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Jobless benefits expire for about 800,000 Americans who have relied on state and federal help for 39 weeks. A lame-duck Congress failed to extend benefits; lawmakers are expected to make the issue a priority in the new year. NPR's Janet Babin reports.

Senate Democrats speak out against the White House's renomination of a federal judge candidate whose stance on civil rights has disturbed many critics. Democrats rejected Charles Pickering's nomination last year. NPR's David Welna reports.

Today's literature for young adults tackles mature topics with increasing complexity. Critics say traditional coming-of-age stories are being told with fewer value judgments and easy, moralistic answers for life's problems. NPR's Jason DeRose reports.

A survey of call centers says many consumers are not satisfied with their customer service experiences. The study suggests that low pay, high turnover of workers and strict limits on how long a representative can be on the phone with a customer contribute to poor service. NPR's David Molpus reports.

The Bush administration wants to cut $300 million in fuel subsidies that help low-income families pay their heating bills, but some critics say thousands of poor families will pay a steep price. Brian Mann of North Country Public Radio reports.

The Boston Globe studies 750,000 traffic citations issued across Massachusetts and reports that Hispanics and blacks earn traffic tickets at a rate amounting to twice their representation in the population. Michele Norris talks with Boston Globe correspondent Bill Dedman about the study.

Airline executives tell a Senate panel the industry hasn't been fully reimbursed for the cost of new security measures ordered by Congress. The estimated cost to the industry so far is $4 billion. NPR's Jack Speer reports.

Exotic Newcastle Disease is a highly contagious virus that attacks birds, especially domestic poultry like chickens and turkeys. Five southern California counties are under quarantine as officials struggle to contain an outbreak. The disease threatens California's three-billion-dollar poultry industry. Alex Cohen of member station KQED reports.

President Bush travels to Chicago today for lunch and a speech that outlined his plans for increasing economic growth. Those plans for a return to the tax-cutting ways the administration followed in its first months in office two years ago, with a strong emphasis on reducing taxes on investors. NPR's Don Gonyea reports.

NPR's Kathleen Schalch reports President Bush's plan to eliminate the income tax on corporate dividends draws fire from Democrats who complain the administration's tax cuts benefit the wealthy and don't do enough to stimulate the economy. The Administration counters that tax cuts will spur economic growth, and that's good for everyone.