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The investigation into the space shuttle Columbia disaster starts with a focus on a piece of foam insulation that fell off the shuttle's fuel tank and hit its left wing during launch. Columbia broke apart upon re-entry Saturday, killing all seven astronauts aboard. NPR's Joe Palca reports on the first stages of the probe.

NASA administrator Mike Kostelnik says there was no reason to think that possible damage to the space shuttle Columbia on liftoff was reason for concern. Meanwhile, the agency expands the search for debris, establishing a second collection site in Texas. NPR's Debbie Elliott reports.

Critics have expressed growing concern over NASA's extensive use of outside contractors in its shuttle program. NPR's Howard Berkes talks to host Michele Norris about the program, and about whether the use of contractors may be considered a possible factor in Columbia's failure.

President Bush sends Congress a 2004 budget totaling $2.23 trillion, with the largest increases going to defense and homeland security. The budget assumes a new round of tax cuts, but doesn't account for a possible Iraq war. The proposal also includes the largest deficit in America's history -- more than $300 billion. NPR's Don Gonyea reports.

In state elections, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's Social Democrats suffer their worst defeat in more than 50 years. NPR's Emily Harris reports.

North Country Public Radio's Brian Mann talks with high school students in Syracuse, New York, who had a science experiment aboard the shuttle involving ants. Student experiments from six countries were on the craft.

The Space Shuttle Trust Fund, established for the children of the shuttle Challenger crew, will raise money for the children of the shuttle Columbia crew. (The Space Shuttle Children's Trust Fund, P.O. Box 34600, Washington, D.C. 20043-4600)

He reviews Crazy: The Demo Sessions (Sugar Hill records), a collection of songs Willie Nelson wrote and recorded between 1960 and 1966, hoping to sell them to the big stars of the country era.

Jazz percussionist Mongo Santamaria dies on Feb. 1 at 85. Santamaria scored a Top-10 hit with his version of Herbie Hancock's jazz-funk classic "Watermelon Man" in 1963. He also wrote the song "Afro Blue," later performed and made famous by John Coltrane. NPR's Elizabeth Blair has a remembrance.

Dan Keplinger was born with severe cerebral palsy. But at 30, he's already a successful artist, the subject of an Oscar-winning film, and he's finishing his second college degree. NPR's Neda Ulaby reports on the Baltimore, Md., artist's inspirational story. View a video clip from the documentary, and view examples of his art.