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Author John Nichols has died at the age of 83. Many of his works of fiction are set in New Mexico, where he lived.

Long a standout purveyor of rootsy, direct "heartland" rock, Mellencamp is in the midst of a folksy, pessimistic streak on his new album. He speaks to host Terry Gross about the spare sound and dark themes of Life, Death, Love and Freedom.

While working at a blueprint shop in Charleston, South Carolina, a customer brought in some Confederate money to order a blowup. The imagery shocked Jones. The money showed slaves. Jones began to collect the brown and gray money with slaves picking cotton, corn and tobacco and loading barrels cheerfully. He then created large scale full color paintings based on the images. The art is now on display at America's Black Holocaust Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

It has been noted that many of history's notorious assassins had three names: John Wilkes Booth, Lee Harvey Oswald, Mark David Chapman. It turns out that many other famous people with three names have committed far lesser (but still disturbing) acts, like popularizing the mullet or basically inventing cat videos. Guess the celebrities as host Ophira Eisenberg leads this game.

That's the title of a new CD from CRI Records, a label noted for serious releases of contemporary classical music. Is this a marketing ploy or is there a gay aesthetic that informs the work of these composers...something that can be captured or anthologized on disc? Dean Olsher talks to two of those represented on the CD: David Del Tredici (dell-TREH-dih-chee) and Ned Rorem who take different views on the merits of this project, a la "Point Counterpoint." John Corigliano (koh-RIG-lee-AH-noh), one of the most in-demand classical composers working today, was originally supposed to take part, but he withdrew after he saw the suggestive cover art. (8:00) (IN S

Prosecutors in Northern Virginia ask a juvenile court to rule that John Lee Malvo, 17, should be tried as an adult for the murder of FBI employee Linda Franklin. Malvo is one of two suspects in sniper-style shootings -- most in the Washington, D.C. area -- that left 13 people dead. NPR's Brian Naylor reports.

Convicted sniper Lee Boyd Malvo is cross-examined by his former partner and mentor John Allen Muhammad, who is on trial in Maryland on six murder charges. Malvo discussed his role in the sniper shootings that terrorized the Washington, D.C., area four years ago. Muhammad is acting as his own attorney.

The former Jacqueline Lee Bouvier's wedding to John F. Kennedy on September 12, 1953 was among the most photographed events in history. The future First Lady's dress, seen around the world, was the work of famed African-American designer Ann Lowe. Rosemary Reed Miller, talks about her book, which chronicles the contribution of black designers to American fashion.

Noah talks to author John Crellin about Arthur Lee "Tommie" Bass a legendary herbalist, who died last week at age 88. Bass explored the powers of over 300 herbs to ease pain. He lived in the mountains of Alabama, but his fame spread farther. Bass treated the people of Cherokee County for free. Crellin edited "Plain Southern Eating: From the Reminiscences of A.L. Tommie Bass, Herbalist." Crellin says the traditional salves gave way to health store pills over the years.

Officials say Jerry Chun Shing Lee received more than $840,000 from Chinese officials in exchange for U.S. secrets. His Chinese handlers said they would "take care of him for life."

The new Netflix comedy special focuses almost entirely on stories about a guy who acts like a foolish, self-destructive doofus: John Mulaney as he entered rehab.

The co-founder of the Monty Python troupe admits he wasn't "naturally gifted" at physical comedy. His memoir, So, Anyway..., covers his boyhood and early career. Originally broadcast Dec. 16, 2014.

John Updike has died after a battle with lung cancer. He was 76. Updike was born in Shillington, Pa., which became the model for his fictional town of Ollinger. In 1955, he joined the staff of the New Yorker and saw his first novel, The Poorhouse Fair, published four years later.

It's remarkable that an accomplished legislator like Dingell, a Michigan Democrat who is the longest serving member of Congress in history, stayed so long into an era of congressional dysfunction.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews Beneath This Gruff Exterior, the new album by John Hiatt and a new John Hiatt tribute album, The Songs of John Hiatt.

Hong Kong's chief executive has created an independent committee to investigate the causes of a deadly apartment blaze, as political pressure and popular frustration mount.

A historical marker on Maryland's Eastern Shore contains errors about the story of Harriet Tubman, who grew up nearby. Some locals want to fix it, but others think it's fine how it is.

Composer John Adams, who has composed operas about communism and terrorism, believes that "if opera is actually going to be a part of our lives... it has to deal with contemporary topics." is latest work is about the first test of a nuclear weapon. John Adams talks about his opera, Dr. Atomic.

County leaders are optimistic that ridership will increase in the coming years.