From NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh.

 

　　The Obama administration is preparing to arm Syrian rebels, but exactly how remains on certain. This comes a day after the US said it came to the decision after obtaining proof that the Syrian military used chemical weapons on opposition fighters. Today Bashar al-Assad's government said the US was lying. Russia, Syria's most powerful ally, is also voicing doubts. The matter apparently came up during talks between US and Russian officials today, as NPR's Corey Flintoff reports.

 

　　Yury Ushakov, a top presidential advisor, says the American delegation tried to present the Russian side with evidence that the Syrian military has used sarin gas in its effort to crush the rebels. But Ushakov says the Russians were not persuaded by the evidence. He also compared the evidence on Syria to US claims that Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, claims that were used to justify the invasion of Iraq. Ushakov says the US decision to send arms to Syrian rebels will harm chances for a peace conference that Russia and the US have been trying to convene. Corey Flintoff NPR News, Moscow.

 

　　It's been six months since the Sandy Hook school shooting in Connecticut took the lives of 20 children and six adults. Diane Orson of member station WNPR reports events marking the anniversary are being held throughout the day in Newtown.

 

　　“Demetrius Paul Cruz, aged 15, killed with a gun.”

 

　　The day began with the reading of the names of Americans who died in gun violence in the six months since the Newtown massacre. Standing beside family members of Newtown victims, Gilles Rousseau called on Congress to do everything in its power to keep guns out of the wrong hands. His daughter Lauren, a first-grade teacher, was killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

 

　　“No father should ever have a child fall victim of gun violence.”

 

　　The group Mayors Against Illegal Guns launches a bus tour today from Newtown to 25 states, advocating for background checks on all gun sales. For NPR News, I'm Diane Orson.

 

　　A second worker has died in the Louisiana chemical plant explosion. NPR's Debbie Elliott reports there is no word yet on what caused that blast.

 

　　Williams Olefins President Alan Armstrong says the firm is investigating the cause of the explosion and assessing the extent of the damage of the company's plant in Geismar, Louisiana. The explosion and subsequent chemical fire yesterday killed two workers and injured 77 others. The plant is on a heavily industrialized corridor along the Mississippi River between and New Orleans and Baton Rouge. It makes highly flammable materials used in the petrochemical industry--ethylene and polymer-grade propylene. Debbie Elliott, NPR News.

 

　　Before the closing bell, Dow was down 106 points at 15,070, NASDAQ off 21 at 3,424, and the S&P 500 down nine at 1,627. This is NPR News.

 

　　Firefighters are working to keep the Black Forest blaze northeast of Colorado Springs from growing beyond 25 square miles. That fire, which has destroyed 379 homes, is the most destructive in state history. Tens of thousands of people remain evacuated and are not likely to be allowed back home anytime soon.

 

　　Florida A&M University now has a new marching band director. NPR's Kathy Lohr reports a prominent graduate of the school came out of retirement to try to move the university forward after a 2011 hazing death that has kept the band off the field.

 

　　Sylvester Young takes over as director of the Marching 100. The band has been suspended since drumer major Robert Champion was beaten to death in 2011 in a hazing incident. More than a dozen band members were charged in connection with the crime.

 

　　“Everything that we do here, from this point forward, is to show the world that this should not have happened and it will never ever happen again here.”

 

　　Young was band director at Ohio University and at two other historically black colleges before coming back to Florida A&M. There is no word yet on when the Marching 100 will begin practicing. But Young says the plan to rebuild is moving forward. Kathy Lohr, NPR News.

 

　　The International Monetary Fund says the US economy seems to be doing better than a year ago but remains vulnerable to tax hikes and government spending cuts. It's forecasting a 1.9% growth this year, below many private economists’ expectations. In its annual report, the IMF says key areas such as the housing recovery and steady hiring are helping the US economy.

 

　　I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News in Washington.