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NPR's Jennifer Ludden in Jerusalem reports Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon is mulling over options for dealing with the escalating violence in the West Bank and Gaza. Israel's Labor Party today chose the man who is to be defense minister in Sharon's unity government -- 65-year-old Binyamin Ben-Eliezer. Ben-Eliezer said he would try to persuade Palestinians to return to the negotiating table. At the same time, he said Israel would not "sit quiet" in the face of continued Palestinian attacks. Sharon has vowed to improve security for Israelis, though has not detailed how.

NPR's Mike Shuster reports on Israel's settlements in the West Bank and Gaza. The settlements were a key issue at last summer's Camp David peace summit, and one of the major reasons for the summit's failure. The settlements have continued to grow since the Oslo peace process began in 1993. There are now an estimated 200-thousand Israelis living in the occupied territories, and the cost of defending them in the midst of the Palestinian uprising has prompted fresh debate in Israel about the wisdom of retaining the settlements.

While many musicians love the Crescent City, few choose to stay after they become successful. The New Orleans-raised Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews comes from a long line of brass-band greats, but is quickly coming into his own with a jazz-funk group — and plans to stay.

NPR's Linda Gradstein in Jerusalem reports there were sporadic clashes in the West Bank and Gaza today, the day after the Israeli and Palestinian leaders agreed to work toward ending the violence. But in a development that could re-ignite the unrest, Israel Radio reports security forces have arrested some of the Palestinians suspected of taking part in the mob killing of two Israeli soldiers in Ramallah last week.

A jury will begin deliberations in the case of former White House aide David Safavian, the first public official to face trial in connection with the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal. Safavian is accused of covering up his ties to the embattled lobbyist.

Reggie Smith, the self-proclaimed "King of Tubing," has spent the past 23 years perfecting the art of floating down a river on an inner tube. Reporter Melanie Peeples joins Smith to learn some of the finer points of inner tubing.

KALWSunrise in San Francisco: 7:02 a.m. Sunset: 5:46 p.m.Day Length: 10 hours, 43+1/2-minutesMoonrise: 8:07 a.m. Moonset: 8:48 p.m.Today is: Mardi Gras!…

Eddie McCoy is an unlikely historian. He grew up and has lived his whole life in Oxford, North Carolina -- a tobacco town of some 10,000 people. When he was injured in a car accident and couldn’t keep working, he found a tape recorder and started interviewing people. His work is a unique window on small town life in the South.

One day, musicologist John Work happened to record an obscure street singer's blues talent. Discovering that field recording leads commentator Bruce Nemerov to reflect on how the blues were marketed before World War II.

Eight years ago, Shannon Applegate inherited a five-acre cemetery dating back to the pioneer era in western Oregon. The experience has led the historian and writer to pen a book, Living Among Headstones.

It all started last November, when a relatively small lender, Own-It Mortgage Solutions, defaulted on its loans to JP Morgan Chase. Since then, more than 24 subprime lenders have folded, victims of rising default rates — but also of rising suspicions that the entire subprime market is teetering.

The 49ers cornerback ignited a maelstrom when he said gay players had no place on his team. Culliver and team later apologized for the comments.