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The Space Shuttle Trust Fund, established for the children of the shuttle Challenger crew, will raise money for the children of the shuttle Columbia crew. (The Space Shuttle Children's Trust Fund, P.O. Box 34600, Washington, D.C. 20043-4600)

In their weekly political discussion, host Bob Edwards talks to NPR's Cokie Roberts about the shuttle Columbia tragedy and how it might affect other major issues facing the nation, including whether and when the United State might go to war against Iraq and the budget blueprint, which the White House releases today.

NPR's Larry Abramson reports on NASA's decision to appoint an independent commission to study the cause of the destruction of the space shuttle Columbia, on Saturday. Just hours after the disaster, NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe announced that Admiral Hal Gehman will head the commission, which is intended to provide a thorough and objective assessment. The precedent is the 1986 Rogers Commission, which investigated the Challenger disaster.

William Russo, who composed and arranged music for Stan Kenton, also wrote works performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic. He died recently at 74. Tony Sarabia of Chicago Public Radio offers an appreciation.

A 32-year-old Chicago man is in custody, accused of running a child prostitution ring in five Midwestern states. Authorities say he lured girls -- many of them runaways -- with offers of free jewelry, then held them hostage and made them perform sex acts. Shirley Jahad of Chicago Public Radio reports.

For many states, after school programs have proven to be a successful way to help poor and minority kids stay out of trouble, and learn. But cuts in state budgets mean cuts in education, and these programs are first in line for reduction. NPR's Nancy Solomon reports from Newark.

Fidel Castro, now 76, is the subject of Ann Louise Bardach's new book Cuba Confidential: Love and Vengeance in Miami and Havana. She believes rapprochement is near for Cubans and the stridently anti-Castro Cuban-American community in South Florida. Bardach speaks with NPR's Steve Inskeep and NPR's Tom Gjelten.

News that airlines are testing the idea of selling in-flight meals to passengers sparks a fresh debate on the quality of airline food. Hear from NPR's Scott Simon and celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck.

Giuseppe Verdi's opera Il Trovatore, which premiered 150 years ago this weekend in Rome. It remains one of the most romantic and popular operas of all time. NPR's Scott Simon talks to Philadelphia Inquirer music critic David Patrick Stearns.

NPR's Steve Inskeep has a brief rundown of other stories in the news this weekend.