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NPR's Julie McCarthy reports from London that British prime minister Tony Blair remained defiant today, vowing not to give in to protests against high fuel prices. But Blair said the blockades of refineries are posing a "real danger" to the nation's health services. The government says doctors and nurses can't get to work, and operations are being cancelled. Supermarkets are starting to ration food, for fear deliveries will soon be cut because of the gas shortages.

Libertarian Candidate Harry Browne speaking in Iowa City, Iowa last night explained he is running for President because he wants to get government out of people's lives. Browne says there should be no income tax, no government oversight of education or wages. He believes individuals should decide for themselves.

NPR's Jon Hamilton reports on a new treatment for advanced kidney cancer. The treatment involves replacing the patient's own immune cells with cells from a healthy person. So far, it's been used on 19 patients, and more than half have improved. Researchers say the technique may offer hope for people with other forms of cancer as well.

NPR's Eric Westervelt reports scores of abandoned houses in Philadelphia have crumbled in recent weeks, and engineers say many more are near collapse. The problem has sparked a spate of emergency demolition. Some residents fear their neighborhoods will never be the same.

One member of Congress has apparently lost his bid for re-nomination in yesterday's primary. New York's Michael Forbes, who was elected in the Republican sweep of 1994 and who voted to impeach President Clinton, switched to the Democratic Party last year following an ongoing feud with GOP leaders in Washington. Now it looks as if Forbes has been voted out of office by members of his new party. If the count does not change, Forbes was defeated by Regina Seltzer, a 71-year-old former librarian who raised just 40-thousand-dollars to Forbes' one-point-four million. Beth Fertig from member station WNYC reports on the result, which no one saw coming.

Robert talks to Larry Makinson, Executive Director of the Center for Responsive Politics, about political donations made by the media. He says the Republicans have been getting more money from the broadcast and cable industries, and Democrats have been getting more money from the movie and television production companies.

NPR's Jim Zarroli reports that two of the biggest names in banking are merging. Chase Manhattan will acquire J.P. Morgan in a deal valued at more than $35 billion. It is the latest such transaction in the rapidly consolidating financial services industry, and is expected to put additional pressure on smaller firms to get bigger fast.

Defenders of the nation's leading entertainment corporations came to Capitol Hill today to say they do not market adult programming to minors. They were responding to the Senate Commerce Committee's hearing on a Federal Trade Commission report. The report indicates mature films, CD's and video games are routinely advertised in places where young children and teens will see them. Many members of Congress were eager to attack the industry's tactics. But they were just as careful to point out that they do not want to violate the First Amendment. NPR's Larry Abramson reports.

NPR's Rick Karr reports that the first Latin Grammy will be held tonight at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences is hosting the event.

Jazz saxophonist Stanley Turrentine died in a New York hospital after suffering a stroke. He was known for his smooth playing and his ability to adapt his style to contemporary audiences. Turrentine started his career playing with Ray Charles and Max Roach. He scored his biggest hit in 1970 with Sugar, which became something of a jazz standard, frequently performed and re-recorded by admirers. He was 66 years old.