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Outgoing Illinois Gov. George Ryan commutes the death sentences for all of the state's death row inmates, citing mistakes in the state's capital punishment system. The move spares the lives of more than 150 inmates, and is sure to focus new attention on the death-penalty debate. Shirley Jahad of Chicago Public Radio reports.

North Korea says it may resume testing ballistic missiles, a day after announcing it will abandon a global nuclear treaty. North Korea already has missiles capable of reaching South Korea and Japan. Hear NPR's Scott Simon, NPR's Eric Weiner, former Clinton adviser Wendy Sherman and Katie Oh of the Institute for Defense Analysis.

A combination of rains and high tides is once again threatening the "floating city" of Venice, Italy. But as NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports, some Venetians also feel that the soul of the city is also under attack -- young people are leaving, and the city is almost entirely dependent on tourism.

U.N. weapons inspectors wrap up their first field mission in Iraq after a four-year hiatus. The inspectors examined two sites near Baghdad, looking for evidence of banned weapons of mass destruction. The U.S. has warned Iraq's Saddam Hussein it will disarm Iraq by force if the inspections fail. Listen to NPR News.

A federal judge approves a partial settlement between WorldCom and the SEC in which the company accepts allegations of fraud and agrees to close monitoring of its corporate governance and its accounting controls. The judge defers a decision on penalties. NPR's Jim Zarroli reports.

Washington, D.C.-area sniper suspect John Lee Malvo, 17, will appear at a court hearing in Virginia to determine whether he'll be tried as an adult for capital murder and face a possible death sentence. NPR's Larry Abramson reports.

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." NPR's Liane Hansen talks with Mimi Wesson of the University of Colorado School of Law.

With new leadership on both sides of the aisle, Congress returns to address unfinished business from the previous session, including the extension of unemployment benefits and several spending bills. An economic stimulus package is also on the early agenda. NPR's Scott Simon talks to NPR's David Welna.

A new session of Congress begins Tuesday, with two of the Senate's longest-serving members absent. Sens. Strom Thurmond and Jesse Helms retired at the end of the last session. NPR's Bob Edwards talks to Rice University professor Earl Black about Thurmond's and Helms' careers.

Federal investigators probe the crash of a commuter flight at Charlotte, N.C. The Air Midwest turboprop was operated by US Airways Express. It was bound for Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C. All 19 passengers and two crew members died. Scott Jagow of member station WFAE reports.