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Many states have offered families a chance to pay for a child's college education years ahead of time, but current budget woes are forcing many states to back away from pre-paid tuition plans. NPR's Claudio Sanchez reports.

On his last weekend in office, Illinois Gov. George Ryan commutes death sentences for all of the state's death-row inmates, calling the state's capital punishment system "arbitrary, capricious and therefore immoral." The move throws the death-penalty debate into sharper focus. NPR's Cheryl Corley reports.

The government again takes fingerprints and photos of thousands of foreign men -- most from the Middle East. The overwhelming response to an earlier registration deadline meant many who showed up were held without legal counsel for several days. NPR's Steve Inskeep and NPR's Jennifer Ludden report.

Following several years of revenue surpluses, federal spending runs deeply in the red. And Democrats say President Bush's plan to revitalize the economy would drive the federal budget deeper into deficits of hundreds of billions of dollars. At issue: will current deficit spending become the potent political issue it was in the 1980s and 90s? NPR's David Welna reports.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson says North Korean envoys told him Saturday that the isolated nation "has no intentions of building nuclear weapons." But in the past two days, North Korea has abandoned a global nuclear treaty and hinted it will resume ballistic missile tests. NPR News reports.

San Diego prosecutors press murder charges against an accused drag racer involved in a deadly crash last month. The charges are part of a citywide crackdown on illegal street racing, with police targeting not only the racers, but spectators as well. NPR's Scott Horsley reports.

Islamist parties in Pakistan are gaining in power and popularity. The rise is tied to Pakistanis' dislike of the American war on terror and with the behavior and record of the country's established political parties. Although pro-Western President Musharraf remains firmly in control, the Islamists have a large following and a permanent presence. NPR's Michael Sullivan reports.

The Supreme Court will hear a case that challenges a Kentucky law aimed at guaranteeing patients a broader choice of doctors and hospitals. The HMO industry says a 1994 law that requires health plans to open closed networks undercuts its ability to ensure quality and contain costs. NPR's Julie Rovner reports.

Stating he is a "different kind of Democrat," Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) becomes the latest lawmaker to announce his plans to seek the Democratic nomination for president in 2004. He says he won't hesitate to tell his friends when they're wrong, and to agree with opponents when they're right. NPR's Mara Liasson reports.

Construction on the "NAFTA Superhighway," which would link Canada and Mexico, is slow to start. With rising budget deficits, it is unclear whether federal and state governments will find the $8 billion needed to build Interstate 69, which would run through eight states from Michigan to Texas. NPR's Greg Allen reports.