2 awards for Photography. The winners of the public service award will receives gold medals; the rest awards carry 10,000 dollars prize. 

 

Crude oil futures prices closed higher today. The price of oil was up 31 cents a barrel, end the session at $104.05 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.