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

 

　　Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is pleading not guilty to thirty counts stemming from an attack that killed three people and left more than 260 wounded, some of whom lost their legs. Tsarnaev appealed in federal court in Boston for the first time since he was captured in mid April. NPR's Tovia Smith describes the scene at the court house today.

 

　　The court house is mobbed, two long lines formed earlier this morning, one for journalists looking to get in on the hearing, the other for members of the public, some who I spoke to said, that they were at the Marathon narrowly escaped without injury, and they wanted to come and as one said, I want to stare Tsarnaev down, and show him, this man said, that we are stronger than anything that he did. There were a couple of people in line who said they were here to show support for Tsarnaev, believing that he was being set up by the federal government, they said.

 

　　NPR's Tovia Smith. Tsarnaev's older brother Tamerlan died during a gun battle with police days after the attack, and both are accused of also killing a fourth person while they were on the run.

 

　　The defence says resident George Zimmerman's trial over the shooting death of an unarmed teenage in central Florida last year and former neighborhood watch volunteer has descided not to testify.

 

　　Have you made the decision?  Yes, sir.

 

　　And, what is their decision, sir?

 

　　after consulting with council, not to testify your own.

 

　　Ok, you understand that no matter what council says to you, is still your decision, you understand that?

 

　　Yes, sir.

 

　　Zimmerman in an exchange with the judge, he maintains he shot 17-year-old  Trayvon Martin in self defence. Martin's family argues the teen was hunted down and murdered.

 

　　An attempt to restore lower interest rates on students loans failed in the senate this afternoon. Rates doubled on July 1st after the chamber could not reach an agreement on legislation. We have the latest from NPR's Else Chenxx.

 

　　Senate democrats had hoped to pass the one year extension of the 3.4% interest rate to give sales more time to find ways to make college more affordable overall. Republican Richard Burr of North Carolina was opposed to that one-year extension and instead pushing it bipartisan plan that would tie the student loan rate to a market rate, the ten-year treasury note. He says it's still possible for the senate to come up the plan before the August recess.

 

　　We've sent couple of different opportunity, you know, we are in conversation with the White House, with the parliament of edcuation, and what senate do.

 

　　In the meantime, a 6.8% interest rate remains in place for subsidized Stanford loans. Most loans are issued in August and September, right before classes begin. Else Chenxxx, NPR News, the Capitol.

 

　　Today US stocks remained mixed with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down eight points before the closing bell. It's at 15,292; NASDAQ composite index gaining 17 nearly 0.50% at 3,521 and the S&P 500 up slightly at 1,653. You are listening to NPR News.

 

　　The CEO of the railway company that owned the runway train involved in last weekend's fiery crash in Quebec, is blaming it on a train engineer. Edward Burkhardt says that employee has been suspended without pay.

 

　　It's very questionable whether the brakes, the hand brakes were proper we plied on this train. Matter of fact all said they warned elsewhere we wouldn't, if had this, this sensitive.

 

　　The train broke loose then derailed several miles away in LAC-MEGANTIC, where explosion rifted several buildings including a crowded bar. At least 15 people are confirmed dead, however dozens more people are still missing and fear dead. Quebec's premier has announced the 60-million dollar fund to help rebuild the community.

 

　　The securities exchange commission has voted to do a way with the ban on advertising by hedge funds in private equity firms. NPR's Yuki Noguchi reports this would allow hedge funds to solicit investments from the public, but consumer advocates are concerned it could lead to more fragility or risky investments.

 

　　The jobs act, business startup act of jobs act, passed last year, requiring the limination of the ban on advertisements from private investment groups, and by a vote of 4:1, the commission adopted it. The loan descent came from democratic commissioner, Louis Eglerxx, who echoed consumer protection groups, saying it could lead to explication of smaller investors and wanted strict rules in place. The commission also voted to monitor the advertisements, despite republican opposition and additional regulation would staff a business. Yuki Noguchi NPR News, Washington.

 

　　Dow Jones Industrial Average down eight points before the close, it is at 15,292. This is NPR News.