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Christine Arrasmith from member station KPLU reports that officials in Washington state are trying to get rid of a loophole that allows naturally occurring radioactive waste to be stored at a private facility in the state. The discovery of waste from foreign countries like Spain being stored in eastern Washington has state officials concerned the state will turn into a dump for imported nuclear waste.

NPR's Chris Arnold reports on some entrepreneurs who expect major innovations in the way electricity is generated. One venture capital firm, Nth Power, is investing in new technologies that may produce more efficient, cleaner energy. Founders Maurice Gunderson and Nancy Floyd believe that deregulation of electrical utilities has great potential for everything from hydrogen fuel cells, to natural gas refrigerators that can cool food and heat houses at the same time.

NPR's Barbara Bradley reports that the Immigration and Naturalization Service is preparing guidelines that tell district offices they can show more discretion in enforcing the 1996 immigration reform law. Deportations and incarcerations based on the tough law drew criticism. The INS said Congress left it no room for discretion. Some members of Congress insisted that the agency was allowed to use more judgment. As the INS moves to ease its guidelines, some members of Congress are developing legislation to adjust the law.

House Republicans continued their public campaign to keep Georgia Republican Newt Gingrich in control of the Speakership today. Party leaders held a conference call to reassure caucus members of the inconsequential nature of Gingrich's ethics violations. And Republican National Committee chairman Haley Barbour told a press conference that Democrats were making a raw partisan power play to manipulate the ethics process and deny Republicans the leadership they won in the election. NPR's Peter Kenyon reports.

The independent nature of the annual Sundance Film Festival has been eroded in recent years as more films shown there have already landed distribution deals. But despite criticism that it's become too "corporate," Sundance still produces surprises. Hear NPR's Bob Edwards and Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan.

Insects known as "walking sticks" have gained and lost wings several times over the last 10 million years. At least that's what a study in this week's issue of Nature magazine contends. NPR's Michele Norris talks with Michael F. Whiting, professor of evolutionary biology at Brigham Young University and lead author of Loss and Recovery of Wings in Stick Insects.

John Burnett reports that President Bush's first foreign trip won't feel so foreign. The former Texas governor has traveled extensively in Mexico, cultivating friendships with President Vicente Fox and other leaders. Bush and Fox share natural affinities: both have an easy-going, back-slapping, plain-spoken style. The question now is how that translates into the way they deal with complex policy questions.

Natural gas prices have more than doubled since last year. Homeowners can expect to see, on average, a 50-percent increase in their bills this winter. There are some things you can do to try and keep your costs down.

Fears of war in Eastern Europe have pushed up the prices of oil, natural gas and other commodities.

Holly is a journalism student in New York City. She says her brother is doing the kind of work that puts him in a lot of danger... and to stay connected to him, she stays tethered to the TV news. She says her loyalty to him has brought some sudden changes in her life. Because of the nature of her brother's work, Holly asked that her last name not be used.