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Nancy Solomon reports from southern New Jersey on reaction to Paul Johnson's beheading death at the hands of al Qaeda kidnappers in Saudi Arabia. Johnson's family had been holding a vigil in his New Jersey hometown, pleading with the kidnappers for his safe return.

Former President Bill Clinton's memoir, My Life, goes on sale this coming Tuesday, and bookstores across the country are preparing for a huge demand. All Things Considered talks to employees at two stores hosting Clinton for a book signing about how they're going to deal with the huge crowds -- possibly the biggest crowds in bookselling history.

Blues and gospel legend Ray Charles has died at the age of 73. Charles won the Grammy 12 times. His songs "Hit the Road, Jack," "What'd I Say" and "Georgia on My Mind" have become American classics. NPR's Felix Contreras offers an appreciation of the musician.

Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan's remains will be taken from the Capitol Rotunda -- where tens of thousands have come to pay last respects -- to the Washington National Cathedral for a national funeral service Friday morning. The list of dignitaries attending includes former presidents Bill Clinton, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. NPR's Pam Fessler reports.

A day-long odyssey that began at the Capitol Rotunda, then to the Washington National Cathedral, and finally on a presidential jet to Southern California came to and end Friday when the late President Ronald Reagan's casket was interred at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley. Rachael Myrow of member station KPCC reports from along the motorcade route leading from Pt. Mugu Naval Air Station on the coast, where the late president's casket arrived, to the library in the inland valley.

Months of bad news from Iraq have hurt President Bush's standing, with a new NPR poll of likely voters giving him a 50-percent approval rating, down from 53 percent in March. The poll also shows President Bush and his Democratic challenger Sen. John Kerry in a statistical dead heat. NPR's Mara Liasson reports.

The nation bid farewell to President Ronald Reagan Friday at a funeral service at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Attended by four former presidents and dignitaries from around the world, the funeral capped a week of public mourning. NPR's Pam Fessler reports.

As several government committees prepare to issue reports on intelligence failures related to Iraq and Sept. 11, calls intensify for a radical overhaul of U.S. intelligence operations. But observers say Pentagon officials are staunchly opposed to reform proposals, most of which would diminish the Defense Department's authority. NPR's Mary Louise Kelly reports.

Nearly 6,000 teenagers die each year in alcohol-related car accidents in the United States. A program aimed at high-school students forces participants to confront the consequences of drunk driving. Kathryn Baron of members station KQED reports from San Francisco.

Earlier this year, the U.S. government launched Al Hurra, an Arabic-language news and information channel that broadcasts to the Middle East and North Africa. The channel has gained some fans, but still struggles to dispel the notion that it is a U.S. propaganda outlet. Hear NPR's Steve Inkseep.