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New research shows that fish, birds and mammals in New England have significant amounts of mercury in their bodies. The reports find the toxic metal in some unexpected places -- such as mountaintops, in rare birds that live there. The findings suggest that power plants in the Midwest are a major source of mercury for the Northeast.

The Government Accountability Office says dozens of people whose names are on terrorism watch lists were able to buy guns in the U.S. legally last year. Gun control supporters say the report underscores the need to tighten requirements for gun purchases.

On Tuesday, authorities in Wichita, Kansas, charged a former home security worker with 10 counts of murder in the BTK serial murder case. The suspect, Dennis Rader, is being held on a bail of 10 million dollars. NPR's Madeleine Brand speaks with Wichita Eagle reporter Roy Wenzl about the case.

The freed Italian hostage Giuliana Sgrena, who was injured when U.S. troops opened fire on her vehicle in Iraq, says she feared U.S. forces would interfere with the operation to secure her release. An Italian intelligence agent died in the incident, which the White House called a horrific accident. Sylvia Poggioli reports.

Irish writer Colm Toibin's new novel imagines the interior life of famed American novelist Henry James. James burned his personal papers before his death in 1916 in an attempt to keep his private life private. Tom Vitale reports.

Despite growing international pressure, the U.N. Security Council passes a resolution with only an implicit threat of sanctions if Sudan doesn't rein in the ethnic Arabic militias accused of raping and murdering black Africans in the Darfur region. NPR's Michele Kelemen reports.

Many major U.S. charities sell thousands of tons of clothes donated in the United States to brokers who ship them to 156 different countries. Many end up being sold to consumers in poor countries such as Mexico. NPR's John Burnett reports.

Alejandro Aviles is a 21-year-old alternate delegate from Arkansas -- the youngest Hispanic member of the state's delegation to the Democratic National Convention. He was drawn to Boston by the idea of being with a large group of politically active Latinos. Now Aviles is spending a lot of time networking with the party's Latino caucus. Youth Radio's Luis Sierra reports.

Two new reports extend blame for abuses at Abu Ghraib to the Pentagon's top leaders. But neither calls for the punishment of anyone more senior than brigade commanders at the prison -- infuriating critics who say Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld should resign.

Sen. John Kerry denounces an independent political ad questioning his service in Vietnam, saying the Bush campaign approves of the charges. The ad, running in several key battleground states, alleges that Kerry fabricated parts of his military record. NPR's Juan Williams reports.