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NPR's Ina Jaffe reports in Los Angeles, the police department dominated local news this week. Yesterday, the city council voted to place the LAPD under the eye of a federal monitor - to address allegations of civil rights abuses. And last weekend's fatal shooting of an actor at a Halloween party by an LAPD officer has renewed questions over police training and use of force - and sparked several investigations.

As the Republican National Convention begins near ground zero, its message will promote President Bush as a strong leader in the war on terrorism. Despite the GOP's conservative platform, featured speaking slots will be filled by the party's more moderate voices. Hear NPR's Juan Williams.

Senate hopeful Barack Obama stirs the crowd at the Democratic Convention with stories of equality and hope in America. Obama, an Illinois candidate for Senate and a rising star in his party, turned to his own history in making his most powerful points.

India's ruling Congress Party is led by an unlikely pair. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is a former finance minister and a reclusive workaholic, while Italian-born Sonia Gandhi, widow of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, is considered the real power. Despite skepticism when they took office, Singh and Gandhi have proven effective leaders.

Author Frederick Clarkson wrote the book Eternal Hostility: The Struggle Between Theocracy And Democracy, on the growing religious movement to influence government. Clarkson has written articles on the religious right's plans to take over the Republican Party, and how elements of the right encouraged citizen militias.

U.S. forces in central Iraq continue their sweep to round up Baath Party loyalists and curb a recent spate of deadly attacks on American troops. Troops conduct raids in more than 20 towns, detain at least 60 men and confiscate hundreds of weapons as part of Operation Sidewinder. Hear NPR's Guy Raz.

Sen. Bob Graham (D-FL) is seeking his party's presidential nomination. On paper, he appears to be an ideal candidate, with eight years experience as governor and 17 as senator, with vast experience in intelligence and national security issues. While popular in a critical state, he is in single digits in the polls. NPR's Political Correspondent Mara Liasson follows Sen. Graham on a campaign swing in New Hampshire.

NPR's Melissa Block talks with Mark Kohan, editor in chief of the Polish-American Journal, about the Polish holiday of Smigus Dyngus -- better known as Dyngus Day or Wet Monday. On this day in Polish tradition, boys soak girls with water on the day after Easter. The tradition lives on among Polish-Americans, especially in Buffalo, N.Y., where dozens of parties, complete with polka music and squirt guns, are scheduled today.

On the streets of New York in the 1970s and '80s, kids from the Bronx were spinning on their heads and backs, doing acrobatic flips and rocking to hip-hop beats. What began as a competition of skills at house parties and street jams soon became a pop culture phenomenon. NPR's Mandalit del Barco explores the origins of breakdancing as part of the Present at the Creation series.

In the latest sign of friction between President Bush and members of his party in Congress, a Republican-dominated committee votes to block the Dubai Ports World deal. The move by a House panel puts Congress on a collision course with the president, who has threatened a veto.