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NPR's Guy Raz reports on the struggling image of Germany's conservative political party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Analysts claim the CDU lacks a definitive political identity, and consequently, much of the German population views it as "incompetent."

NPR's David Kestenbaum reports that millionaire and "space tourist" Dennis Tito will be allowed to visit the international space station.

NPR's Emily Harris reports that child safety advocates testified before a congressional committee yesterday that children between the ages of five and nine need additional seatbelt protection. They recommended that parents be required by law to install booster seats for children who are too big for infant car seats but not big enough to be protected by regular seat belts.

Host Bob Edwards talking with NPR's Debbie Elliot about a murder trial in Birmingham, Alabama, which began yesterday. Ku Klux Klansman Thomas Blanton Jr., is accused of a 1963 church bombing that killed 4 black girls.

NPR's Wendy Kaufman reports from Seattle that Puget Sound Energy in Washington State is requesting permission to introduce 'real time pricing' of electricity. The price of electricity would be based on the time of day it's used. Rates would be higher during peak hours in the morning and evening and lower during mid-day and late at night.

A North Carolina hospital has found the antidote to the stereotypical bad food in its cafeteria. It's letting a Wendy's restaurant set up shop there, much to the consternation of some worried about the health effects of fast food. Brent Wolfe of member station WUNC in Chapel Hill reports.

Anthony Kuhn reports China expressed "serious concern" about the just-announced U.S. arms sale to Taiwan, even though the package did not contain the Aegis destroyers. Beijing had said sale of the Aegis system would have caused a crisis. But China's relatively measured criticism may give way to harsher reactions when details of the arms package are fully known.

Sotheby's auction house has 151 items of Chinese propaganda art for sale from the era of Mao Tse-tung. (2:00) Sotheby's Web site.

Commentator Belle Waring says choosing a pet from an animal shelter can be a roll of the dice.

NPR's Nina Totenberg looks at two 5-4 decisions released by the Supreme Court today. One says police may arrest and jail someone for a minor offense, even when the punishment is no more than a fine. The case involved a woman whose car was pulled over because she and her children were not wearing seat belts. The other decision rejected a lawsuit by a woman who sued Alabama for not allowing her to take her driver's test in Spanish. The justices said the statute in question does not provide for an individual to sue a state for the type of discrimination she alleged.