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When disparaging remarks about Jews by Charlie Ward of the New York Knicks were published in a magazine, they generated a barrage of criticism and media commentary. Ward is just the latest athlete to find himself in an unwelcome spotlight for controversial comments unrelated to sports. Are these athlete eruptions worth all the attention, or are they better simply ignored? NPR's Tom Goldman reports.

NPR's David Welna reports on President Bush's newly revealed Social Security Commission. The panel is supposed to develop a Social Security reform plan by next fall. Democrats on Capitol Hill were unenthusiastic about the announcement, claiming Bush stacked the deck against them by loading the commission with members who all favor personal retirement accounts.

NPR's Julie McCarthy reports from Maidstone, England, that a jury found Dutch truck driver Perry Wacker guilty of manslaughter today in the deaths of 58 illegal Chinese migrants. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Wacker transported the Chinese migrants in his truck on a ferry from Belgium to Dover last year.

NPR's Margot Adler reports on the changing fortunes of the prison library. Originally, the library was seen as the key to salvation, a place where prisoners could read religious tracts to better themselves. In the 1970s, the library became a legal resource for those serving time behind bars. Now, there are signs that prison libraries may be on the decline, due to court decisions and budget cuts.

The National Weather Service is evaluating replacements for the computerized voice affectionately known as "Igor" -- used to relay weather reports on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio. The Weather Service has decided to stop using Igor because of complaints that the voice is hard to understand. Linda Wertheimer speaks with Joanne Swanson, Meteorologist Voice Evaluation Leader for the National Weather Service, about the search for a new voice.

Eric Engleman reports from Moscow that Russia's independent media outlets suffered new blows today. The newspaper Segodnya stopped publishing, and the entire editorial staff of the magazine Itogi was fired. Both the newspaper and the magazine (a Newsweek affiliate) were part of the media empire of Vladimir Gusinsky. Gusinsky and his journalists say the Kremlin is trying to silence independent media voices.

NPR's Richard Harris reports on new scientific findings that have enormous potential for genetic engineering. Two groups of researchers have discovered a way to "hack into" the DNA of bacteria, and trick them into using an additional amino acid to build proteins. The findings eventually could be used to produce new medicines, new materials, and even new life forms.

NPR's Guy Raz reports from Berlin that on this day in the year 1516, Frederick of the First of Bavaria introduced a law guaranteeing the purity of beer. The law -- known as the Rheinheitsgebot -- has regulated German brewing ever since. It strictly limits what ingredients can go into beer, so German brewers won't produce beverages like blueberry beer or hemp beer.

Anthony Kuhn reports China expressed "serious concern" about the just-announced U.S. arms sale to Taiwan, even though the package did not contain the Aegis destroyers. Beijing had said sale of the Aegis system would have caused a crisis. But China's relatively measured criticism may give way to harsher reactions when details of the arms package are fully known.

NPR's Kathleen Schalch reports that financial officials from around the world are gathering in Washington for meetings this weekend of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. The semi-annual meetings will also draw hundreds of anti-globalization protesters. Many of these protesters want the Bank and the Fund to forgive the debts of the world's poorest nations, but the institutions say it would be unwise to speed up the debt relief they are providing.