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Authorities say they have disrupted a plot to blow up tunnels that run between New Jersey and lower Manhattan. An FBI official says of the eight people believed to be involved, three are in custody overseas -- including the alleged mastermind, held by Lebanese authorities.

Authorities say they have disrupted a plot to blow up tunnels that run between New Jersey and lower Manhattan. An FBI official says of the eight people believed to be involved, three are in custody overseas -- including the alleged mastermind, held by Lebanese authorities.

Kids in New Orleans are having a tough time this summer as many camps, movie theaters, pools and parks remain closed. Youth workers say they are scrambling to create fun diversions -- with limited resources -- to keep bored kids out of trouble.

Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman is running against an anti-war candidate in the Democratic primary. On Thursday night, he faced businessman Ned Lamont in a televised debate. Lieberman attempted to steer the debate away from the war at every turn. Av Harris of member station WNPR reports.

The oil and gas industry is worried about having enough workers for future expansion in the United States. Petroleum engineering hasn't been a popular profession among young people. Companies are even having trouble finding enough rig workers. But outreach efforts are beginning to pay off a little bit. An industry training center for rig workers is beginning to see a surge in enrollment.

President Bush addresses the diplomatic challenge of North Korea's missile tests at a press conference in Chicago, where he vowed to work with allies to pressure the Stalinist nation to abandon its aggressive nuclear weapons program. Don Gonyea talks with Alex Chadwick about the president's remarks.

One year after the deadly transit bombings in London, some significant steps have been taken to improve security on U.S. transit systems. Thousands of bus and rail employees in the United States are now being trained in how to spot terrorist activity.

Law enforcement officials say they've thwarted a plan by foreign terrorists to bomb a tunnel that connects New York City and New Jersey. The planners reportedly wanted to blow up the Holland Tunnel in the hopes of flooding lower Manhattan.

Some New Jersey government employees could be going back to work. Gov. John Corzine (D) reached an agreement with legislators Thursday on a new state budget, ending a six-day government shutdown. Terry Sheridan of member station WBGO reports.

Indiana Congressman Mike Pence (R) talks with Lynn Neary about his proposal for immigration reform. His proposal would return illegal immigrants to their home countries before they could enter a guest worker program.

With rising interest rates, putting money in the bank isn't the bad deal it was just a few years ago. Rates for certificates of deposit (CD) have risen to around 5 percent, while real estate is cooling and the stock market is in the doldrums.

A new study finds that heat waves are the most significant driving force in western wildfires. Since 1980, when fire activity increased sharply, the weather has mattered far more than the amount of built-up brush and other factors that are often blamed for destructive fires. Researchers say hot and early spring seasons make the forests tinder-dry by summer -- and more likely to burn out of control. As a result, they say, global warming could intensify fires in the American West.

New York's highest court rules against same-sex unions, saying the state can bar gay couples from being legally married.

A powerful Chicago alderman has proposed that the city become the first in the United States to ban the use of trans fats in restaurants. Trans fats are considered the most unhealthy of all cooking oils. Michele Norris gets the skinny on trans fats from Kim Severson, a New York Times reporter and author of The Trans Fats Solution: Cooking and Shopping to Eliminate the Deadliest Fat from Your Diet.

A new study finds that heat waves are the most important driving force in western wildfires. Since 1980, when fire activity increased sharply, the weather has mattered far more than the amount of built-up brush and other factors that are often blamed for destructive fires. Researchers say hot and early spring seasons make the forests tinder-dry by summer -- and more likely to burn out of control. As a result, they say, global warming could intensify fires in the American West.

New York's highest court rules against same-sex unions, saying the state can bar gay couples from being legally married.

This week, the U.S. Department of Education threatened to withhold millions of dollars in federal school aid from California because the state has failed to help students transfer out of low-performing schools, as required by the No Child Left Behind law.

Three people were charged Wednesday with trying to sell confidential information from The Coca-Cola Co., including a sample of a new drink, to its rival, Pepsi. John Sicher, editor and publisher of Beverage Digest, talks with Lynn Neary about they case.

In San Diego, verbal fireworks highlighted a House subcommittee hearing on immigration reform. Republican House members claimed that security lapses at the border are creating an open door for terrorists. Protesters called the hearing a sham.

In San Diego, verbal fireworks highlighted a House subcommittee hearing on immigration reform. Republican House members claimed that security lapses at the border are creating an open door for terrorists. Protesters called the hearing a sham.

At a Senate subcommittee hearing in Philadelphia, lawmakers discuss overhauling the nation's immigration laws. Led by Pennsylvania's Arlen Specter, the hearings are an attempt to build support for a Senate bill that would allow a majority of illegal immigrants to become permanent residents and citizens after learning English and paying fines, fees, and back taxes.

Sasha Khokha reports on a black California farmer who has deep roots in the state's agricultural history. Since blacks migrated to build farms on the West Coast more than half a century ago, many have left the soil for jobs in California cities.

In San Diego, Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), who chairs the International Terrorism and Nonproliferation Subcommittee on International Relations, leads a public hearing on border vulnerabilities and international terrorism. The session is the latest in a series of meetings aimed at gathering public comment on proposed changes in U.S. immigration policies.

A cultural exchange program that left some foreign students marooned in a hotel for weeks and sent another student home for complaining has lost its State Department license. But it's still bringing foreign students over to the United States under a system that critics say is ripe for abuse.

Getting ready for the world's largest passenger aircraft isn't cheap. Eighteen U.S. airports are making significant investments, mostly runway improvements, to accommodate the super jumbo, double- decker Airbus A380. But now the jet everyone's waiting for is snagged in production delays.

In New Jersey, a budget standoff has shut down many government services. Steve Inskeep talks to reporter Eugene Sonn, who covers the Statehouse for member stations WBGO and WHYY, about the derailed budget process, and its consequences.

With New Jersey's legislature and governor failing to agree on a budget, the state has shut down most of its services. Included in the shutdown are state parks and Atlantic City's casinos, which must have government monitors on site to operate. Steve Inskeep speaks with Brad Linder of member station WHYY.

Kenneth Lay, founder and vilified former chairman of scandal-ridden Enron Corp., died of a heart attack Wednesday morning. He was 64.

The House and Senate kick off a series of competing hearings on immigration. Each chamber claims the public will be swayed by its approach to immigration policy. But analysts aren't sure the hearings will be effective.

The Congress may be nearing a confrontation with the White House over stem cell research. Lynn Neary talks to Juan Williams about the debate facing the president over increased funding for stem cell research. The president and some of his supporters have tied the research to the issue of abortion.

The immigration debate is fueling a big surge in the number of legal immigrants who have applied to become naturalized citizens. By gaining citizenship, they gain the right to vote -- and the ability to have an impact on immigration issues.

As the nation celebrates Independence Day, we check in with places named Freedom. There are at least 15 Freedom towns, villages and boroughs from Maine to California. Some are too small to host their own Fourth of July celebrations, but each seems to have somebody willing to reflect on the meaning of the holiday.

The size of a typical American house has more than doubled since the 1950s. Why do we need an office, a wine cellar, a sauna and a room for the flat-screen TV? And what does it say about our culture?

After a day of inspections and debates over safety following the discovery of a crack in the foam insulation of the shuttle's fuel tank, officials decided the launch was a go and the shuttle soars off on its mission.

After a day of inspections and debates over safety following the discovery of a crack in the foam insulation of the shuttle's fuel tank, officials decided the launch was a go and the shuttle soars off on its mission.

A joint investigation by the FBI and the U.S. military has led to a former Army soldier being accused of rape and four counts of murder in Iraq. At least three other U.S. soldiers still in Iraq are under investigation in the March 12 rape and killings in Mahmoudiya, south of Baghdad.

Betsy Brun, director of the newly reopened Smithsonian American Art Museum, talks with Lynn Neary about a piece by Korean-born artist Nam June Paik called "Electronic Superhighway."

Betsy Brun, director of the newly reopened Smithsonian American Art Museum, talks with Lynn Neary about a piece by Korean-born artist Nam June Paik called "Electronic Superhighway."

National Guard deployments to Iraq are drawing on a unique population of older Guard members in Alaska. The absence of these men from their communities poses distinct challenges to families already stressed by the high price of energy, the lack of jobs and, in some communities, the loss of municipal services. Jody Seitz of member station KDLG reports.