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NPR National Political Correspondent Mara Liasson reports Democratic presidential hopefuls blasted the Bush administration on its abortion rights record at an event in Washington, D.C., last night. Abortion may be a crucial campaign issue in 2004, because President Bush may have the chance to appoint Supreme Court justices who could overturn Roe v. Wade.

The U.S. Census Bureau releases new figures that show Latinos make up 13 percent of the population. But many did not check off a racial origin category on the 2000 census form, making it more difficult to create Latino voting districts or implement federal programs. NPR's Madeleine Brand talks to Ilan Stavans of Amherst University.

Recep Tayipp Erdogan is one of the most powerful politicians in Turkey. But he doesn't hold a political office. In fact, he can't: Erdogan has been banned from running for the country's parliament because some believe he's a religious extremist. But now, a government committee is deciding whether to remove the ban and allow Erdogan to run for office. NPR's Guy Raz reports.

Commentator Ben Shaberman says his recent experience with the stock market has allowed him to deal with reality and move on.

Commentator Frederica Mathews-Green describes the evolution of her position on abortion. Thirty years ago, she was fighting for a "better world" through abortion rights for women, but today she views the historic Roe v. Wade decision as a tragedy. (On Jan. 23, 3003: A commentary with a different perspective on abortion.)

The NFL will not allow a Las Vegas tourism commercial to air during the Super Bowl. The league does not want imply any links to gambling. Commentator Frank Deford says the National Football League, and other professional sports in the United States, are too paranoid about gambling.

NPR News coverage of the space shuttle Columbia disaster continues.

Space shuttle Columbia breaks into pieces over Texas, killing all seven crew members aboard. President Bush tells the nation the work of the space program will go on. NASA engineers begin the grim task of determining what went wrong. NPR News reports.

Lt. Col. Dan Biggie, an Air Force chaplain, joins host Steve Inskeep from Cocoa Beach, Fla., where spectators had been waiting for the shuttle Columbia to land. He discusses the role of chaplains and how astronauts deal with the danger of their occupation.

NPR's Scott Simon talks to Atul Gawande, author of Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science. It's a book about the imperfection of medicine and the fallibility of doctors.