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Public housing authorities are being hard hit by strains on state budgets. Now, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development warns local governments that less funding is in the pipeline to local housing authorities. It's unclear how much funding will be cut. NPR's Janet Babin reports.

The Securities and Exchange Commission approves new rules to assure that accounting firms maintain independence from companies they audit. The rules stem from legislation Congress passed last summer in the wake of accounting scandals at companies such as Enron and WorldCom. Critics say the new regulations aren't as strict as they should be. NPR's Jim Zarroli reports.

The image of Denmark is of a tolerant Scandinavian nation, one of the world's most generous donors of foreign aid. In reality, a xenophobic populist party has successfully played on the public's fears in the national debate about immigration. The country has adopted new rules to limit the number of asylum-seekers by making it harder for Danes to marry foreigners... pushing some loving couples abroad. Nick Spicer reports.

Modern technology creates problems between book publishers and libraries. The Association of American Publishers worries about the onset of the "e-book." Meanwhile, libraries are committed to giving the public access to old-fashioned books and e-books alike. NPR's Rick Karr reports.

The Catholic church's National Review Board -- a lay group appointed to investigate the priest sex-abuse scandals -- meets with church leaders in New York. But Cardinal Edward Egan will not take part in the talks, arousing critics. NPR's Nancy Solomon reports.

A second high-ranking committee member quits over inaction against USOC's chief executive officer. The committee's ethics compliance officer, Patrick Rodgers, leaves saying CEO Lloyd Ward should have been sanctioned for conflict-of-interest violations. NPR's Tom Goldman reports.

The Bush administration files a friend-of-the-court brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down the University of Michigan's affirmative action program. Three white students allege the university uses a quota system that unfairly benefits minority applicants. NPR's Libby Lewis reports.

The nation's biggest public pension fund agrees to pay a record $250 million to settle age-discrimination claims. The case involves 1,700 California public safety workers who were disabled in the line of duty. NPR's Elaine Korry reports.

Education Secretary Rod Paige weighs whether to change the way schools are required to comply with Title IX, the federal law that requires equal opportunities for male and female student athletes. A presidential commission debated the 31-year-old law and recommended less-than-sweeping changes. NPR's Jackie Northam reports.

A surprise ceasefire between the Nepal government and Maoists fighting to overthrow the constitutional monarchy spurred hopes for an end to a bloody campaign that has killed thousands. NPR's Michael Sullivan reports the interim government appointed by the king vowed to press ahead with preparatory talks with the rebels. The indefinite ceasefire ends, at least for now, the bloodiest spell in an almost seven-year rebellion that has killed more than 7,200 people.