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The nation's oldest civil rights organization holds its annual convention in Houston this week. As in any election season, the group is putting energy into voting rights and voter turnout. But this year, the dramatically high rate of unemployment rate among African-Americans is also a key concern.

Former FBI Director Louis Freeh has released his report on an investigation into how Penn State University dealt with allegations of sexual abuse by former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky. The report says the safety and welfare of child sex abuse victims were disregarded. Last month, Sadusky was found guilty of 45 counts of child sexual abuse.

A scientific journal has finally published the details of how to make mutant forms of bird flu. These viruses were created last year by a lab that's trying to stay ahead of a possible flu pandemic, so that the world can get ready. But the work is highly controversial. The government is grappling with how to manage the risks of this kind of research without blocking scientific progress.

With the euro-crisis well into its third year, the leaders of the four major eurozone countries tried once again in Rome to reach agreement on how to salvage the single currency. For the first time, the focus shifted away from austerity to growth and job creation. But as NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports, agreement was not reached on how to end the sovereign debt crisis.

The mortgage giant sought to buy influence in Washington with discounts given to lawmakers and their aides, a new House report concludes. It also says Countrywide may have "skirted the federal bribery statute."

During Libya's uprising last year, hundreds of thousands of foreign workers fled the violence. But now, many are making the trek back across Africa's Sahel region seeking better job opportunities than they can find at home. Marine Olivesi reports from one town in Ghana that has seen thousands make the long trip.

Documents suggest Mitt Romney was chief executive at Bain Capital for longer than he has said. That's significant — but only to a point.

At the annual National Governors Association meeting, health care is a hot agenda item. State leaders are at odds with one another over the Affordable Care Act, and some who oppose the law won't yet say whether they'll use federal funds to expand Medicaid programs.

Kaiser Permanente is often cited as an example of a health maintenance organization that keeps costs reined in. In fact, portions of the Affordable Care Act were crafted with the Kaiser model in mind. But critics say the price gap between Kaiser and other insurance companies has narrowed, and the reasons are unclear.

Steve Inskeep talks to Neil MacFarquhar of the New York Times about the bombing in Damascus on Wednesday that reportedly killed the Syrian defense minister and other officials.