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A powerful North Carolina state lawmaker is in a legal fight with his former business partners in the hemp industry. Rep. John Bell’s district includes Goldsboro in eastern North Carolina. Those former business partners are accusing him of threatening to use his “power and influence” to jail them. The fight provides a rare peek into the highly competitive hemp industry and the politics that accompany it. For more, I'm joined now by Jeffrey Billman, who wrote about it for the Assembly.

This week on Alt.Latino we tune into the sounds of Spanish language music, from Chile to Mexico, Uruguay to Colombia.

Lisa visits the Public Theater in New York for a rehearsal of Top Dog/Underdog a new play by Suzan-Lori Parks. The play features two guys named Lincoln and Booth who live in a claustrophobic New York apartment. It's directed by George C. Wolfe, and stars Jeffrey Wright and Don Cheadle.

Jobless claims hit 6.6 million in today's report, doubling the grim milestone reached last week. The numbers are released weekly by the U.S. Department of Labor.

The list of the Top Ten jury verdicts of 2000 is out. The annual list is compiled by Lawyers Weekly USA. The suits range from class-action type suits against drug dealers to inheritance disputes. Robert talks with Tom Harrison, the publisher of Lawyers Weekly USA, about some of the jury verdicts and how much was awarded. (4:30) Find out more at: www.LawyersWeeklyUSA.com .

Also: Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil didn't see his shadow, forecasting an early spring; President Obama will meet GOP Congressional leaders today; and blizzard conditions are hitting the central U.S.

Also: Dutch investigators think a Russian missile downed a Malaysian jet last year; Iranian lawmakers approve the nuclear accord with six world powers; and Playboy won't publish nude photos. anymore.

Also: The Oklahoma Supreme Court puts a hold on two abortion laws; a car drives into a crowd of pedestrians in East Jerusalem; and Sotheby's auctions a Van Gogh and other works for millions.

Also: President Obama will propose paid sick leave for workers; Duke University will sound the Muslim call to prayer on Fridays; and the Oscar nominations are announced today.

Also: Deadly flooding in Texas kills several people; North Korea again fails to launch a missile; and the Golden State Warriors will meet the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA finals (again).

Also: U.S. aircraft help to search for Nigerian girls; rail workers face charges for the deadly train explosion in Quebec; and the artist who created the frightening "Alien" for the films, dies.

The pie with the biggest difference between state and national results was sweet potato.

In honor of the band's 40th anniversary, as well as a deluxe reissue of Los Lobos' 1992 classic Kiko, members Louie Perez and Steve Berlin visit Alt.Latino to share current favorites and the music of their youth.

Notes from an unamplified double bass rank among the most beautiful man-made sounds; in jazz, the creator of those notes is always in the middle of the action, charting the harmonic direction of a band and plotting the rhythmic narrative as both an accompanist and a soloist. It's no small task, but here are five musicians who performed the duty with aplomb.

Can the Iowa sensation finally win a ring? Will UConn repeat? Who could be this year's Cinderella? With March Madness around the corner, here's a preview of what to watch for on Selection Sunday.

The Obama administration recently filed a complaint against China with the World Trade Organization. Meanwhile the two campaigns are having an ad war in Ohio over Chinese trade. Part of the reason is that Ohio's manufacturing industry — especially for autos — is firing on all cylinders.

Tony Nominations for the annual Broadway Tony Awards were announced today. The musical "Rent" sweep the field with 10 mentions, including Best Actor for two of its stars, Best Director, Berst book and Best Score and Best Musical. (1:30) (IN S

Stephen Thompson looks at the biggest songs and albums of the week, and digs into the stories and trends beyond the Top 10.

"The enormity of the multiple leadership failures both in leading up to the insurrection, and in the Department's response to it, have convinced us there is no other choice," the union head says.

Also: Airline prices are rising even though jet fuel costs are falling; the GOP presidential candidates debate in Houston tonight; and Greece is angry that it wasn't invited to a summit on migrants.