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NPR's Brian Naylor reports on the move by Republicans in the House to authorize the building of a monument to former president Ronald Reagan on the National Mall in Washington. It has already passed the House Resources Committee and is on the way to a full floor vote before Congress adjourns next month. Democrats say the move is less about honoring Reagan than it is about injecting him into the current presidential campaign. The move, if it passes, would circumvent a law that says no one can be honored with a memorial in the nation's capital until 25 years after the person's death.

The Japanese have worked hard for the last 50 years to build their economy into one of the most dominant in the world. But now that they have earned that status, they would like to have some fun with their money. NPR's Julie McCarthy reports that theme parks are a favorite destination for Japanese travellers. In Japan, the original park, Tokyo Disneyland, has been joined by a multitude of others... one run by video-game giant Sega, another featuring miniature models of famous world landmarks, and another with virtual reality rides.

A plan to build a new satellite-based communications network that would provide wireless internet service around the globe received a boost yesterday. Boeing has announced that it will be the lead contractor on Teledesic Corporation's $9 billion plan to put a network of low-orbit satellites in space. But Teledisic may find the skies crowded by the time it gets there. There are at least three similar projects already in the works. Teledesic, is owned by Bill Gates and cellular phone billionaire, Craig McCaw. NPR's Wendy Kaufman reports.

The United States lost nearly one million manufacturing jobs in 2002, but the foreign-car industry continues to grow. Foreign automakers work to build or expand a half-dozen U.S. plants primarily in the Deep South, where the cost of labor is relatively low. NPR's Adam Hochberg reports.

President Bush uses his State of the Union speech to build a case for war with Iraq, but also addresses economic revival and health care reform. He says Secretary of State Colin Powell will go to the U.N. Security Council on Feb. 5 to explain the U.S. position on Iraq. Hear NPR's Don Gonyea, Michael O'Hanlon of the Brookings Institution and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).

Violence also erupted elsewhere in the Middle East today. Israeli helicopter gunships launched attacks against Palestinian targets. Among the targets: the headquarters of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in Gaza City. Arafat was not injured. Israel says the attacks are in retaliation for the killing of Israeli soldiers. Three soldiers had made a wrong turn into Palestinian territory, and sought refuge at Palestinian police station. But a mob of hundreds of Palestinians surrounded the building, and beat at least two of the soldiers to death. Mike Shuster of NPR News talks to host Robert Siegel about the incidents.

LA-Z Boy and Microsoft have come together to produce a product perfect for the Web-surfing couch potato in your home. It's a recliner they call The Explorer. It was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas yesterday. The chair's arm contains a wireless modem and a 110 volt outlet, and comes with a build-in keyboard. Robert talks with Don Willmott, technology editor for Yahoo Internet Life about it.

NPR's Gerry Hadden reports Mexico's President Vicente Fox has proposed an ambitious plan for economic development in the south of Mexico. NAFTA -- the North American Free Trade Agreement -- has so-far only benefited the northern part of the country. In the south, Fox has proposed building a trade corridor to attract factories and investment. But workers in the south are worried about being exploited. And Zapatista Indians say the plan will disrupt their way of life.

The state of California is waging a bitter battle against power generators that sell electricity to the state. Two lawmakers have filed lawsuits against five of the companies, accusing them of price gouging. Meanwhile, Gov. Gray Davis is preparing for a showdown with power generators next week. But representatives of the power producers say the aggressive tactics may backfire and discourage investors from building needed power plants in California. NPR's Elaine Korry reports.

The Senate has now spent five days debating a bill designed to reduce the flow of money into federal election campaigns. The bill would outlaw so-called "soft money" contributions, large amounts of unregulated cash that go not to candidates but to the political parties. So far, the amendments that might have crippled the bill have been turned back. And although the bill has been turned back repeatedly in the past, this spring it seems to be building momentum. NPR's Peter Overby reports.