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Mejla Hlavsa, founder, composer and bassist for an underground Czech rock band called the Plastic People of the Universe, has died at the age of 49. The Plastic People were at the center of a struggle for human rights under Communism in Czechoslovakia during the 1970's and 80's. Robert remembers Hlavsa's role in that fight.

The Pope John Paul II Cultural Center opens today in an area of Washington, D.C. known as the little Vatican. Alex Van Oss finds out what it means to create an interactive museum for the head of the Catholic Church. NOTE: Web Site at www.jp2cc.org. (3:45) (Note: this site will open in a new browser wi

British investigators trying to track the source of the catastrophic foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in the UK are focusing on the idea that it may have come into the country with smuggled meat products. Robert Siegel talks to Lester Crawford, director of the Georgetown Center for Food and Nutrition Policy, and former president of the American Veterinary Epidemiology Society.

Election officials are grappling with safety concerns as they face increasing threats.

NPR's Chris Joyce reports on a fire burning out of control at one of the main telecommunications centers in Baghdad. U.S. troops have sealed off the area around the blaze but no firefighters have arrived. Few Iraqis are taking notice of the latest blaze in a city badly hit by arson and looting.

NPR's Snigdha Prakash reports that in the 50 years since the discovery of DNA's structure, genetic research has moved from a race for pure knowledge to a pursuit of profit. The scientific work of researchers James Watson and Francis Crick is now at the center of the entrepreneurial economy, and is erasing the traditional line between academia and industry.

The Washington Post reports that U.S. intelligence officials believe Saddam Hussein was present Wednesday when a 2,000-pound "bunker-busting" bomb struck an Iraqi command center. Officials say Saddam may have been injured in the attack. Hear NPR's Scott Simon and Post reporter Dana Priest.

Preparations are underway for Medicare, the program for the elderly, to launch a new prescription drug benefit in 2006. Meanwhile, Medicaid -- the federal and state program for the poor -- takes center stage in what's expected to be a major budget fight. Hear NPR's Julie Rovner.

An Australian held at the detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, says he and other detainees are being physically and psychologically abused. David Hicks filed an affidavit in federal court alleging detainees were beaten while handcuffed and blindfolded. NPR's Jackie Northam reports.

A new post-election poll finds that people regard the overall election campaign in a favorable light, and that more Republicans than Democrats were satisfied with the candidates. Robert Siegel talks to Andrew Kohut of the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press.