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It's Pronounced Owen: One Person, Singular

MICHELE NORRIS, host:

Priscilla Owen overcame many hurdles to get to this point but not all of them. A lot of people, important people, are getting one key fact about her wrong.

President GEORGE W. BUSH: Over four years ago I put Judge Owens' name up to the Senate for confirmation. Judge Owens is finally going to get an up-or-down vote on the Senate floor. Priscilla Owens is well-qualified.

MELISSA BLOCK, host:

President Bush was speaking yesterday at the White House with Priscilla Owen--that's without an S--at his side. But the president has bipartisan company.

Senator CHARLES SCHUMER (Democrat, New York): In case after case, Justice Owens comes to co--Justice Owen comes to conclusions...

NORRIS: That's Senator Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat. OK, reporters also get it wrong. The AP did. We, at NPR, did, too.

(Soundbite of NPR broadcast)

NOAH ADAMS: The way it looks now, Majority Leader Frist will call for a vote on the Owens nomination as soon as tomorrow.

BLOCK: We couldn't reach Judge Owen for comment, so we contacted another Owen, Steve Owen. He's a scientist in Albuquerque. He says he's plenty used to having that S tacked onto his name.

Mr. STEVE OWEN (Scientist, Albuquerque): Most of the time I just let it pass. But if it's something where my name needs to be remembered correctly, I'll usually tell them, `There's only one of me. I'm a singular person, not a plural person.'

BLOCK: That's Steve Owen of Albuquerque. He's no relation to Judge Priscilla Owen, who was confirmed today to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

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Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.