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Steve Inskeep talks to Gerald Steinberg, professor of political studies at Bar Ilan University, about the future of Israeli politics as Prime Minister Ariel Sharon lies ill after a stroke in Jerusalem. Steinberg says Sharon was a major political figure, and there are no other national names to take his place.

Lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleads guilty in Miami to charges related to his purchase of a gambling boat fleet. But it's the enormous amount of money Abramoff received from Indian tribes with casino interests that made him a target of investigators and led to his guilty plea on separate charges in Washington.

Singer, songwriter and philanthropist Lou Rawls died Friday after a battle with cancer. Rawls' career spanned gospel, blues, jazz, pop and disco. For the last quarter century of his life, Rawls also devoted himself to educating black youth.

Virginia Gov. Mark Warner orders new DNA tests in the case of a man executed in 1992 for a murder he claimed he did not commit. It's the first time a governor has called for a DNA test after someone was put to death.

Meshell Ndegeocello has released five critically acclaimed albums since 1993 that featured socially provocative lyrics driven by a solid groove. On her latest CD, Ndegeocello leaves her husky voice behind and lets her bass guitar take center stage. Felix Contreras reports.

Cultural historian Christopher Frayling's new book Once Upon A Time in Italy: The Westerns of Sergio Leone is a large-format, beautifully illustrated book that chronicles the history of the spaghetti western through researched text and interviews with Clint Eastwood, Martin Scorsese and Eli Wallach.

Sudanese rebel leader turned vice president John Garang died in a helicopter crash Sunday. He was a charismatic leader whose death strikes a blow to the January peace deal that ended a 21-year civil war between the mostly Muslim north and the Christian and animist south.

In two weeks, some 50,000 Israeli soldiers and police expect to remove Israeli settlements -- and their supporters -- in Gaza. The troops involved have been undergoing mental and physical training for the duty. They expect the settlers to appeal to their patriotism, and at the same time to resist, using all sorts of unexpected tactics.

For some, the summer is a time to indulge in frothy beach reading: the latest chick lit or globetrotting, highly unbelievable thriller. But book critic Maureen Corrigan has taken a different tack this year: She's catching up on more substantial reading that she hasn't had time for yet.

The music of the Asylum Street Spankers hails from the early 20th century, but many of their lyrics are modern enough to be too naughty for NPR. Key players Christina Marrs and Wammo tell Jacki Lyden about their "postmodern jug band."