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U.S. forces move closer to one of Shiite Islam's most sacred sites, the Imam Ali shrine in the city of Najaf. Militiamen loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr engage in fierce firefights in the vast cemetery surrounding the shrine with U.S. troops backed by tanks. There are reports the shrine may be damaged by the fighting. NPR's Eric Westervelt reports from Baghdad.

At a Maryland middle school, 25 children hone their comedy skills for a spring show. The comedy club might provide a blueprint for similar programs at other schools. NPR's Neda Ulaby reports.

This year has been marked by a series of confrontations around the Eucharist in Catholic churches. In January, the archbishop of St. Louis announced he would deny communion to John Kerry, because of Kerry's support of abortion rights. Earlier this month, a bishop in Colorado said that any Catholic politician who supports abortion rights, stem cell research, euthanasia or same-sex marriage is not eligible to receive communion. And in several U.S. cities this coming Sunday, a group of gay Roman Catholics are planning to stage a protest during Mass. The protesters intend to wear rainbow sashes, opening declaring their sexual orientation. In Chicago, Cardinal Francis George has told priests to deny communion to anyone wearing one of the sashes. Commentator James Martin, a Jesuit priest, says that even the threat of denying communion goes against the meaning of the ritual.

The film Saved! is a high school comedy along the lines of Pretty in Pink and Clueless. But according to NPR's Bob Mondello, Saved! marches to the beat of a slightly different drummer, because it's set in a Christian high school.

Independent groups producing political advertisements hoping to influence the 2004 presidential election are now more prolific than ever. By one count, there have been more than 50 such ads so far, mostly from groups allied to the Democrats including MoveOn.org and The Media Fund. Now GOP-leaning groups are also joining the fray. NPR's John McChesney reports.

The Iraqi prison abuse crisis is not going away -- much is known about the scandal, but there are lingering questions over whether the abuse was perpetrated by renegade soldiers or authorized by the chain of command. NPR's Mike Shuster looks at the scandal, the contradictions and unanswered questions.

Tom Weber of member station KWMU reports on the people who are helping to re-create the Lewis and Clark expedition. This year marks the 200th anniversary of the start of the expedition.

As many as 2,000 people are feared dead in the wake of flooding and mudslides that devastated the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, divided between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Rescue workers are rushing food, water and medical supplies to flood victims. Hundreds of people are missing in the two countries. Hear NPR's Gerry Hadden.

The Washington Post reports new pictures and short videos show prisoners being physically and sexually abused at Abu Ghraib last year. According to the paper, sworn statements from detainees describe a range of abuse more brutal than previously reported. Several hundred prisoners at Abu Ghraib were freed Friday. Hear NPR's Eric Westervelt.

The Brood X cicadas have emerged, and residents in 15 states and Washington, D.C., are waking up in the morning to the roar of millions of insects looking for love. NPR's Melissa Block talks with experts Nathan Erwin Scott Harvey about the noisy creatures.