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In the second part of our series on debt in America we'll hear about the boom in cash-out mortgage financing and about the history of debt in our society. The book mentioned is Credit Card Nation: The Consequences of America's Addiction to Credit, published by Basic Books; Dec., 2001.

The United States has decided Guatemala is not doing enough to fight the illegal drug trade and has decertified Guatemala from the list of countries deemed U.S. allies in combating drugs. But Washington has decided it won't waive penalties against the small Central American nation for national security reasons. NPR's Gerry Hadden reports from Guatemala City.

A new law says money coming from the frozen assets of foreign countries must be released to victims of terror attacks if they win damage awards in court. A federal judge heard the claims of Americans seeking Iraqi assets this week, and various other Americans likely will try to claim some of the money. NPR's Libby Lewis reports.

In the final part of our series on debt, we'll have a report from NPR's Chris Arnold about the growing number of businesses checking job applicants' credit reports. NPR's Lynn Neary with talk with Professor Robert Manning, author of Credit Card Nation, about the future of debt in America. And we'll hear from commentator Gerry Willis. She has a few optimistic thoughts about debt.

South Korean newspapers today are headlining reports that outgoing President Kim Dae Jung authorized $200 million to go to North Korea just before a summit between the two nations in 2000. Critics say the payoff negated the summit, which was billed as a breakthrough in North-South relations. Some are even saying it could spell the end of Kim's so-called sunshine policy of engagement with the North. NPR's Rob Gifford reports from Seoul.

NPR's John Ydstie continues his conversations with people in Mobile, Ala. about the President's agenda, after the State of the Union address. Today he talks with students on the campus of Bishop State Community College. They talk of war and the economy, but also about their experiences being on welfare.

NPR's Michele Norris speaks with Wall Street Journal sportswriter Stefan Fatsis about the decision by NBC Sports to forgo expensive contracts to broadcast major league sports (baseball, basketball and football) and to instead concentrate on smaller sports. This weekend, NBC begins carrying Arena Football games. They don't carry the prestige of major sports, but don't come with their price tag, either.

NPR's Bob Mondello notes that the best picture of the year is a hard thing to determine this time around, if you're going by the critics. There's far from unanimity on the subject, because there were so many good movies released in 2002.

NPR's Lynn Neary talks with writer Norman Mailer about his new book The Spooky Art: Thoughts on Writing.

Northern Wisconsin and Minnesota are missing out on needed tourism revenue due to a lack of snowfall. They get creative and try to attract winter tourists to come for all kinds of indoor winter fun. NPR's David Schaper reports.