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Week In The News: Indiana’s Religious Freedom Law, Hazy Iran Deal, Thirsty California

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Gay rights, religious freedom and Indiana. All eyes on the Iran talks.  Mandatory water restrictions in California. Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif arrives at the Beau Rivage Palace Hotel, Thursday, April 2, 2015, in Lausanne, Switzerland. A major breakthrough in the negotiations was announced following his arrival. (AP)
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif arrives at the Beau Rivage Palace Hotel, Thursday, April 2, 2015, in Lausanne, Switzerland. A major breakthrough in the negotiations was announced following his arrival. (AP)

After all that, an Iran deal this week. A good deal, says the president, that will cut off every path to nuclear arms. Now comes the nitty-gritty negotiation, and a big debate at home and abroad. In Indiana, Arkansas, fireworks and reworking of religious freedom laws after a fiery uproar over gay rights. In Kenya, an unbelievable massacre. In dry California, deep, mandatory water restrictions for the first time in history. We’ve got would-be woman bombers, alleged, in New York. Racketeering teachers in Atlanta. This hour On Point: our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.
-- Tom Ashbrook

Guests

Lisa Desjardins, political editor for PBS NewsHour. (@lisadnews)

Michael Crowley, senior foreign affairs correspondent for POLITICO. (@michaelcrowley)

Jack Beatty, On Point news analyst. (@JackBeattyNPR)

From Tom’s Reading List

POLITICO: 'Decisive Step' Reached With Iran — "Six world powers and Iran have reached agreement on key elements of a framework to contain Iran’s nuclear program. Federica Mogherini, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif announced the agreement at a press conference in Lausanne, Switzerland. Mogherini said the negotiators had taken a 'decisive step' by reaching 'solutions on key parameters of a comprehensive plan of action.'"

Washington Post: In Indianapolis, concern that religious freedom law will harm local economy — "With Indianapolis preparing for one of its biggest events of the year, the national uproar over the religious freedom act, which is to take effect in July, could not come at a worse time. The local economy is built on tourism, particularly sports events and conferences. Businesses across the city say they are scrambling to salvage both the Hoosier reputation and their bottom lines."

Los Angeles Times: Mandatory water cuts put pressure on California communities — "Brown on Wednesday ordered cities and towns across California to cut water use by 25% as part of a sweeping set of mandatory drought restrictions, the first in state history. The directive comes more than a year after Brown asked for a 20% voluntary cut in water use that most parts of the state have failed to attain, even as one of the most severe modern droughts drags into a fourth year. It also came on the day that water officials measured the lowest April 1 snowpack in more than 60 years of record-keeping in the Sierra Nevada."

This program aired on April 3, 2015.

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