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NPR's Guy Raz reports from London that Britain's Conservative Party is having trouble challenging Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair. Since Blair moved into #10 Downing Street, the Tories have been stuck in the opposition. Political analysts credit Blair with co-opting Conservative issues and moving Labour toward the center.

Host Lynn Neary talks about the anti-abortion movement among college students with Molly Bowman, a junior at U.C. Berkeley and President of Berkeley Students for Life. She's also the director of the Bay Area chapter of the organization.

New census figures show the number of Hispanics as very close to the number of blacks in the United States. Depending on how the figures are tallied, the number of Hispanics may be seen as having surpassed the number of blacks. Host Robert Siegel talks with John R. Logan about the numbers and the implications of the changing proportion of minority groups in America. Logan is Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Director of the Mumford Center, State University of New York, Albany.

The Securities and Exchange Commission approves new rules to assure that accounting firms maintain independence from companies they audit. The rules stem from legislation Congress passed last summer in the wake of accounting scandals at companies such as Enron and WorldCom. Critics say the new regulations aren't as strict as they should be. NPR's Jim Zarroli reports.

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments today on a Maine law that uses drug company sales to Medicaid to help pay for other medical programs.

Joel Rose of member station WHYY reports poet Amiri Baraka may see his honorary title of New Jersey's Poet Laureate eliminated by the state's legislature today, for one of his works some say is Anti-Semitic. Baraka's poem, "Somebody Blew Up America," includes reference to a conspiracy theory that Israel knew about the Sept. 11 attacks in advance.

Thousands demonstrate in the bitter cold in Washington -- some against abortion, others in favor of abortion rights -- on the 30th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court ruling that made abortion legal in the United States. NPR's Jacki Northam reports.

Public housing authorities are being hard hit by strains on state budgets. Now, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development warns local governments that less funding is in the pipeline to local housing authorities. It's unclear how much funding will be cut. NPR's Janet Babin reports.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews The Headphone Masterpiece, the new CD by singer/songwriter Cody Chesnutt.

Trombone star Fred Wesley, Jr. is best known for his work as a sideman with James Brown in the 1960s and 70s, but Wesley is also a legendary R&B, soul and funk veteran, whose musical career spans five decades. NPR's Steve Inskeep talks with Wesley about the twists and turns of a long and storied career, which he explores in an autobiography called Hit Me, Fred, and subtitled "Recollections of a Sideman."