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Ralph Nader has launched his campaign for the presidency as an independent candidate. Mark Kamleiter, co-chair of the Green Party of Florida and one of the organizers of Florida Greens for Nader, supports the 2004 campaign -- as well as the right for third parties to play a part in American politics. Commentator Diana Abu-Jaber supported Nader in 2000. She understands why he's running again, but she can't afford to vote for him this time.

Astronomers unveil a new image taken with the Hubble Space Telescope that reveals the deepest look ever at distant and ancient galaxies, providing a glimpse of the universe as it appeared shortly after the big bang. The image was released at an event designed to rally support for efforts to save Hubble, which is slated for early retirement in 2006. NPR's David Kestenbaum reports.

The new album Regard the End is by The Willard Grant Conspiracy, a band comprising more than 30 musicians from all over the world. The players get together as their schedules permit, making music tinged with the blues, jazz and folk influences. David Greenberger has a review.

Frontrunner Sen. John Kerry all but clinches the Democratic presidential nomination after winning nine of 10 "Super Tuesday" states. Sen. John Edwards fails to win in any states and will formally drop out of the race Wednesday. Former Vermont governor Howard Dean, who ended his presidential campaign last month, wins in his home state. Hear NPR's Mara Liasson.

NPR's Bob Edwards talks to NPR News Analyst Cokie Roberts about how President Bush's handling of foreign policy issues will affect his run at a second term. They also discuss how Sen. John Kerry can keep the media focused on his campaign between now and this summer's Democratic National Convention.

The Senate Rules Committee holds hearings on independent groups that run hard-hitting political ads in hopes of influencing voter sentiment in so-called "battleground" states this election season. Lawmakers from both parties are seeking to outlaw the groups, which are unfettered by restrictions placed on candidates and political parties. NPR's Peter Overby reports.

Minnesota's fastest-growing population consists of people 65 and older -- a reflection of a national trend. Many of the state's elderly are staying active and healthy longer, ditching retirement to head back to work in large numbers -- and exploding myths about what it means to grow old. Annie Baxter of Minnesota Public Radio reports.

For the latest installment of "What Are You Listening To?" NPR's John Ydstie speaks with Adam Sarmiento of Norman, Okla. He's a drum and percussion teacher, a landscape gardener, and a member of a pop rock band called The Candles.

In 1806, over a camp fire and food, Nez Perce Indian chiefs made a map for William Clark showing a short and safe journey through the Rockies. The rare Indian map, one of only a hundred surviving, went overlooked for decades. Harriet Baskas tells the story as part of All Things Considered's Hidden Treasures Radio Project.

NPR's Jack Speer reports on another disappointing jobs report. The U.S. Department of Labor reported Friday that business payrolls rose by 21,000 in February -- much weaker than the 125,000 new jobs economists were expecting. The unemployment rate held steady at 5.6 percent, but it was the number of workers who gave up on finding a job that kept the unemployment rate from going up.

Commentator Frank Deford talks about the scandal in Major League Baseball concerning allegations of steroid use by players. Deford says the players union ought to be more interested in cleaning up the game than protecting drug users.

In the late 1960s, Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson began work on an ambitious album called Smile. It was never released. Now Wilson is touring Europe, playing a 45-minute concert version of the music to high praise from critics. Hear "Surf's Up," a song originally recorded for Smile.

President Biden said he's worried about broader threats to issues like marriage equality, while Democratic leaders take aim at conservative justices who they say lied about settled precedent.

Spaniards vote to remove Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar's government from power in favor of the Socialist Party. Analysts say the result reflects anger over last week's deadly terrorist attacks in Madrid, which many blame on Aznar's support for the U.S.-led war in Iraq. Socialist leader Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero vows to remove Spanish troops from Iraq by the end of June. Hear NPR's Sylvia Poggioli.

U.S. accounting firms are increasingly outsourcing data-entry work related to tax returns overseas. This year, as many as 100,000 American taxpayers may have their returns prepared in India. NPR's Elaine Korry reports.

The presidential campaign turns negative, as President Bush's re-election team launches its first ads directly assailing Sen. John Kerry, his presumed Democratic opponent. The ads accuse Kerry of being weak on defense and "wrong on taxes." The Kerry campaign calls the ads deceptive. Hear NPR's Pam Fessler.

The papers of the late Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun, now public, show how the justice's legal opinions on the death penalty changed during his 24-year tenure on the high court. NPR's Nina Totenberg reports.

The Department of Education relaxes some requirements of the No Child Left Behind law. The changes include allowing core-subject teachers at rural schools to have an additional year to show they are "highly qualified." The deadline was previously the 2005-2006 school year. Hear NPR's Anthony Brooks, NPR's Michele Norris and Schools Superintendent Jack Broome of Burke, S.D.

Concern over lost U.S. jobs and corporate "outsourcing" is prompting lawmakers on Capitol Hill and in state legislatures to propose laws to discourage companies from sending work overseas. But a group of about 200 well-financed trade groups has formed a new coalition to try to keep these bills from ever becoming law. NPR's Kathleen Schalch reports.

Congressman Charlie Crist and the other Democratic gubernatorial candidates say their priority is to stop Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and the “culture wars” he has championed.

Iraq's governing council signs an interim constitution, a key step in U.S. plans to surrender sovereignty on June 30. The law establishes a federated state where Islam is the official religion and women are assured a political role. The signing had been delayed by deadly bombings at Shiite shrines and last-minute objections from Shiite members of the council. Hear NPR's Ivan Watson.

Most of the business of the nation's highest court is deadly serious, but members occasionally allow themselves a little levity. As acting chief justice, Blackmun once scheduled square dancing at the Supreme Court building and ordered the court cat to chase Boris, "the rat upstairs." NPR's Nina Totenberg continues her series on the now-public files of the late Justice Harry Blackmun.

Chief Justice John Roberts confirmed the authenticity of the draft opinion published by Politico, though he notes it doesn't represent the court's final position.

Violence in Iraq intensifies as the first anniversary of the U.S.-led war approaches. In Basra, a hotel bombing kills at least four Iraqis. And in Baquba, gunmen kill three Iraqi civilians. Thursday's attacks follow a deadly car bombing in central Baghdad that destroyed the Mount Lebanon Hotel, frequented by foreign workers. Hear NPR News.

An Israeli air strike kills the spiritual leader of Hamas, Sheik Ahmed Yassin, a quadriplegic, as he exited a mosque in Gaza City. Seven other people die in the attack, including bodyguards. Thousands of Palestinians take to the streets in protest. Militant Palestinian groups have vowed revenge. Hear NPR's Peter Kenyon.