February 25, 2005

Odeo, five-person start-up that is based in walk-up apartment in San Francisco and was co-founded by Google alumnus Noah Glass and Evan Williams, plans to introduce Web-based system that is aimed at making business of podcasting--process of creating, finding, organizing and listening to digital audio files that range from living-room ramblings to BBC newscasts; proliferation of portable iPods and other devices for storing and playing files in MP3 audio format has created mobile audience in US on whom podcasters are counting to listen to much more than downloading songs and occasional audio book; question for Odeo is whether there is any money to be made from podcasting; photo (M)

Atty Gen Phill Kline of Kansas is demanding complete medical files of scores of women and girls who had late-term abortions, saying he needs information to prosecute criminal cases; emphasizes statutory rape, but court documents suggest other crimes that could include doctors' providing illegal late-term abortions and health professionals' failing to heed state law requiring reporting of suspected child sexual abuse; Kansas law allows late-term abortion only if woman's health is endangered; 30 other states ban or restrict procedure; Kline's effort last year to require state's health workers to report any sexual activity of girls younger than 16 was thwarted when health-care providers sued; advocates on both sides of abortion issue say Kline's new and broad investigation, backed by judge's subpoena, is first of its kind in pursuit of criminal charges; federal Justice Dept has unsuccessfully sought similar records in its defense of ban on what critics call partial-birth abortion; photo (M)

New York Mets catcher Ramon Castro, who was sentenced to one year of probation after being accused of raping 28-year-old woman, could get chance to become Mike Piazza's backup this season; photo (M)

Profile of guitarist Pat Metheny, who discusses music of others that affects him strongly; photos (L)

Clyde Haberman NYC column explores obstacles that United Nations faces as it develops plan to refurbish its Manhattan headquarters building (M)