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Explosives teams move into southern Iraq, where nine of about a thousand oil wells are on fire. The teams check for booby-trapped wells, and one civilian company makes plans to import water to put out the fires. Hear NPR's Mike Shuster.

Investigators looking into the space shuttle Columbia accident say NASA workers made safety a top priority, but may have become so comfortable with successful missions that they didn't keep track of small issues that can turn deadly. NPR's Richard Harris reports.

Hip-hop culture, with its street rhythms and explicit lyrics, is more relevant in advancing civil rights today than the peaceful messages of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., author Todd Boyd says. In an interview with NPR's Scott Simon, Boyd says hip hop artists use language as a political weapon that provokes and "makes people think." (Note: Contains language that some may consider offensive.)

Deanna Witkowski draws on a variety of influences — from Chopin to Cole Porter to a relatively unknown Brazilian rhythm called baião. It's no wonder the pianist finds her music going in different directions — sometimes within the same song — as in her "Wide Open Window." Hear Liane Hansen's performance chat with Witkowski in NPR's Studio 4A.

The Bush administration condemns the assassination of a top commander of the Kurdish resistance in northern Iraq. A State Department spokesman says the United States had been working closely with Gen. Shawkat Haji Mushir. Mushir's death is blamed on a Kurdish Islamist movement with al Qaeda ties. NPR's Ivan Watson report.

In Baghdad, top U.N. weapons inspectors Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei say they see "the beginning of a change of heart on the part of Iraq." But they also express caution, and warn Iraq to take more steps to facilitate the inspection process. NPR's Anne Garrels reports from Baghdad.

Puzzle master Will Shortz quizzes one of our listeners, and has a challenge for everyone at home. (This week's winner is Andy Banta from Orangevale, California. He listens to Weekend Edition on member stations KXJZ and KXPR in Sacramento.) (6:45)

Sprint Corporation confirms its two top executives are leaving the company. The Wall Street Journal reports that CEO William Esrey and President Ronald LeMay were forced out in a boardroom dispute over their use of a tax shelter. Matt Hackworth of member station KCUR reports.

Host Bob Edwards talks with commentator John Feinstein about high school basketball superstar LeBron James. He was benched after accepting two free sports jerseys worth nearly $900. Yesterday, a judge in Ohio said the 18-year old can play again, but he must sit out a total of two games. James is expected to be the top overall pick in this year's NBA draft.

The Chinese New Year, a celebration that starts with the new moon and lasts for 15 days, begins this year on Feb. 1. NPR's Linda Wertheimer looks at a new children's book — Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats — that tells the stories behind this and three other major Chinese holidays. See illustrations from the book and try some recipes.