There's broad agreement among economists that a new tax system should have few loopholes and relatively low tax rates. But that's where the consensus ends. Rewriting the tax code in Washington is tricky, and as one tax expert put it, right now there is no politically feasible fix.

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If you haven't heard of House Minority Leader John Boehner before, President Barack Obama is trying to change that. The Ohio Republican could take over the speakership if the GOP succeeds in winning a majority of House seats this November. Between now and then, Democrats will paint a scary picture of Boehner.

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Melissa Block talks with Scott Vreeland, a Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board commissioner, about the removal of debris from the I-35 bridge from city parkland. Thirteen people were killed and one hundred forty-five were injured when the bridge over the Mississippi River collapsed in 2007. Vreeland hopes that with the removal of the wreckage, the park can open to the public again.

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On Monday, the ousted chief executive of Hewlett-Packard was named co-president of rival Oracle. Mark Hurd, who helped revive a struggling HP, was forced out earlier this year after a scandal involving expense reports and a female contractor. On Tuesday, HP sued to prevent Hurd's move to Oracle, arguing he could reveal trade secrets. Melissa Block talks with Wall Street Journal reporter Ben Worthen about the case.

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Melissa Block speaks with Blaine Leonard, president of the American Society of Civil Engineers, about the state of our nation's infrastructure. The ASCE issues infrastructure report cards. In its most recent -- in 2009 -- it gave the nation's infrastructure a D.

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Two bits of relatively good economic news came out Thursday: The nation's trade deficit declined in July, and the number of people applying for unemployment benefits also fell. But analysts warn against reading too much into either number. The trade deficit bounces around a lot, and unemployment claims remain high.

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New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg made improving the city's public schools one of the guiding themes of his administration. He overhauled the management structure and invested more money in education. Soon he was boasting of impressive gains on state exams. But that progress appeared to vanish this year when the state raised its standards and made the tests much harder. Now many wonder if Bloomberg's gains were real.

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The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has temporarily lifted the temporary injunction on federal funding for stem cell research. Melissa Block talks with NPR's Julie Rovner about what the decision means and the next steps in the battle over stem cells.

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A new series will explore New Jersey's Passaic River. The river was the springboard for the country's early efforts to manufacture goods and become economically independent from Europe. As a result, the river was overused, polluted and later chemically poisoned. Yet parts of it are stunning -- including the second largest waterfall in the east after Niagara Falls. Melissa Block asks listeners to send in their stories and photos of the Passaic.

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Listeners take issue with an interview Robert Siegel did with Arizona Republican Steve May. May has recruited a number of people to run on the Green Party ticket in his state. A lawyer for the Democratic Party in Arizona termed his role in this as a cynical manipulation of the democratic process. Listeners complained about May's use of the term "Democrat Party" rather than "Democratic Party," and May himself responds.

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Melissa Block talks with NPR's Greg Allen about the latest developments on whether a tiny church in Gainesville, Fla., will go ahead with plans to burn Qurans on Saturday, the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

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Has media coverage of the planned burning of Qurans by the Rev. Terry Jones and his tiny Florida congregation given this provocative event too big a stage? Or has the coverage been reasonably proportioned in view of the larger controversy over a proposed Islamic center in New York City? Melissa Block talks with NPR's David Folkenflik about coverage of the event.

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The Purple Heart is the most powerful symbol that a soldier has sacrificed for his or her country. For generations, the military has awarded Purple Hearts to soldiers wounded in action. But an investigation by NPR and ProPublica has found that Army commanders routinely deny Purple Hearts to soldiers who've suffered concussions from explosions -- even though Army regulations say they merit the award. Four soldiers have struggled to get Purple Hearts -- and medical help.

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Doctors can easily tell whether a child's body is growing normally. But they have a much harder time assessing the brain. Now, using a new type of MRI scan, they can more accurately determine a child's "brain age" and help identify children with developmental problems.

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This summer, the International Bluegrass Museum's annual ROMP Festival hosted a reunion for 29 members of the legendary band. Many consider Monroe to be the "father of bluegrass," and his band included some of the best bluegrass musicians in the world.

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The last thing a grad student needs is another reading list, but don't worry -- this one will help. Author Adam Ruben recommends three titles that will help you get through the languorous slog of post-baccalaureate education.

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Melissa Block speaks with Washington Post reporter Rajiv Chandrasekaran about Afghan President Hamid Karzai's intention to limit international involvement in anti-corruption investigations. The move could interfere with U.S. efforts to combat graft within the Afghan government.

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Fourteen federal departments and agencies, 34 states and more than 200 local governments now encourage or require LEED certification. But a New York apartment building owner says the green-building certification is awarded before energy savings are proved.

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For years, trombone player Scott Bean had a cough that wouldn't quit. A doctor later figured out that mold and bacteria living in his trombone caused him to develop a condition that's being called "trombone players' lung."

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In Baghdad's version of the show, notable figures are caught on hidden cameras at a security checkpoint and accused of carrying a bomb. The soldiers, the driver and the TV host are all in on the joke. The show is popular, but Iraqi officials aren't amused.

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