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National

Wednesday

World

Bush Reaffirms Iraq Strategy

President Bush delivers what the White House calls an "important" address on Iraq from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis Wednesday morning. The president laid out a strategy for victory, and focused in particular on progress he has seen in training Iraqi forces.

Bush Reaffirms Iraq Strategy

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Environment

Carefully Deconstructing Dams in Washington State.

Scientists are trying to figure out how best to remove two large, century-old dams on the Elwha River in Washington state. Removing a dam, especially a big one, is not simple. It can release huge amounts of sediment and actually worsen the river's ecology. These are the largest dams ever slated for removal in the United States.

Carefully Deconstructing Dams in Washington State.

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Religion

Catholic Doctrine on Limbo and Baptism Revisited

Robert Siegel talks with Lawrence Cunningham, professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame, about the Catholic notion of "limbo" -- the spiritual place where people who have not been baptized wait to enter heaven. Now the notion itself is in limbo, according to some reports. The church, Cunnigham says, never had a doctrine on limbo, more of a kind of theological hypothesis to answer some troubling questions: If baptism is necessary for salvation, what happens to people -- babies, for example -- who die without the sacrament? And what happens to morally upright people who haven't been baptised?

Catholic Doctrine on Limbo and Baptism Revisited

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Air Travelers Allowed to Keep Small, Sharp Objects

The Department of Homeland Security is expected to announce soon that airline passengers will once again be allowed to carry small, sharp objects onto planes -- including items such as screwdrivers and scissors, banned since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

Air Travelers Allowed to Keep Small, Sharp Objects

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Opinion

Black, Arab Muslims and Liquor Store Vandalism

Last week in Oakland, Calif., two liquor stores owned by Arab Muslim immigrants were vandalized. In one incident, men in suits and bow ties confronted the owner and smashed bottles and refrigerators. In the second incident, a store was burned down and an employee kidnapped. According to Oakland police, in both incidents the suspects entered the store and questioned why a Muslim-owned store would sell alcoholic beverages when alcohol is forbidden in Islam. Commentator Murad Kalam, an African-American convert to Islam, says immigrant Arab Muslims and black Muslims have misconceptions about each other -- misconceptions made evident by the incidents in Oakland.

Black, Arab Muslims and Liquor Store Vandalism

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Technology

RIM Shares Fall on Blackberry Patent Ruling

Research in Motion (RIM), the company behind the popular Blackberry wireless e-mail device, saw its stock price fall 5 percent Wednesday after a judge tossed out a settlement in a long-running patent dispute. A small Virginia-based company is suing RIM over the technology behind the Blackberry, and the federal judge in Virginia may soon rule on whether to shut down the Blackberry service altogether.

RIM Shares Fall on Blackberry Patent Ruling

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Politics

Bush Touts 'Steady Progress' in Iraq War

President Bush, his poll numbers sinking and his Iraqi war policy under siege, again outlined his policy on winning the "war against terrorism" in a speech at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. Bush offered no dramatically new proposals, but touted the creation of Iraqi military troops to eventually take over security.

Bush Touts 'Steady Progress' in Iraq War

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Katrina & Beyond

Hurricane Season: What's In Store for 2006?

The busiest and costliest hurricane season on record officially ends Wednesday. Steve Inskeep talks to James Elsner, professor of geography at Florida State University, about what we can expect for next year.

Hurricane Season: What's In Store for 2006?

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N.J. Imposes Strict Rules on Chemical Plant Security

New Jersey officials announce strict new rules to better safeguard the state's many chemical plants from terrorist attack. The move comes after criticism that the state allowed the industry to set its own safety rules -- rules that some believe leave the plants too vulnerable.

N.J. Imposes Strict Rules on Chemical Plant Security

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Law

High Court Hears New Hampshire Abortion Case

The first major abortion rights case since John Roberts was confirmed as chief justice is now before the U.S. Supreme Court. The case involves a New Hampshire law that requires minors to tell a parent before terminating a pregnancy. Dahlia Lithwick, legal analyst for Slate, discusses the issues at stake with Alex Chadwick.

High Court Hears New Hampshire Abortion Case

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Analysis

Analysis

The Death Penalty and Politics

Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, a Democrat near the end of his term, spared convicted killer Robin Lovitt from execution Tuesday. What are the political implications of commuting a death sentence?

The Death Penalty and Politics

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Economy

The Marketplace Report: U.S. Economy Grows

The U.S. economy showed robust growth in the last quarter, the Commerce Department reports. John Dimsdale of Marketplace tells Alex Chadwick whether the numbers represent a real step forward for the American economy.

The Marketplace Report: U.S. Economy Grows

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World

Bush Details 'Strategy for Victory'

In a speech Wednesday, President Bush says there has been "real progress" in Iraq and that U.S. troops won't leave until the Iraqi forces are ready to take over. Democrats say the president didn't outline any new details on what's ahead and didn't offer a strategy for success. Political experts discuss the president's speech and U.S. plans for exiting Iraq.

Bush Details 'Strategy for Victory'

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'Beyond Prison'

A Friendship to Transform a Life

New Hampshire Public Radio's Dan Gorenstein continues the story of former inmate James Gilbert. On Wednesday, we hear about his friendship with fellow inmate Mike Guglielmo -- a friendship that would help him transform his life.

A Friendship to Transform a Life

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