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P.D. James is considered one of the greatest living writers of detective fiction. Steve Inskeep talks with the British mystery writer about her new book, and how the mystery novel has changed over the years.

In Africa, almost a half-million children died last year of AIDS. Hundreds of thousands of others are in need of treatment. But very few get it because the barriers to treating children are even greater than those for adults.

Of all the groups in the micro-melting pot of South Louisiana hit by Hurricane Katrina, it's hard to find a more close-knit community than the Islenos. The descendants of Spanish-speaking Canary Islanders who settled St. Bernard Parish more than 200 years ago are now struggling to restore a community that was dispersed by Katrina's winds and floods.

Singer-songwriter and pianist, Casey Dienel plays an intricate and melodic mixture of jazz, rock and the American songbook. Her song subjects vary from what she calls "crazy, drunk old men" to cats and dogs, apricots and failed love affairs.

A tiny group of enthusiasts in California say they've demonstrated how to push your Prius to get as many as 99.9 miles per gallon -- if you're willing to plug it in overnight. Toyota says that although the idea is intriguing, it's not ready for prime time.

French composer Marc-Andre Dalbavie, 44, is a hit with U.S. orchestras despite caution over trying "new" music on audiences. His latest is a piano concerto. What's his secret? Vivian Goodman of member station WKSU goes looking.

Commentator Andrei Codrescu offers his memory of actor Al Lewis, who has died at age 82. Lewis played Grandpa on the 1960s TV comedy The Munsters. Codrescu says that Lewis gained fame in the Spanish-speaking world in dubbed versions of the show.

The most famous of all the giant meat-eating predators that walked the Earth actually started out rather small, at least as dinosaurs go. A fossil dubbed the "crowned dragon" shows it was a 90-million-year climb to the top of the food chain for T. rex.

If the 5th Dimension reunited, kept its sunny melodicism intact, and sprinkled its music with subtle hip-hop beats, an intoxicating song like Benny Sings' "Make a Rainbow" would be born. The Dutch singer defies the boundaries of hip-hop, both musically and thematically.

The New Orleans music legend nearly perished and his home was heavily damaged in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. But his latest record looks toward the future with optimism.