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Ed Gordon discusses Wednesday's scheduled launch of the space shuttle Discovery with NASA's acting chief operating officer Frederick Gregory, a veteran of three shuttle flights and the first African-American shuttle commander. It is the first shuttle mission since February 2003, when the Columbia shuttle broke apart while re-entering Earth's atmosphere, killing all seven crew members.

Despite Washington's focus on the war in Ukraine, the White House is trying to demonstrate that it is stepping up in the Asia-Pacific.

Being made to stand in a blue box painted on the sidewalk in Orlando might not be your idea of fun. But city legislators are coming up with this and other tactics to deal with what is being called "aggressive panhandling." Robert Siegel talks with Maria Foscarinis of the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty about both sides of the legal questions surrounding panhandling, civil rights, and how cities trying to improve their image are dealing with the problem.

NPR's Adrian Florido talks with journalist Sulochana Ramiah about Sri Lanka's protests, which have turned violent. The country is in crisis, with power blackouts and food shortages.

If confirmed, Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito will become the fifth Roman Catholic currently serving on the high court. Noah Adams speaks with Slate columnist Will Saletan about what the predominance of Catholic justices says about the presidents who choose them, and the politics that lead to their nominations.

Commentator John McWhorter reflects on the 10 years since the Million Man March and comes to the conclusion that life for African-Americans hasn't changed much.

President Bush signed a sweeping energy bill into law Monday, and proponents say it should make the nation's electrical grid more reliable. But opponents contend the measure will make it easier for utility companies to play accounting games.

The eight winners of the nation's largest lottery prize speak to the public about their newfound wealth. The new millionaires all work the night shift at a Lincoln, Neb., meat-processing plant. Nebraska Public Radio's Sarah McCammon reports.

Danny Perasa died last week after fighting pancreatic cancer for months. Morning Edition first met Danny and his wife Annie two years ago when they interviewed each other for StoryCorps. Danny Perasa will be buried today. Steve Inskeep and Renee Montagne read from listeners' letters.

Turkey hosts the longest stretch of a new transnational pipeline that will carry oil from the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean. Construction is nearly a year behind schedule and financial disagreements over the project may cause further delays.