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The U.S. Forest Service cancels a Clinton administration policy that banned road building in nearly 60 million acres of national forests. The agency also sets out a new policy that will give governors a say in what happens in these areas. Critics say they will fight the change, which they say opens pristine wilderness to commercial interests.

After two straight presidential elections marked by disputes over the voting process, a bipartisan commission examining the issue hears testimony about continuing voter suspicion and limited funds. Former President Jimmy Carter and Secretary of State James Baker III head the panel.

The Energy Bill passed by the House Thursday includes a controversial provision that would exempt an increasingly popular drilling technique called hydraulic fracturing from regulation under the Clean Drinking Water Act. Opponents of the exemption say the technique has been known to contaminate drinking water.

Social Security trustees say the nation's retirement program will exhaust its assets in 2041, a year earlier than previously estimated. They also moved up by a year the point when Social Security outlays will begin to exceed revenues from the payroll tax.

Insurgent violence in Iraq has escalated again, with more than 100 deaths last week -- most recently, a pair of bombings in Iraq that killed at least 20 people. Also, Iraqi officials reportedly move closer to forming a government. The BBC's Baghdad bureau chief Carolina Hawley details the latest attacks and political developments.

A new advocacy group has bought a full-page ad in Monday's editions of USA Today, criticizing America's largest retailer for destroying American jobs by purchasing most of its products from China. A watch group called Wal-Mart Watch launched the operation.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice calls on both Palestinian and Israeli leaders to make "hard decisions" to achieve peace in the region, where summit talks will take place Monday. Rice's visit to Israel is her first to the country in her new role. NPR's Linda Gradstein reports.

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) launches another drive for campaign finance reform. He's joined by others in congress who say they want to clamp down on political organizations known as 527s. The groups, which operate under section 527 of the tax code, elude Federal Election Commission limits on contributions and spending.

Fighting between U.S. forces and gunmen loyal to Muqtada al-Sadr continues despite a cease-fire deal between the radical cleric and an Iraqi delegation. The Iraqi interim government is demanding more concessions from Sadr than those originally negotiated. Hear NPR's Ivan Watson.

Ads accusing Sen. John Kerry of lying about his Vietnam War record -- an accusation that is unproved -- appear to be eroding Kerry's standing in polls of independent voters and veterans. Veterans supporting Kerry's version of events came forward over the weekend. Hear NPR's Juan Williams.