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Steve talks to Dr. Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, about yesterday's Columbia shuttle disaster.

Economic growth comes to a near standstill in the fourth quarter of 2002, as the gross domestic product rose by an annual rate of just 0.7 percent. Concerns over a possible war in Iraq and rising oil prices prompt many businesses to hold off on new spending. NPR's Chris Arnold reports.

NPR's Emily Harris reports from Hamburg on today's proceedings in the trial of Mounir al-Montassadeq, who is charged in connection with the Sept. 11 plots. The families of American victims are co-plaintiffs in the case, and the court today heard their testimony. Prosecutors say the defendant played a key role in the Hamburg cell of al Qaeda -- run by 9/11 hijacker Mohammed Atta. Defense attorneys say their client cannot get a fair trial, because the U.S. and German governments are withholding key information.

NPR's Bob Mondello notes that the best picture of the year is a hard thing to determine this time around, if you're going by the critics. There's far from unanimity on the subject, because there were so many good movies released in 2002.

NPR's Lynn Neary talks with writer Norman Mailer about his new book The Spooky Art: Thoughts on Writing.

NPR's John Ydstie continues his conversations with people in Mobile, Ala. about the President's agenda, after the State of the Union address. Today he talks with students on the campus of Bishop State Community College. They talk of war and the economy, but also about their experiences being on welfare.

The United States has decided Guatemala is not doing enough to fight the illegal drug trade and has decertified Guatemala from the list of countries deemed U.S. allies in combating drugs. But Washington has decided it won't waive penalties against the small Central American nation for national security reasons. NPR's Gerry Hadden reports from Guatemala City.

A government report finds that efforts to limit human exposure to toxins aren't helping kids as much as they are helping adults. The report, issued today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found that children between the ages of 6-11 are sponging up the chemicals found in cigarette smoke and soft plastic toys. It also found that Mexican-Americans have abnormal levels of the pesticide DDT in their bodies and that pregnant women carry more mercury than expected. NPR's John Nielsen reports that federal officials say they are concerned but not alarmed by the findings.

An angry mob overruns the Abidjan airport in Ivory Coast, taunting French passengers trying to leave the country. The crowd's anger is stoked by concessions in a peace pact brokered by the French in an effort to end a four-month civil war. NPR's Lynn Neary talks to New York Times correspondent Somini Sengupta.

In the final part of our series on debt, we'll have a report from NPR's Chris Arnold about the growing number of businesses checking job applicants' credit reports. NPR's Lynn Neary with talk with Professor Robert Manning, author of Credit Card Nation, about the future of debt in America. And we'll hear from commentator Gerry Willis. She has a few optimistic thoughts about debt.

Northern Wisconsin and Minnesota are missing out on needed tourism revenue due to a lack of snowfall. They get creative and try to attract winter tourists to come for all kinds of indoor winter fun. NPR's David Schaper reports.

U.S. officials say satellite intelligence hints that North Korea might be reviving its nuclear weapons program that was frozen in 1994. Intelligence officials say the North may already have atomic bombs from earlier projects. The Bush administration continues to push diplomacy in an effort to stop new arms development. NPR's Mike Shuster reports.

NPR's Michele Norris speaks with Wall Street Journal sportswriter Stefan Fatsis about the decision by NBC Sports to forgo expensive contracts to broadcast major league sports (baseball, basketball and football) and to instead concentrate on smaller sports. This weekend, NBC begins carrying Arena Football games. They don't carry the prestige of major sports, but don't come with their price tag, either.

South Korean newspapers today are headlining reports that outgoing President Kim Dae Jung authorized $200 million to go to North Korea just before a summit between the two nations in 2000. Critics say the payoff negated the summit, which was billed as a breakthrough in North-South relations. Some are even saying it could spell the end of Kim's so-called sunshine policy of engagement with the North. NPR's Rob Gifford reports from Seoul.

The White House has announced that President Bush will travel to Houston for a memorial service for the astronauts of the space shuttle Columbia. Host Steve Inskeep talks with NPR White House Correspondent Don Gonyea.

Host Steve Inskeep reflects on another intrepid space explorer, astronomer Galileo Galillei.

NPR's Martin Kaste reports from Bogota on the release of two foreign journalists kidnapped by Colombia's leftist E-L-N rebel group. Some journalists now worry that Colombia's government may use the incident to cut back on press freedom. (3:45)

Remains have been found from all seven astronauts killed when the space shuttle Columbia broke apart upon re-entry Saturday, NASA officials say. Meanwhile, investigators examine debris scattered over eastern Texas and Louisiana. Hear NPR's Steve Inskeep, NPR's Richard Harris and NPR's Wade Goodwyn.

Remains have been found from all seven astronauts killed when the space shuttle Columbia broke apart upon re-entry Saturday, NASA officials say. Hear NPR's Steve Inskeep and Richard Harris

President Bush today releases his budget for fiscal 2004. The proposal includes slashing taxes, reducing funding for many domestic programs, and increasing defense spending by $17 billion. NPR's Andrea Seabrook reports.