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Danny talks with Stephen Ansolabehere, author of "Going Negative, How Political Advertisements Shrink and Polarize the Electorate" (The Free Press, Simon and Schuster). Ansolabehere says that contrary to popular belief, negative ads don't cause voters to change their minds. In fact, according to one study Ansolabehere and his colleagues completed, negative ads reenforce voters pre-existing political views, with one glaring exception, independents. In this case, Ansolabehere says, negative ads tend to make independents stay home and not vote at all and since independents tend to be the moderating force in elections, the fact that they are discouraged from voting by negative ads may be leading to the polarization of American politics.

Vojin Kusic says he heard his wife's complaints about wanting a varied view from the windows, which is why he built a house that can rotate 360 degrees at different speeds. It took six years to build.

Like many other cities, Philadelphia is dealing with a massive police corruption case. Six officers have already been convicted, but the most serious result of the case is the possibility that dozens of drug convictions could be overturned if the officers involved are convicted. NPR's Eric Westervelt, of member station WHYY, reports. CUTAWAY 1C 0:59 1D 8. TORNADOES -- Noah talks with Officer Richard Hardin of the Hillview Police Department in Hillview, Kentucky, where severe weather injured eight people and destroyed hundreds of homes outside Louisville. Officer Hardin was chased by a tornado yesterday, and tells about his experiences...and the damage left in the wake of the storms.

- Five years ago, the so-called "killer bee" arrived in the United States. So far, they are a problem in four states: Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and parts of southern California. Daniel talks with bee expert Anita Collins - at the U.S.D.A. bee lab in Beltsville, Maryland - about the threat killer bees pose to humans. Researchers refer to regular North American bees as "Europeanized" bees and the so-called killer bee as "Africanized." These Africanized bees are defensive and will not bother humans or animals unless their home is disturbed - it's then that they behave aggressively. Cold weather keeps Africanized bees out of most U.S. states.

NPR's Vicky O'Hara reports people of Chinese descent in the United States, both citizens and non-citizens, have been alarmed by the recent arrests of academics by Chinese authorities. At least six U.S. citizens have been taken into Chinese custody since December, and an unknown number of non-U.S. citizens. Some of those who were detained and released have signed statements promising to keep their ordeals secret. Specialists in sociology and mass communication seem especially vulnerable to arrest. Some Chinese in this country are canceling plans to visit relatives back home.

Elsa Desmond, who's also a doctor, started her own luge federation in Ireland. She leaves Beijing on Friday because she has to fly back home so she can work this weekend.

As part of his continuing series of stories on the challenges of getting by on a low-wage job in America, NPR's Noah Adams profiles Marzs Mata, a Detroit woman who doesn't have a car, can't afford to live near her job, and spends about five hours a day getting to and from work. Listen to other worker profiles, and see photos of the people profiled.

April has become the deadliest month for U.S. soldiers in Iraq since military operations began more than one year ago. One of those killed recently is Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Marcus Cherry. NPR's Mandalit del Barco reports.

The images show populated areas in the archipelago with heavily damaged or destroyed buildings and homes and at least one island covered with ash.

Bank of America Corp. agrees to buy Countrywide Financial for $4 billion, a deal that rescues the country's largest mortgage lender. It comes just months after Bank of America plugged $2 billion in Countrywide during the height of the summer's global credit crunch.