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Media reports have highlighted a potential danger for children who carry overstuffed backpacks around, citing a rash of back injuries. One study shows a greater danger from tripping over the cumbersome carry-alls. But there's more to the story. NPR's Rachel Jones reports.

The military gives small doses of amphetamines to fighter pilots who must endure long flights without sleep. The policy is based on research by the Air Force and Columbia University that shows small doses improve performance. But the use of the drugs has been called into question at a hearing for two pilots who mistakenly bombed Canadian forces in Afghanistan. NPR's Joseph Shapiro reports.

Commentator Ruben Navarrette says he and his father, a veteran police officer, support the death penalty for the same reasons they support an Illinois decision to commute the sentences of death row inmates: so that the innocent have nothing to fear.

Health care workers in Connecticut are set to be the first U.S. civilians to receive smallpox vaccinations. It's the first step in a new federal program aimed at protecting Americans against a biological attack. NPR's Richard Knox reports.

NPR's David Molpus talks with members of the 24th Marine Expeditionary. He hears how they're preparing themselves for the possibility of war with Iraq, how spouses at home are explaining their absence to toddlers, and how one couple has made up a personal code for private e-mail messages.

The Senate passes a measure to temporarily block funding for the Pentagon's Total Information Awareness program. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and others want further review of the domestic information-gathering effort, fearing its impact on civil liberties. Wyden speaks with NPR's Bob Edwards.

Host Bob Edwards talks with GQ sports commentator Peter Richmond about this Sunday's Super Bowl.

McDonald's and other fast-food chains find themselves in a tough position as they try to satisfy health-conscious customers while maintaining support for "old favorites" that aren't so healthy. The issue is gaining visibility as researchers focus on the health dangers of fatty foods. NPR's Scott Horsley reports.

South Korean President-elect Roh Moo-hyun's proposed summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il would be the latest effort at serious talks between the bitter rivals. Sandwiched between China and Japan, Koreans on both sides of the DMZ have a long history of negotiating from a position of relative weakness. Their strategies reflect that history. NPR's Eric Weiner reports.

Host Bob Edwards talks with Don Russell, a-k-a "Joe Six-pack," beer columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News. He was recently named beer writer of the year by the North American Guild of Beer Writers. Russell came up with the idea for the column as a counterpoint to the Philadelphia Enquirer's wine column.