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The Supreme Court has outlawed executions of people convicted of raping a child. The court was considering a Louisiana law that allowed for such executions. The ruling said the law violates the Constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

A Justice Department audit released Tuesday found that a screening program installed at the department in 2002 kept out Democrat- or liberal-leaning attorneys. Those with Republicans ties, meanwhile, got interviewed for plum positions at the department.

Up to 20 percent of soldiers who have fought in Iraq say they sustained a brain injury. Most with a severe brain injury never return to active duty. Army Spc. Freddy Meyers was shot in the head last May and initially could neither talk nor walk. Now he wants to go back to duty.

Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has ended his hopes to become the country's next leader. Just days before a special runoff election, Tsvangirai cited fatal intimidation tactics allegedly by supporters of his opponent, incumbent President Robert Mugabe. Zimbabwe freelance reporter Jeffrey Barbee explains the recent developments.

Former White House spokesman Scott McClellan told the House Judiciary Committee Friday the White House could have avoided a lot of criticism and loss of faith by being more open about its reasons for invading Iraq.

Democratic candidate Barack Obama announced Thursday he won't take part in the public-finance system for the presidential campaign. Obama becomes the first candidate in a general election to opt out of the primary system.

Numerous levees have already failed to hold back floodwaters in parts of the Midwest this week. The federal government says many more are likely to be topped. Engineering experts agree the nation's levee system needs a second look. Adriene Hill of Chicago Public Radio reports.

In his new book, Torture Team, international lawyer Philippe Sands argues that the Bush administration's interrogation policy constitutes a war crime.

Enticing teens to read of their own free will during the one time of year they're not locked up in school is a daunting task. Here are a few books that can steal even the most reluctant readers away from Guitar Hero — if only for a few hours.

The national average of gas zoomed past the four dollar mark this week, and that's hurting the pockets of just about every commuter on the roads. But in California — which has the highest gas prices in the country — one man may feel the pinch at the pump more than other commuters. NPR's Andrea Seabrook talks to Dave Givens who commutes 186 miles, one way, just to get to work each day.