Today the minimum wage is set to rise in some 13 states, but in some of them, the rise is small. As NPR’s Margal Edler reports.

 

In New Jersey, the rise will be by $1 to ($)8.25 an hour. In New York, up 0.75 to $8 an hour and up to $9 by the end of 2015. In Connecticut, the minimum wage will rise to ($)8.70. Rode Island, $8 an hour. The federal minimum wage is ($)7.25 and now some 20 states will surpass that. President Obama says he supports raising the federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour over two years. A recent article in the New York Times notes that leaders in the Democratic Party believe the minimum wage is an issue that will serve them well politically, not only by pushing for a rise in the federal minimum wage, but attempting to place state minimum wage proposals on the [balerd in states] with hotly contested races. Margal Edler, NPR News, New York.

 

The government of Afghanistan is preparing to release a number of prisoners the US says killed or wounded American troops. NPR’s Shawn Carbery reports the prisoner release is the latest controversy in a deteriorating relationship between Washington and Karbul.

 

A US official in Kabul says 88 of the detainees set to be released were directly involved in \ attacks against Afghan civilians or Afghan and international forces. The release has been ordered by the Afghan Review Board, a special panel established after the US handed over control of the prison at Bargram airfield last March. The US had delayed the handover because it fears the Afghan government would release dangerous prisoners without any prosecution. So far the review board has ordered the release of 650 prisoners. This latest release order comes as President Harmid Karzai is refusing to sign a security agreement with the US. Shawn Carbery, NPR News, Karbul.

 

Peace talks are supposed to open today between the government of South Sudan and rebels. The talks are in Ethiopia. But as negotiations start, more fighting is reported in South Sudan. Fears of a widening war are growing. Meanwhile, the president of Uganda had given an ultimatum to the South Sudanese rebels: go to the peace talks or face war from neighboring countries.

 

Former First Lady Barbra Bush has been hospitalized in Huston for a respiratory infection. A family spokesman says she is getting quote, “fantastic care” and is in great spirits. She has been visited by her husband, former President Jorge H W Bush.

 

This is NPR.

 

The National Weather Service is warning of \ bitterly cold temperatures in some of the upper Midwest and Great Lakes states. The mercury will stay below zero day and night. People in Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota are being warned against deadly wintural temperatures. This could fall to as much as 50 degrees below zero with a threat of frostbite within minutes to exposed skin.

 

The 100 anniversary of commercial flight is being celebrated today in Tampa and in St. Petersburg, Florida. NPR’s Gregg Allen reports the Tampa airbow line began flying on January 1st, 1914.

 

It was a [bent wire] biplane piloted by aviator pioneer Tony Jenison. On its first paid flight across Tampa Bay, it carried just one passenger, St. Petersburg’s Mayor. The ticket price was $5 one way. To commemorate the anniversary, the founder of Florida’s Fantasy of Flight Attraction built a replica of Jenison’s original airbow. He had planned to recreate the flight today, but at last the replica is not yet ready to take to the air. In his place, another early aviation enthusiast profai/bufai a different replica of airbow, Bahalfmen Exfora Molotskiv from St. Petersburg to Tampa. The Benwar 2020 Airbout were also be on hand. But it’s not expected to flying to a later in the year, the opportunity for yet another centennial celebration. Gregg Allen, NPR News, Miami.

 

A ship that’s been stuck in the ice near Antarctica remains trapped there. Three icebreakers have failed to reach dozens of scientists and tourists [on the board of aboard] the trapped ship are in good health. And they have supplies. They are waiting for a break in the weather so a helicopter from one of the icebreakers can start ferrying people of the ship.

 

I’m Kolva Comen, NPR News.