State and National News

Rosi Golan makes her first appearance on Mountain Stage, recorded live in Charleston, W.V. Born in Israel, Golan learned to speak French, English and Hebrew during her travels. But she didn't pick up a guitar until she was 19, after hearing a radio commercial advertising a sale at a local Guitar Center. Golan hasn't looked back, writing and singing songs for more than 10 years and cultivating her ear for dark, haunting melodies.

Jenny Lawson recalls bizarre memories in Let's Pretend This Never Happened. It debuts at No. 4.

Siblings are reunited with their quirky parents in The Family Fang. It debuts at No. 15.

Michael Kiwanuka combines roots and soul with such old-school, retro-sounding verve, it's hard to believe he's still a rising star — let alone a 24-year-old. Kiwanuka is of Ugandan descent and grew up in Muswell Hill, London.

In David Baldacci's The Innocent, a hitman's mission goes awry. It debuts at No. 3.

As part of Tell Me More's series for National Poetry Month, host Michel Martin shares a poetic tweet from Philadelphia poet and English professor, Kelly McQuain. Listeners are invited to tweet original poems of 140 characters or less to #TMMPoetry.

The House is set to vote Friday on a GOP proposal to keep some student loan interest rates at current levels. Many students have been concerned at news that the current 3.4 percent rate could double if Congress fails to extend the 2007 College Cost Reduction and Access Act. Host Michel Martin talks with Jason Delisle of the New America Foundation.

Transcript

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

Now, we turn to a business scandal that could have repercussions on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. Wal-Mart, America's biggest retailer, is also Mexico's largest retailer and there, the company has been accused of paying more than $24 million in bribes to Mexican officials to obtain construction permits to build new stores.

Transcript

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

Right now some of the hottest artists in Latin music are in Miami for the annual Billboard Latin Music Conference and Awards. Those awards celebrate the most popular musicians in business innovators in Latin music.

Now if you are not an expert on Latin music, do not worry. We have you covered. Here to guide us, Jasmine Garsd and Felix Contreras. They are co-hosts of the NPR Podcast Alt.Latino. They've been with us this week to tell us which artists to keep an eye on.

Welcome back. Thanks for joining us again.