Title: Boston Globe Page One Podcast for Mar 24, 2009

" Thank you for downloading today's podcast from the newsroom of the Boston school. Here's a look at today's top stories."

" This is Stuart Clark with the front page news summary on Tuesday march 24. Investors cheered the treasury department's plan. To buy up to one trillion dollars in toxic assets from banks with the help of private investors. With the announcement of the plan blue chip stocks went up nearly 500 points or 7%. Even as some economists predicted that the program would fall short. The plan released yesterday his return to the initial intent of the 700 billion dollar bailout fund approved by congress last October."

" Reports -- business reporter Beth Healy. Five months later and after billions of government dollars who spent to shore up ailing banks."

" Federal policy makers are aiming to ease lending by offering banks the way to get rid of bad loans and investments."

" The program would use about 100 billion dollars of the original bailout money along with giant federal loans to encourage private investors."

" To buy from the bank's mortgage related loans and investments -- have lost value or have no market. Massachusetts treasurer Timothy -- hill. It's facing a state ethics inquiry for warning 821 million dollar state lottery contract. To accompany that was secretly paying his close friend and fund raiser. Thomas Kelly. Tens of thousands of dollars in consulting fees according to multiple individuals briefed on the probe. Investigators from the state ethics commission interviewed K -- earlier this month about his decision in 2004. To award the contract to scientific games to make scratch tickets. Despite a recommendation from his staff that scientific games receive less state work. Reports the -- frank Phillips. The investigators had also collected email. Campaign finance reports and other documents the sources said. K hill's office did not respond to a request for comment. The treasurer addressing the issue in the past through a spokesman. Has said that he was unaware of Kelly's financial relationship with scientific gains. Kelly also declined to comment. The commission's inquiry comes at a politically sensitive time for the democratic treasurer. Who is considering running for governor next year either as a challenger to Deval Patrick or as an unaffiliated candidate in the general election. Governor Deval Patrick is expected to announce a proposal today that would reduce the plan 1500 dollar fee hike at the University of Massachusetts. Patrick is expected to reveal plan to distribute. 162. Million dollars in federal stimulus money among the State's public colleges and universities. To administration officials said. The measure would provide partial relief for middle class families and working students at a time win. Because of the national recession. They are flocking to public institutions because of the lower cost writes the -- not visor and Peters warm. About half the money would go to the University of Massachusetts system. And allow officials to soften the fee hikes that were to go into effect for the next academic year. Instead of 1500 dollars they may rise by his littlest 380 dollars a UMass officials said. The money will also help prevent some faculty layoffs and program cuts. Returning state colleges and universities to the same level of funding they had at the beginning of the fiscal year. Before the governor made several rounds of budget cuts. Rather than closed more churches because of a shortage of priests. The archdiocese of Boston plans to name one pastor to oversee three Dorchester parishes. That's a practice that has never been used in Boston. The three parish pastor Rick is common in much of the midwest. Writes Michael Paulson of the globe staff. Scholars say that 40% of priests in the United States serve more than one parish. But that's phenomenon has thus far been rare in the urban northeast. Where the high Catholic population for decades generated a high number of priest. The demographic shifts affecting the Boston Archdiocese. Included declining number of people who identify as Catholics. And a priest population that is getting smaller and growing older. The archdiocese already has fourteen priest overseen two parishes. The reverend John -- will be the first overseas three when he takes over blessed mother Teresa of Calcutta holy family. And saint Peter parishes in day. For the last sixteen years are -- has been pastor of saint Mary of the assumption church in Brookline. Medford mayor Michael McClinton was incredulous. And not too pleased. When he heard that the MBTA intends to erect two billboards back to back in his city. And -- town manager called it another example of the state stepping on cities and towns. When he learned that the MBTA plans to install forced signs on either side of I-495. The town manager Wilmington predicted that there will be anger in his community about the placement of billboards on I 93. They MBTA is in desperate need of money. So it plans to auction space for sixty new billboards along highways in eastern Massachusetts. The gloves nor -- reports that officials are calling it the largest single introduction of new billboard sites in state history. The Jumbo advertisements are expected to earn about six million dollars a year for -- T. They will be grouped in 32 locations in nineteen cities and towns that have little or no control over their placement. MBTA general manager Daniel -- Hoskins said he expects opposition and has attempted to steer clear of neighborhood locations. In favor of major highways."

" To get the full report on these and other news features and sports stories the the Boston Globe."

" Or visit boston.com. If you have confidence about this contest. Send me an email at dean Clark and globe dot com."