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Audio historians have found a sound recording that predates Edison's phonograph by nearly 20 years. The "phonautograph" was patented in 1857 by Edouard-Leon Scott de Martinville; the device recorded images from sounds, tracing squiggles in black soot coating a surface.

Two years ago, New Century Financial was the country's second largest subprime mortgage lender. Now, it's in bankruptcy, and a new report mandated by the bankruptcy court shines light on the company's shady practices.

The list of retail bankruptcies and store closures is growing. It's being predicted that store closures will rise 25 percent this year. It would be easy to blame the faltering economy, but there's more to it than that.

Superdelegate Joe Andrew says he is switching allegiance to Sen. Barack Obama. The Indiana native, who was Democratic National Committee chairman under President Bill Clinton, annouced his endorsement for Sen. Hillary Clinton the day she announced her candidacy.

You may think you've already heard all there is to know about Democratic party superdelegates — the bigwigs who could end up playing a decisive role in the battle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. But there's another group of 76 delegates — known as unpledged add-ons, and no one knows whether they'll support Clinton or Obama.

Treasury Department Undersecretary Robert Steel outlines how the Bush administration's proposal to overhaul government oversight of the financial industry would broaden the Federal Reserve's risk assessment role and define consumer protection goals.

Crowds of anti-China protesters — many chanting "free Tibet" — blocked the Olympic torch relay through the streets of Paris. Eventually, the torch was extinguished and transported by bus, which may hold implications for the torch's arrival in San Francisco Wednesday.

Among the senators who grilled Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker on Tuesday was the next president of the United States. Whether it will be Clinton, McCain or Obama hasn't been decided, but all three made the hearings on Capitol Hill a kind of campaign stop.

Former president Bill Clinton on Sunday spoke to democratic activists at the state's annual party convention. But his real audience was a small number of undeclared superdelegates who may determine the presidential nominee for the Democratic Party.

John Goglia, an independent safety consultant and former National Transportation Safety Board member, talks about whether fliers should be more concerned about airline safety as thousands of planes have been grounded for inspections.

Federal regulators have ordered Bank of America to reimburse customers and pay the government a $150 million penalty for so-called "junk fees."

An investigation found that Bank of America raked in tens of millions of dollars in resubmitted insufficient funds fees. The bank also illegally opened credit cards without customers knowledge.

A lawsuit required Phoenix officials to show they've making progress clearing the city's largest homeless encampment. Businesses and homeless people have differing opinions.

Vermont is dealing with major flooding issues — including washed-out roads, flooded homes and businesses and dams straining to hold back high waters.

What is the source of the dysfunction in the FEMA trailer parks, and what can possibly be done to help? In the second part of the Scenic Trails story, reporter Alix Spiegel talks to government officials, mental health counselors, church volunteers and others.

In Utah, rescue crews are drilling holes from the surface to try to provide ventilation — as well as communication — to the location of the six miners, trapped since a mine collapsed Monday. One of the owners of the mine says rescuers hope to reach the men Thursday.

Republican political departures are keeping Washington in the spotlight during what is often a quiet time for politics. Idaho Sen. Larry Craig is expected to resign Saturday in the wake of a sex scandal and Virginia Sen. John Warner announced Friday he will not run for a sixth term.

A deadly toxin has been poisoning sea lions and dolphins, causing seizures, erratic behavior, bulging eyes and foaming at the mouth. It has been especially worse for pregnant mammals.

"Depending on the outcome, it will either be viewed as genius or the dumbest political move in history," political science professor Patricia Crouse told NPR.

Pakistan's President Gen. Pervez Musharraf says parliamentary elections will be held by mid-February, a signal that the state of emergency rule he declared could soon end.

Officials from more than 40 nations gather in Annapolis, Md., for the start of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. The summit is the Bush administration's first initiative in seven years. Analysts urge President Bush to use his full influence to help bring about peace.

Baby turtles as pets may be ready for a comeback. Sales were banned in 1975 after the animals were linked to salmonella infections in children. But farmers say they've found a way to reduce the bacteria in the turtles.

Those who brand provisions of the immigration bill as "amnesty" for undocumented workers reflect a deep cynicism that promises to slow down the debate over the process.

A federal appeals court says President Bush does not have the constitutional authority to imprison a U.S. resident indefinitely and without charge, as in the case of Ali al-Marri. Al-Marri is a citizen of Qatar who was attending graduate school in Illinois when he was arrested in 2001.

The career of Michael Mukasey, President Bush's pick to succeed Alberto Gonzales as attorney general, is inextricably tied to national security. During his time on the federal bench Mukasey earned a reputation as a no-nonsense law-and-order judge.