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Residents in South Gate, Calif., vote to oust the mayor, treasurer and two council members, amid allegations that they conducted city business through backroom deals and gave city contracts to friends. Adolfo Guzman-Lopez of member station KPCC reports.

Water levels in St. Louis reach their lowest in more than a decade, affecting the barge transportation business and companies that depend on the Mississippi River to transport cargo. Tom Weber of member station KWMU reports.

Commentator Patt Morrison proposes a "mis-user fee" as a new way for the federal government to raise revenue. It would levy a fine on politicians and Washington pundits who misuse American English.

The government says the nation's gross domestic product grew just 0.7 percent during the last quarter of 2002, a steep decline from the 4.2-percent growth during the preceding three months. NPR's Bob Edwards talks to NPR's Jim Zarroli.

NPR's Michele Norris talks with Bruce Bleakly, the executive director of the San Diego Aerospace Museum, about the life of Evelyn Trout. Trout broke several flight endurance records and she was the first female to complete an in-flight refueling operation. She died at the age of 97.

For decades, scientists have searched for plants containing disease-fighting compounds. Some powerful cancer drugs are derived from a flower that grows in the forests of Madagascar. But experts say the oceans, teeming with life, might be a better place to search. As NPR's Eric Niiler reports, researchers are now scouring the seven seas in hopes of finding the next blockbuster drug.

Commentator Frank Wu says he takes offense to the special treatment Asian customers get at some Chinese restaurants.

Lt. Col. Dan Biggie, an Air Force chaplain, joins host Steve Inskeep from Cocoa Beach, Fla., where spectators had been waiting for the shuttle Columbia to land. He discusses the role of chaplains and how astronauts deal with the danger of their occupation. (This is a repeat from earlier in the show.)

Today President Bush was called upon for the second time to comfort a nation in mourning. He telephoned the families of the lost astronauts and then addressed the nation from the cabinet room. (This is a repeat from earlier in the show.)

Troubleshooters are expected to scrutinize the shuttle Columbia's auxiliary power units, which help provide power to the orbiter's steering mechanisms during descent -- a task that requires highly flammable fuel. NPR's Howard Berkes joins host Steve Inskeep to talk about the role APUs play in reentry and why their redesign had been on NASA's to-do list. (This is a repeat from earlier in the show.)