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Over the past decade, the government has been paying farmers to keep their land covered with native grasses instead of crops. But as grain prices have risen, the conservation reserve has shrunk by more than 25 percent. This decline in native grasslands means more soil erosion and less habitat for wildlife.

Ke$ha's debut album has sold more than 150,000 copies in its first week. Here, the pop star talks about her success and tells the stories behind her songs.

Crews collected 4.6 million pounds of oily material from the Gulf Coast shoreline this year. Coastal residents are asking how long they'll be living with the effects of BP's 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Not to be outdone by its fellow Top 10 listmakers, KEXP presents its Top 11 debut albums of the year. Seattle's Fleet Foxes headlines a deep class of great rock, pop, disco, hip-hop, folk and electro-dance records.

Greece's prime minster is under pressure to resign. Occupy Oakland demonstrations turned chaotic overnight. The Wall Street Journal says administration planners are exploring a "faster Afghan handover."

For the first time, the U.S. government has officially named China as the world's leading source of economic espionage, largely using cybertools — followed by Russia. Intelligence officials say the new candor reflects their heightened level of concern over the growing espionage threat.

Leaders reached agreement to at least temporarily steady things in Europe. So far, markets are reacting well.

Also: Thatchers funeral set for April 17; Kerry and Netanyahu claim progress on Mideast peace; some Plains states getting b buried by spring snow; Louisville men win national basketball championship.

The former Libyan leader's body was taken to a secret location in the desert. In other news, The New York Times reports on the efforts of U.S. investigators to break Mexican drug cartels.

Also: Refugees race to escape fighting in Syria; Palestinians outraged by Romney's comments; grid failure cuts power to 370 million in India; McCain dismisses Cheney's criticism of Palin pick.

The "Saturday Night Live" star who perfected his impersonation of "President George W. Bush" and later took his presidential act to Broadway received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor — nation's top humor prize — Sunday night in Washington.

Fresh Air's music critic Ken Tucker's picks for the best music of 2009 include songs by Taylor Swift, Billy Currington and Michael Franti as well as albums by Loudon Wainwright III, the Fiery Furnaces, and Bob Dylan.