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Alan Cheuse reviews a new novel by Sylvia Brownrigg called, Pages for You. (1:30) The book is published by Farrar, Straus, Giroux.

Finance ministers and bankers are gathered in Washington this weekend for a meeting of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. They will need to address several difficult issues including a slowdown in global growth and financial crises in two big emerging markets. NPR's John Ydstie reports.

Scott talks to Hans Rockenwagner, chef and owner of Rockenwagner's Restaurants in Santa Monica and Venice, California about the annual frenzy in Germany over the delicacy known as white asparagus.

Commentator Marshall Wittmann, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C. says controversy over the Vietnam attack led by former senator Robert Kerrey does not tarnish the heroism that earned him a medal.

From member station WNYC, Beth Fertig reports on a decision by the state of New York to require small, alternative schools to participate in the state testing program. Educators at these "break the mold" schools say that will stifle the creativity that makes them successful with students who feel lost in larger, more structured schools.

NPR's Jack Speer reports the nation's economy grew faster than expected in the first quarter. The nation's gross domestic product, or GDP, expanded at a 2 percent annual rate, according to the Commerce Department. Most economists expected the economy to grow no faster than 1 percent in the first quarter. Analysts said the economy was helped along by strong consumer spending and a narrower trade gap.

The science still has a long way to go, but many researchers believe that using stem cells from human embryos holds great promise as a way of treating diseases. As the Bush administration tries to decide whether or not to allow federal funding to be used for such research, NPR's Joe Palca reports on the two new studies that scientists hope may show the administration just how valuable stem cell therapy could be.

NPR's Jon Hamilton reports from Nigeria on an unusual summit of African leaders that concluded today. Presidents from African countries met for the first time to discuss the AIDS crisis, tuberculosis and other diseases ravaging the continent. The meeting also included former President Bill Clinton and United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.

The population of Paris, Tennessee grows tenfold this time of year, for the annual Fish Fry, a four-day festival of beauty pageants, rodeos, motocross racing and 12,000 pounds of fried catfish. Linda Wertheimer talks with head fish fryer Bob Milam.

Host Bob Edwards describes two new studies out today in the journal Science. They conclude that global warming over the last fifty years is due to human-released greenhouse gasses.