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Leadership elections in the House of Representatives produce a historic milestone as Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) becomes the first woman elected to lead either party in either chamber of Congress. NPR's Linda Wertheimer reports on the new House minority leader.

The Senate has the final word next week on the largest government reorganization in a half-century. The Homeland Security bill calls for a Cabinet-level department that, with a staff of 170,000, combines 22 existing agencies. NPR's Lynn Neary talks with foreign policy expert Ivo Daalder about how the restructuring will affect Americans.

Robert Siegel and Lynn Neary read some of this week's letters from listeners. Topics include the closing time of pubs in London, Victoria's Secret's lawsuit against Victor's Little Secret, and whether the well-being of the state of California or the state of Maine predicts the health of the nation. Send e-mail to atc@npr.org.

Lawyers for some of the nation's largest retailers say Visa and MasterCard illegally thwarted for years the growth of debit-card networks, The Wall Street Journal reports. The allegations stem from recently unsealed court documents from a class-action suit that includes Wal-Mart and Sears. NPR's Jim Zarroli reports.

Diane Orson reports lawyers in the trial of Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel are at odds over the prosecution's use of a dramatic multi-media display that looked like a TV news report. High-tech presentations are increasingly popular with some lawyers, but others see it as a dangerous trend.

Claire Marshall of the BBC reports on the cleanup efforts at the oil tanker spill off Spain's coast. The vessel spilled some of its 20 million gallons of fuel but most of it remains on board, now at the bottom of the sea.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg mounts a campaign against noise pollution, the top complaint on a police "quality of life" hotline. New Yorkers are annoyed by the racket from car horns and personal stereos -- and from loudspeakers coaxing people into bars and restaurants. NPR's Margot Adler reports.

In New York City, officials unveil plans for a new building at 7 World Trade Center. The building, across the street from where the twin towers stood, collapsed several hours after the Sept. 11 attacks. Andrea Bernstein reports.

NPR's Rachael Myrow reports on problems at one of the nation's largest hospital chains. Just a month ago, Tenet Healthcare was one of the stars of the medical-services industry, beloved by Wall Street. That was before the Medicare audit, the telephone calls from the SEC, the investigation of two company doctors in Redding, Calif., and the precipitous plunge in Tenet's stock price.

A New York City council committee strikes a blow for quieter cultural pursuits among the chattering classes.