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The IRS has stepped up its investigations of churches accused of endorsing political candidates. The agency is examining about 60 churches over complaints about endorsements from the 2004 election alone. The groups could lose their tax-exempt status.

Just before dawn Thursday morning, the wall around a mountaintop reservoir gave way in southern Missouri. More than a billion gallons of water roared down the mountain, sweeping away the home of the parks superintendent who lived below. Ben Meredith, chief of the Lesterville Fire Department, discusses the causes of the flood and the latest developments.

President Bush confirms he authorized secret domestic eavesdropping by the National Security Agency. But he lashed out at those who object, saying the spying is aimed only at people believed to have a clear link to terrorist organizations.

Shiite leaders say no agreement has been reached on Iraq's draft constitution, citing failed negotiations with minority Sunnis. In a sign the debate may be at an end, Shiite officials say they plan to submit a revised draft to parliament, possibly by Saturday.

Russian forces are pulling back from Ukraine's second-largest city after weeks of heavy bombardment, the Ukrainian military says, as a battle for the country's eastern industrial heartland continues.

An independent panel votes to keep open Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota. The base is home to half the nation's fleet of B-1 bombers -- and it's the second largest employer in the state. The panel's decision is a major victory for the state's political leaders, including freshman Sen. John Thune.

Singer Wilson Pickett, known for hits that included "In the Midnight Hour" and "Mustang Sally," died Thursday in Virginia. He was 64.

A Justice Department statement says recent National Security Agency activities -- such as tapping domestic calls without a warrant -- are vital to the defense of the nation.

An independent panel votes to keep open South Dakota's Ellsworth Air Force Base. The base closing commission voted to reject a Pentagon plan to close the state's second largest employer.

David Kamp and Steven Daly are the authors of The Rock Snob's Dictionary, a guide to the esoterica in rock music that every critic and fan knows — or pretends to know. Meredith Ochs, our own rock snob and music critic, finds the book entertaining, funny and irreverent.