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For some former gang members, removing old tattoos is a painful but crucial step to leaving their violent pasts behind. In East Los Angeles, a free tattoo removal program aims to help these ex-gang members turn their lives around. Mary Beth Kirchner reports.

Marking the dedication of the World War II Memorial, NPR's Susan Stamberg profiles former Army combat nurse Katherine Flynn Nolan, who cared for U.S. and German soldiers as well as concentration camp survivors.

As the Democratic Republic of Congo struggles to recover from a five-year civil war, one priority is restoring a vital rail link in the central African nation's interior. NPR's Jason Beaubien reports.

Burns, along with drummer John Convertino, make up the band Calexico. The Tucson, Ariz. band is known for music that is inspired by southwest border region they live in, blending multiple musical genres including folk, rock, pop, country and mariachi. Their latest album is Feast of Wire.

U.S.-led special operations troops in Iraq free four Western hostages who had been kidnapped in April. Although few details were available about the operation, a security source said three Italians and a Pole were released in a raid 11 miles south of Baghdad. Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez said a number of men were captured during the raid. Hear NPR's Robert Siegel and NPR's Emily Harris.

New York Times Foreign Affairs columnist Thomas Friedman is the reporter/narrator of the Discovery Channel documentary, The Other Side of Outsourcing -- about jobs going to India. (Thursday, June 3 at 10 p.m. EST). Friedman has written about outsourcing and globalization in his columns. He is the author of the best-selling book Longitudes and Attitudes: Exploring the World After September 11. He has won two Pulitzer Prizes for his coverage of the Middle East.

Twenty-five years ago, Babs Reynolds fled her violent ex-husband and escaped to the frigid, remote town of Whittier, Alaska. Having grown accustomed to the harsh conditions, she never expects to leave –- even though her ex-husband has since died. Journalist Jake Halpern talks to Reynolds in the second of a five-part series based on his book Braving Home.

All Things Considered book reviewer Alan Cheuse offers his annual list for summer reading, with book suggestions from a mix of genres.

The U.S. military suspends offensive operations in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf. The move is part of a deal, brokered by Shiite leaders, to have insurgent cleric Muqtada al-Sadr withdraw his militia from the besieged city. Sadr's fighters have suffered heavy casualties in recent clashes with U.S. forces. Hear NPR's Steve Inskeep and NPR's Peter Kenyon.

A new study shows that women who regularly take aspirin may be less likely to get breast cancer. The findings confirm previous research, but goes further by pinpointing why this common painkiller -- but not other painkillers -- has a beneficial effect. The study's results are in the latest Journal of the American Medical Association. NPR's Joe Palca reports.