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New data suggests charter school students are lagging behind their peers at public schools. That deals a blow to President Bush's education reforms, which offer charter schools as an alternative to "failing" public schools. Hear NPR's Steve Inskeep, Frederick Hess of the American Enterprise Institute and Jack Jennings of the Center on Education Policy.

The Senate Armed Services Committee holds hearings on prison abuse at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison, leveling sharp criticism at the CIA. Army reports that the CIA brought dozens of "ghost" detainees to the prison led senators from both parties to call the practice "unacceptable." NPR's Mary Louise Kelly reports.

Less than two years after emerging from bankruptcy, US Airways once again seeks Chapter 11 protection from creditors. In its court filing, the carrier cited high fuel costs and failed cost-cutting negotiations from its labor unions, including pilots. NPR's Jack Speer reports.

The Senate Intelligence Committee confirms the nomination of retiring U.S. Rep. Porter Goss (R-FL) to head the CIA. Several Democrats vote against Goss, citing his past partisanship and saying he lacks independence in intelligence matters. The full Senate must still confirm Goss. Hear NPR's David Welna.

The U.S. military in Najaf gears up for a major assault on insurgents loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. U.S. forces say they intend to enter Najaf's old city, site of the shrine of the Imam Ali, one of the holiest sites in Shiite Islam. Hear NPR's Noah Adams and Alex Berenson of The New York Times.

The Justice Department asks a federal judge to throw out the terror convictions of a group of Detroit men who Attorney General John Ashcroft had portrayed as an al Qaeda sleeper cell. The department says its own prosecutors made enough mistakes to warrant a new trial, on charges of document fraud. NPR's Libby Lewis reports.

The Roman Catholic archdiocese of Portland, Ore., announces plans to file for bankruptcy. Archbishop John Vlazny said the church's action is a response to two sexual abuse lawsuits seeking more than $160 million. The archdiocese has already paid millions to settle other abuse claims. The bankruptcy is the first by a Catholic diocese in the United States. NPR's Barbara Bradley Hagerty reports.

The day the United States handed over sovereignty to Iraq's interim government, an Oregon National Guardsman witnessed Iraqi soldiers beating Iraqi prisoners. He and other guardsmen intervened, but were later ordered to return the prisoners to their Iraqi captors and walk away. NPR's Linda Wertheimer talks with Mike Francis, who reports on the incident in The Oregonian.

Sandy Berger, President Clinton's former national security advisor, faces an investigation for removing classified documents from the National Archives. Berger, who was reviewing the papers ahead of his testimony before the Sept. 11 commission, says he accidentally removed some notes but didn't violate any laws. Hear NPR's Larry Abramson.

Following a ceremony transferring sovereignty to Iraq two days ahead of schedule, Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi says the new Iraq will be a pluralist, federalist society. Allawi calls on Iraqis to fight insurgents and invites former Saddam Hussein loyalists to distance themselves from the insurgency and join the Iraqi army to fight terrorism. Hear NPR's Deborah Amos.