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Alcalá de Henares is re-evaluating the status of hundreds of church holdings that have been exempt from paying property tax for hundreds of years.

Compared to the many war-ravaged parts of Syria, the capital Damascus is doing relatively well. But many families have taken in extra relatives and are feeling the psychological stress of too many people living under the same roof.

Vice President Joe Biden and Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan will hold their only debate Thursday night in Danville, Kentucky. Biden will be under pressure to shift the momentum back to the Democratic ticket. Ryan will be trying to keep it going in Mitt Romney's direction.

Mainers say the shrimp have a sweet and delicate flavor. But there won't be many of them to go around this year. The fishing season is short, the allowable catch is small and the number of shrimp in the Gulf of Maine has been dwindling for a while now.

The ongoing violence and tumult in Syria's largest city belie a richer, more prosperous past. One small object — a finely woven hat — offers evidence of life in a thriving cultural hub.

President Obama has announced most of his Cabinet picks for his second term, all of whom are familiar faces in Washington. But Sen. John Kerry, Sen. Chuck Hagel and Obama's White House chief of staff Jack Lew still must get through the Senate confirmation process. NPR's Scott Simon talks to NPR's Mara Liasson about the selections.

Dav Pilkey has just released his 10th Captain Underpants book. The series, packed with potty humor and goofy illustrations, delights reluctant readers and horrifies many grown-ups. Pilkey says he wanted to create books that would appeal even to readers who struggle, the way he did as a child.

A postwar drama wears its history lightly as it tap dances gingerly around actual events in the days after Japan's surrender ended World War II.

North Korean authorities cut off their "hotline" communication with South Korea on Monday as part of their announced withdrawal from the armistice agreement that ended the Korean War in 1953. The move came amid a flurry of bellicose North Korean threats, coinciding with the beginning today of joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises. The White House also vowed anew to protect U.S. forces and South Korean allies against any threats from the North. Analysts say it is among the most dangerous moments on the Korean peninsula in several years.

From Chris Christie to Jeb Bush, a slew of potential candidates for president have been getting attention. Most of them are speaking this week at the Conservative Political Action Conference, but a few pointedly were not asked.