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NPR's Jim Zarroli visited a town in southwest Wisconsin where downtown merchants have found a way to compete with the local Wal-Mart. Many store owners say they can coexist because they offer an expertise not easily found in the larger retail chains.

Two years ago, a TV picture-tube plant moved from Scranton, Pa., to Mexico and left nearly 2,000 people without jobs. Many of the town's residents are still struggling to find jobs. In the second of this three-part series, NPR's John Ydstie reports on three former plant employees.

Many news editorials are calling on Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to resign over hard evidence that American soldiers have been mistreating Iraqi prisoners. Host Scott Simon talks to Bill Emmott, editor of The Economist, the British weekly, about accountability, and why he believes the Rumsfeld should step down.

The latest polls in Wisconsin show Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts with a commanding lead heading into Tuesday's primary. But many voters say their votes are still up for grabs, and the airwaves are full of commercials for Kerry, Howard Dean and John Edwards. NPR's John McChesney reports.

NPR's Eric Westervelt in Baghdad reports on reaction among Iraqis to the beheading of American businessman Nicholas Berg. A video of the beheading by masked militants was carried on some Arabic language satellite television networks. Many Iraqis say they were horrified by the act, which they called "un-Islamic."

NPR's Robert Siegel talks with Maggie Balistreri, author of the The Evasion English Dictionary. The book describes the use of language to evade speaking directly. Balistreri defines the many subtly different ways Americans pepper our speech with euphemisms and oblique references.

For many years, arts advocates have argued for the link between well-funded museums, theaters and other arts outlets and the health of local economies. They tout the impact that the arts can have on cultural tourism and urban revitalization. But a new study from the RAND Corp. questions these assertions.

NPR's Susan Stamberg reflects on the career of actor Marlon Brando. The Oscar-winning star of The Godfather, A Streetcar Named Desire, Last Tango in Paris and many other films died Friday at age 80.

Music critic Chris Nickson has a review of the new "best-of" collection from the Ukranians. The band is best known for its quirky covers -- many of which are on Istoriya: The Best Of The Ukrainians. Nickson says their more traditional songs are worth hearing, as well.

NPR's Cheryl Corley reports on the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's search for a new musical director who doesn't mind the broad range of duties. Conductor Daniel Barenboim is leaving the job, saying it involved too many non-artistic demands.