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NPR's Debbie Elliot reports from Tallahassee that Florida election officials say that a recount of the state's ballots may not be completed until the end of business tomorrow. Out of nearly six million votes cast, Bush leads Gore by a mere 1800 votes. Absentee ballots could determine the outcome and there have also been a rash of complaints over defective ballots in a heavily Democratic section of the state which reported a high number of votes for Pat Buchanan. Under state law, a recount is mandatory when results are this close. Whoever wins Florida is the next president.

New Jersey's governor releases a report on the findings of an investigation into the abuse of three young boys in Newark, and the death of one of them, a 7-year-old twin. The children were previously known to the state's child welfare agency. As the facts come to light there have been arrests, suspensions and the trading back and forth of accusations and defenses by those who should have been protecting the boys. NPR's Brian Naylor reports from Newark.

Nearly one in five adolescents has had sex before the age of 15, a new report by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy says. The study also finds that parents of one-third of those sexually active adolescents know their teenagers have had sex. In the second report in a series on the sexual behavior of young teens, NPR's Vicky Que says parents and communities play a part in risk-taking behavior.

Five new cases of sudden acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, are reported in Hong Kong. At the epidemic's peak, there were dozens of new cases each day. The World Health Organization recently praised officials in that country for their openness in fighting SARS. But some residents say access to information was lacking early on, so they created their own Web site -- www.sosick.org -- in response. NPR's Joe Palca reports.

There are signs that China might be adjusting its policy on Tibet. While Beijing is not yielding its claim to the region, a few Western reporters have been let in, and two envoys of the exiled Dalai Lama have also been allowed to visit. Observers now wonder whether China is prepared to negotiate the return of the Dalai Lama to his spiritual home. In the second of a series of reports from Tibet, hear NPR's Rob Gifford.

The investigator of this year's disaster at the Sago coal mine in West Virginia issues a preliminary report that narrows the possible causes of the explosion. Still, the report states that, after the explosion, "everything that could go wrong, did go wrong."

Insurgents in Iraq unleash one of the heaviest mortar and rocket barrages yet in Baghdad. Dozens were reported dead, including some who were reported killed when a U.S. helicopter fired on a disabled U.S. Bradley fighting vehicle as Iraqis celebrated around it. Hear NPR's Jennifer Ludden and NPR's Peter Kenyon.

Conflicting reports have emerged regarding a U.S. Marine held hostage in Iraq. The Lebanese-born corporal, Wassef Ali Hassoun, is being held by militants whose website posted a claim Saturday that he was beheaded by the Army of Ansar al-Sunna. The group has since denied killing him. NPR's Philip Reeves reports.

In Sri Lanka, there are concerns that government forces and separatist Tamil Tiger rebels may exploit the tsunami crisis to strengthen their positions. Mutual mistrust exists despite a fragile truce dating to 2002, and there are reports both sides are trying to control aid distribution. Some observers hope the crisis will underscore the need for both sides to end the war for good. NPR's Philip Reeves reports.

The White House issued a short report Monday warning of the risks to holiday spending and the 2013 economy if policymakers fail to reach an agreement to avoid the fiscal cliff. The report seemed aimed at raising pressure on Republicans to strike a deal with President Obama.