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Israel frees 500 Palestinian prisoners, making good on promises made to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas last month. The mass release comes one day after the Israeli government gave final approval to dismantling Gaza settlements.

Lawmakers are piecing together a plan to rebuild in the Gulf region that will cost more than the $60 billion already approved. The final reconstruction cost could affect your tax rate, unrelated government programs or the debts faced by your descendants.

Congress has rejected requests from the White House to approve funding to continue COVID-19 tests and treatments for everyone.

The Senate approves legislation making it a separate crime to kill or injure a fetus while committing a federal crime against a pregnant woman. Opponents denounce the bill as an effort to undermine abortion rights by recognizing a fetus as a person. Hear NPR's Bob Edwards and NPR's Andrea Seabrook.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger welcomes a vital political success, as California voters approve a bond measure aimed at helping finance the state's debt crisis. The governor engineered the measure's passage, overcoming its initial unpopularity. Hear NPR's Melissa Block and columnist Phil Matier of The San Francisco Chronicle.

After four hours of contentious debate Tuesday night, the Springfield City Council approved the location of a 24-hour center that would provide...

The Supreme Court ruled today that the Virginia Military Institute must admit women as long as it is receiving state funding. The decision also applies to The Citadel in South Carolina. A lower court had approved VMI's establishment of an alternative program at a women's college, but the Court said that this program did not provide an equal education to women. NPR's Nina Totenberg reports.

The Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform Act was approved in the Senate today. It's a historic bill that makes sweeping changes in the programs that have been in place since the Depression. We hear portions of the debate... from a supporter of the bill Republican, Sen. Dick Lugar of Indiana and from an opponent, Sen. Kent Conrad a democrat of North Dakota.

- NPR's Melissa Block reports on proposed changes to US Immigration law that would require immigration officers at the airport to decide whether or not a foreigner claiming political asylum has a legitimate case. Currently, anyone declaring political asylum at the airport or border is assigned a court date for their case. If the changes are approved, they could be put immediately on a plane and sent home.

NPR's Michael Shuster reports on the Clinton Administration decision to reorganize the State Department. The restructuring will bring the independent Arms and Disarmament Agency and the US Information Agency under the umbrella of the Secretary of State. The move, long sought by Senator Jesse Helms and other Congressional Republican conservatives, was made in hopes of encouraging the Senate to approve the Chemical Weapons ban when it comes to a vote on next week.