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A new wave of fighting breaks out between supporters of a radical Shiite cleric and U.S. and Iraqi government forces. Clashes are reported throughout southern Iraq and the Shiite-dominated Baghdad slum known as Sadr City. An American military spokesman says 300 Shiite militiamen were killed in one city alone. NPR's Ivan Watson reports.

Shakira Crawford, a single mother in New York City, struggles to find a landlord who will accept her city voucher to pay rent.

With half of the council attending via phone, the Peoria City Council updated the emergency powers of the mayor last night.

Linda talks to Joe Califano, chairman and president of the Center on Addiciton and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. They discuss a study conducted by the center that looked at the way substance abuse effects New York City's health, legal and criminal justice systems, its business and economy, and social services. It found that substance abuse and addiction cost New York City more than $20 billion during 1994 and that 21 cents of every dollar in taxes paid by New Yorkers goes to pay for the consequences of substance abuse.

and a former police officer, about the change in ammunition used by police. The New York City Police Department wants to make the switch to hollowpoint bullets...they leave wider, but less deep wounds than normal bullets. Fyfe says most police departments in major cities long ago switched to the more powerful bullets.

NPR's Eric Weiner reports that new Philippines' President Arroyo has called a summit on garbage -- a problem that has reached crisis proportions in Manila. The capital city is awash in trash, partly because only six percent of Manila's garbage is recycled, far less than in European and American cities. The garbage is piled into mountainous dumps, one of which is more than 100 feet high. The dump, known as "the promised land," provides a livelihood, of sorts, for thousands of scavengers. It also is extremely dangerous. Last summer, it collapsed, killing at least 200 people.

Since California's power system went haywire, there's been a renewal of interest among West Coast cities in public providers of power. {Public power advocates say electricity from municipally owned companies is cheaper and more reliable.} But not everyone likes the idea of cities getting into the power-generating business. {Detractors say it's expensive and that lower prices are no sure thing.} NPR's Elaine Korry has a report.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 100,000 people over 65 live in Atlanta but do not drive. That's second only to New York City, but unlike New York, Atlanta is stretched out over a wide geographic area and public transportation is lacking. The city is developing several ways to help these older non-drivers stay active and independent. NPR's Kathy Lohr reports.

As New York City faces its worst fiscal crisis since the 1970s, many teachers in the city turn to a Web site that aims to help educators get the resources and classroom supplies they need without the writing grant applications. Donorschoose.com allows people around the country to view and fulfill teachers' requests for books and supplies. Hear Beth Fertig of WNYC.

U.S. forces surrounding Fallujah loosen the perimeter they've established to allow injured residents to get hospital treatment without evacuating the besieged city. Meanwhile, U.S. military and administrative officials hold a second day of talks with representatives of the insurgents who control the city. Elsewhere in Iraq, two Japanese hostages are freed. Hear NPR's Scott Simon and NPR's Emily Harris.