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Veterans, along with the rest of the country, see long waits for mental health and other specialty care. Veterans Affairs has announced it will redesign how it schedules and pays for private care.

Colin Powell died at age 84 on Monday. He spent much of his life in the military and served in the Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush administrations.

NPR's David Welna reports on the battle to succeed Dick Gephardt as the leading of the Democrats in the House. Two candidates have emerged: Nancy Pelosi, a San Francisco liberal and the current Democratic whip, and Martin Frost, a centrist Texas Democrat who is making ideology his campaign theme. Frost says it would be a mistake for the Democrats to turn to the left in the wake of their disappointing showing in this year's midterm elections.

Host Scott Simon reflects on the problems with political polling.

Recent research shows black carbon in soot may contribute to global warming by absorbing sunlight. Diesel engines are one source of soot. But wood fires in less developed countries -- including China -- are also a problem. NPR's Christopher Joyce reports.

NPR's Margot Adler tells the story of a woman she knew as a child who now has a New York City water taxi named after her.

Colin Powell was hailed as a hero for a swift and speedy U.S. victory in the Gulf in 1991. But his reputation suffered from his flawed presentation in advance of the second Iraq war 12 years later.

Wall Street cheers the resignation of SEC chief Harvey Pitt. Pitt's departure -- and the resignation of the agency's chief accountant -- could imperil the appointment of ex-FBI and CIA director William Webster to head an accounting oversight board. Hear more from NPR's Scott Simon and Joe Nocera, executive editor of Fortune magazine.

Host Scott Simon talks with Greg Herro, chief executive officer of LifeGem, a company that creates diamonds out of the carbon from the cremated remains of loved ones.

Yellowstone National Park awaits its annual influx of snowmobilers. The Clinton administration tried to ban them. The Bush administration proposes limits that have the potential to increase use of the machines throughout the park. NPR's Howard Berkes reports.