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The debate on capital punishment moves into many state capitals after the massive death-row commutations in Illinois earlier this month. Maryland, meanwhile, lifts its moratorium on executions, and elsewhere, lawmakers introduce a variety of death penalty bills. Hear NPR's Cheryl Corley.

NPR's Robert Siegel and NPR's Lynn Neary read some of this week's listener letters.

Jeff Young of West Virginia Public Broadcasting reports that military reserves called up for a possible war in Iraq are having a disproportionate impact on state police and other law enforcement personnel in the state. That's because residents of West Virginia have a high rate of service in the armed forces, and the state police force is already under-staffed. It could lose up to 10 percent of its force to the armed services. For public safety agencies that are already stretched thin, this means shift juggling, stretched overtime budgets, and strain for those left to fill in the gaps.

Los Angeles Philharmonic conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen will conduct live performances of Mexican composer Silvestre Revueltas' score to Redes during screenings of the film this weekend. Revueltas is considered one of Mexico's greatest composers. NPR's Lynn Neary speaks with Salonen about Revueltas' music.

Commentator Andrei Codrescu tells about his friend's dream of buying a coffee plantation in Costa Rica and making money selling beans on the Web. His friend also wants to use a certain duck that eats raw coffee beans and poops out a better bean. Of course, the friend has no money.

External efforts to end a nearly two-month-old strike in Venezuela gain momentum. Former President Jimmy Carter's plan to address the crisis is embraced by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. The strike has crippled oil production in one of the world's major exporters. NPR's Michele Kelemen reports.

The Senate puts limits on the military's "total information awareness" program, pending a review of the program's impact on individual privacy. The program's goal is to analyze huge amounts of information -- including Internet communication -- to identify terrorists before they strike. NPR's Larry Abramson reports.

Tom Ridge is sworn in as the first secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Ridge begins his job amid complaints that homeland security remains underfunded, and that the government has done too little to secure the nation since Sept. 11. NPR's Pam Fessler reports.

Control of the Senate Judiciary Committee officially switches from Democrats to Republicans, with Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) taking over as chairman. Hatch says the panel will move quickly to consider President Bush's judicial nominees, including controversial candidates recently renominated by the president. NPR's David Welna reports.

NPR's Robert Siegel talks with Red Cashion, former NFL referee about the difficulties encountered in refereeing pro football and how changes in the system might affect the game on the field.

There's been a dramatic increase in recent years in malpractice lawsuits filed by pro athletes against teams and team doctors. Career-ending injuries can be financially devastating to athletes with relatively brief peak earning years. The NFL, in particular, is concerned that unless awards are curbed, good doctors will be driven away from pro sports. NPR's Tom Goldman reports.

His clothes may have been seen by more people than any other tailor on earth. And you probably don't know his name. On Tuesday, you'll get a chance to see his work, when the President of the United States gives his State of the Union speech in a hand-made suit from Georges De Paris. NPR's Kitty Eisele talks with the man known as "Tailor to the Presidents."

NPR's Tom Goldman took a detour across the border to Tijuana on his way to cover the Super Bowl in San Diego. He sent us this audio postcard.

Political films are still being produced and the Sundance festival is still a leader in presenting them. Masked and Anonymous, starring Bob Dylan, and the documentary The Weather Underground are two examples. David D'Arcy reports.

Amid the blizzard of new ads coming on Super Bowl Sunday, Sony tries a new approach. The company will try to sell its electronics products with an ad featuring singer Alana Davis -- and urge viewers to download Davis's version of the Crosby, Stills classic "Carry On" from the Internet for 99 cents. NPR's Laura Sydell reports.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell says talks with North Korea might occur "at an appropriate time." Observers note that the latest remarks, made Saturday, did not mention preconditions the Bush administration has been insisting upon. Hear NPR's Steve Inskeep and NPR's Rob Gifford.

A correction of one item from a Jan. 18, 2003, profile of American sculptor Elizabeth Catlett, who's made her life in Mexico. We correctly reported that she's returning to the U.S. to receive an award, but we misidentified the award. The International Scupture Society is giving Catlett a Lifetime Achievement Award.

The FBI is looking into a computer virus that struck the Internet overnight, interfering with Web browsing and e-mail delivery. Experts say the virus exploits a bug in the Microsoft system that was identified six months ago, and repaired with a software "patch." NPR News reports.

A coalition of black media outlets seeks to promote HIV-AIDS awareness. NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with Diane Weathers, editor-in-chief of Essence magazine.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell implores the international community to meet its responsibility to disarm Iraq, saying the burden is on Saddam Hussein to avoid war by accounting for "missing" biological and chemical agents. And he says at least a dozen nations would support a U.S.-led attack on Iraq. A report from U.N. arms inspectors is due Monday. NPR News reports.