The bill was the result of a compromise forged by House Speaker John Boehner and Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

“This was a bipartisan effort with Republicans and Democrats coming together to do something that is smart and common-sense. And my hope is that it becomes a habit.”

For 12 years Congress has kicked the can down the road, passing one-year patches to the so-called Medicare dock fix, but now there is a permanent solution, which rewards doctors for quality of care, not just quantity, expanse of child health program and makes richer seniors pay a little more for Medicare. The bill passed with huge bipartisan majorities—98 to 8 in the Senate and 392 to 37 in the House. Mara Liasson, NPR News, the White House. 

 

Star NFL running back Adrian Peterson has been reinstated into the league after seven months of suspension for injuring his son. NPR’s Nathan Rott reports Peterson will be free to resume his NFL career on Friday. 

Peterson’s initial suspension stemmed from a grand jury indictment last September that charged him with reckless or negligent injury to a child. The star Minnesota Vikings running back had allegedly disciplined his four-year-old son with a switch. Peterson pleaded not guilty a month later and no contest in November, but the NFL rejected his request to be reinstated during the 2014 season. Peterson appealed and lost and eventually had the NFL Players Association sue on his behalf. In announcing its decision to reinstate him, the NFL says that Peterson will have to fulfil the commitments he in April made to the league’s commissioner, including counseling and treatment. They also warned that another violation of its Personal Conduct Policy could lead to his banishment from the league for life. Nathan Rott, NPR News. 

 

The nation’s home builders have kicked off what’s expected to be a fairly strong spring building season, though the pace of construction has fallen slightly from a year ago. According to the Commerce Department, builders broke ground of 926,000 homes last month, down about 2.5% from the previous year’s figures. Gus Faucher is an economist at PNC Financial and acknowledges home building has been slower. 

“We overbuilt during the Great Recession, so we have too many houses out there. I think builders are being cautious. And then potential home-buyers are being cautious. They want to make sure that home money makes sense in their financial situation. Credit is also tight.”

Still housing strives to up from February’s numbers. Builders began to get down to work in the Northeast and Midwest where bad weather slowed the pace of new construction. 

 

Mounting fears of a Greek default are sending the country’s borrowing cost higher. That comes on the heels of published reports the country may have informally approached the International Monetary Fund, seeking to have its bailout repayments reduced. IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde for her part rejecting suggestions however Greece could obtain a delay on those repayments. 

 

On Wall Street today, stocks closed slightly lower. The Dow was down 6 points. The Nasdaq lost 3 points today.

 

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Apple says it is taking steps aimed at boosting its environmental credibility including investing in a Chinese solar project and working to preserve some 36,000 acres of timberland in Maine and Carolina. The company says it’s working to meet the self-imposed goal of powering all of its U.S. operations with renewable energy and working toward also using more renewable energy overseas. 

 

Vatican is declaring a controversial investigation of the main umbrella group of U.S. nuns has accomplished its goals. NPR’s Sylvia Poggioli reports the unexpected announcement is seen as a sign of the Pope’s focus on a more merciful Church.

The probe into the Leadership Conference of Women Religious was launched in 2012 by the Vatican’s theological watchdog under its previous head Cardinal William Levada. The group is accused of promoting certain radical feminist things incompatible with Catholic faith and called for a five-year doctrinal overhaul. The crackdown triggered protests in support of the group that represents 80% of the 50,000 Catholic nuns in the U.S. Today’s final report says the group’s new statutes show its focus on Christ and being faithful to Church teaching. The delegation later met the Pope. Its statement said our conversation allowed us to personally thank Pope Francis for providing leadership and a vision that has captivated our hearts. Sylvia Poggioli, NPR News, Rome.

 

According to Labor Department, job prospects for newly emitted college grads fell slightly last year, notwithstanding some improvement in the job market. The unemployment rate for those aged 20 to 29 with a four-year or advanced degree last year rising to 12.4% from just under 11% the previous year.