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There's an intriguing notion about the roots of rock 'n' roll nestled in this lackadaisical John Sayles opus, though it's pursued with more charm than energy. Smart performances from a strong cast can only go so far to make the slackly paced story sing.

The top military commander in Iraq releases more information on the operation that led to the killing of Saddam Hussein's sons, Uday and Qusay Hussein. Members of the former Iraqi regime identified the bodies, and dental records indicate a near-perfect match on both men. Lt. General Ricardo Sanchez also announces the capture of no. 11 on the U.S. most-wanted list in Iraq. NPR's Guy Raz reports.

In the weeks and months immediately after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, a working group of top military lawyers considered how to handle captured prisoners. Ret. Rear Admiral Donald Guter was the Judge Advocate General of the Navy at that time.

Chocolate Genius is the brainchild of Marc Anthony Thompson. The music is a mixture of R&B and jazz experimentation — all topped off with a lyrical style more commonly heard in indie singer-songwriters. His new release is Black Yankee Rock.

A top Palestinian official says he's hopeful that a "small window" of opportunity exists for peace with Israel in the wake of this month's cease-fire agreement. But Nabil Shaath, foreign minister for the Palestinian Authority, says Israel is moving too slowly on several issues.

Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay plans to give up his seat, one week after one of the Texas Republican's top aides pleaded guilty in the corruption investigation of lobbyist Jack Abramoff. In addition to a tough battle for re-election, DeLay is facing corruption charges in Texas.

Widely known for his chart-topping hit "Barely Breathing," Duncan Sheik traverses new ground with White Limousine. Among his most ambitious work to date, the album is innovative in both content and design.

This Sunday, two of the world's top solo explorers will attempt to do what no one has ever done: travel 620 miles on an unsupported mission to the North Pole in the total darkness of Arctic winter.

Apple Computers announces a new feature many thought would never happen: the ability to use Windows on a Macintosh. Apple, which now uses chips from Intel, a top provider for Windows-based machines, says its Boot Camp software allows users to install Microsoft Windows XP.

Drawing from influences such as The Beatles, David Bowie, Elvis Costello and Simon & Garfunkel, Willie Wisely creates a sound that he describes as "swing-alt-pop." An upright bass, arch-top guitars and trombone help drive his singular style.

Are we witnessing the birth of a commercial space flight industry? Day to Day technology contributor Xeni Jardin reports on Wednesday's launch of SpaceShipOne. The craft is the top competitor in the race for the Ansari X-prize, a global competition to build the first viable commercial spaceship. The winning team is set to receive a $10-million award.

In the 1990s, Bobby Valentino was part of the teen vocal group Mista. Now he's gone solo, with a self-titled CD and a single, "Slow Down," that's already topped the R&B charts. Ed Gordon talks with Valentino about his burgeoning career and his soulful influences.

With his band the Belmonts, singer-songwriter Dion rose to fame as a '60s teen idol, topping charts with hits like "The Wanderer" and "I Wonder Why." The latest album in his long career is Heroes: Giants Of Early Guitar Rock.

Oldham's new Beware sensitively explores new depths of human emotion through a swirl of guitars, vocals and fiddle. With his own brand of heartfelt and softly sung tunes, Oldham once again tops his previous work with an album that's almost frighteningly beautiful.

The New York Times names Bill Keller as executive editor, more than a month after the newspaper's top editors resigned following a plagiarism scandal. A former Times managing editor and Pulitzer Prize-winning foreign correspondent, Keller replaces Howell Raines, who resigned after former reporter Jayson Blair was found to have plagiarized and fabricated stories. Hear NPR's Rick Karr.

A British artist named Banksy has been able to sneak his work into some of New York's top museums over the past month. He tells Michele Norris what he does and why.

Store shelves these days are packed with products claiming to be "eco-friendly." But it's hard to know exactly what that means. An exhibition in New York tackles that question with the help of 10 top designers. The Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum — together with the Nature Conservancy — asked the designers to create surprising products out of renewable materials from 10 different areas in the world.

The legendary songwriting trio, Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Edward Holland wrote many early Motown hits, and helped turn the company into powerhouse. Their songs include "You Can't Hurry Love," "Reach Out I'll Be There," "Baby, I Need Your Loving," "Heat Wave," and "Stop! In the Name of Love." Their songs were recorded by Diana Ross and The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, the Four Tops, and Martha Reeves and The Vandellas. In 1990 they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

A top official at Iraq's foreign ministry is killed in Baghdad during an ambush by unknown gunmen. Bassam Kubba, who had been a career diplomat, is the first member of Iraq's new interim government to lose his life amid continuing violence and security problems. Hear NPR's Linda Wertheimer and NPR's Emily Harris.

A U.N. envoy meets with Iraq's top Shiite Muslim cleric, seeking to resolve the dispute over the cleric's call to elect a transitional assembly. U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi says he agrees with Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani's demand for elections but is unsure whether a vote could be held before a June 30 U.S. deadline for a power transfer. NPR's Deborah Amos reports.