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New research shows that fish, birds and mammals in New England have significant amounts of mercury in their bodies. The reports find the toxic metal in some unexpected places -- such as mountaintops, in rare birds that live there. The findings suggest that power plants in the Midwest are a major source of mercury for the Northeast.

The Government Accountability Office says dozens of people whose names are on terrorism watch lists were able to buy guns in the U.S. legally last year. Gun control supporters say the report underscores the need to tighten requirements for gun purchases.

Iraq's Interim Prime Minister, Iyad Allawi, says he's given the order for U.S. and Iraqi forces to launch an offensive on Fallujah. Marines have seized control of two strategic bridges and a hospital in the first stage of the long-anticipated invasion of the city. Hear NPR's Anne Garrels and NPR's Renee Montagne.

Critics at home and abroad suggest the U.S. failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq signifies a failure of pre-war intelligence. U.S. and British lawmakers call for investigations into whether intelligence findings about possible illegal weapons in Iraq were exaggerated to justify going to war. Hear Dana Priest of The Washington Post.

Police, investigating the theft of the 7-foot-tall metal lawn ornament, say it has a rusty brown color with various sharp edges to resemble the fur of sasquatch.

Once again, the old cliche "politics makes strange bedfellows" is proving itself true: The liberal advocacy group Moveon.org is fighting on the same side as the Christian Coalition. That may be the most headline-catching part of an issue with a notably dull name: Network Neutrality.

NASA tells space shuttle Discovery's astronauts Thursday that a spacewalk to repair a torn thermal blanket will not be necessary. Mission Control told the crew of seven that the shuttle will be safe for re-entry.

The Senate votes 56 to 43 to confirm California Judge Janice Rogers Brown to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. All Republicans in the Senate supported Brown, while all but one Democrat opposed her nomination. Her nomination was brought up for a vote as part of a deal to retain the right of filibuster in the Senate.

Russian President Vladimir Putin admits making mistakes in his policy on Chechnya, and suggests he'd be willing to give the breakaway republic much greater autonomy. But he rejects criticisms that he should have negotiated with rebels in last week's deadly school siege. Hear NPR's Steve Inskeep and Fiona Hill of the Brookings Institution.

Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry sharply critiques President Bush's policy in Iraq, listing costs and priorities that he says are out of touch with the goals of Americans. Kerry also said the administration has failed to do enough to bring in allies or plan for the peace. NPR's Greg Allen reports.