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Since they were first noticed by European explorers in the 1700s, totem poles may have been misunderstood as frightening statues worshipped as gods. But some say early totem poles were actually billboards for powerful native families, announcing the privileges they enjoyed. NPR's Robert Smith traces the history of totem poles for the Present at the Creation series.

One of China's most notorious prisons is in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. For years, hundreds of people seeking independence for Tibet have been jailed at Drapchi prison. There are fewer political prisoners now, and Tibetans are using more sophisticated -- and less painful -- ways to oppose Chinese rule. NPR's Rob Gifford visits Drapchi prison for the fourth story in his series on Tibet.

As bombed rained down on the streets of Kyiv, Aleksandra Makoviy wanted to make sure that her 2-year-old would be safe. The only way to do that was by writing her phone number on the girl's back.

On his latest installment of Director's Cuts, Ned Wharton, music director of Weekend Edition Sunday, invites us to listen to bluegrass cuts. The featured artists are Phillips, Grier and Flinner — who cover such artists as The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix — and Nickel Creek, a group of 20-somethings who've played together since childhood.

With tax revenues waning, many public schools are looking for new sources of money. In the second part of Beyond the Bake Sale, a Morning Edition series, NPR's Emily Harris reports on private foundations that are being set up to help pay for public schools. She also looks at funding disparities between rich and poor school districts.

Romeo and Juliet's love story has inspired composers throughout the ages. On this Valentine's Day, commentator Miles Hoffman takes NPR's Bob Edwards on a romantic journey through the music influenced by Shakespeare's tragic couple.

California's record $35-billion budget deficit is anything but a game, but a Sacramento Bee columnist has made it one. Daniel Weintraub challenged his readers to study where the money goes, and then plug their proposed spending cuts and tax increases into an online budget game. NPR's Andy Bowers reports on some of the novel solutions players came up with.

On the 40th anniversary of the desegregation of Ole Miss, NPR presents a series of stories examining the events of that time, what has become of the people involved, and the campus today. For All Things Considered, NPR's David Molpus and Cheryl Corley talk with current Ole Miss students, professors and administrators.

U.N.-led weapons inspections resume in Iraq for the first time in four years.

John Lee, who has spent most of his civil service career in the police and overseeing security matters, has much less policy-making experience than previous chief executives.