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Eight months before the U.S. presidential election, likely voters are paying unusually close attention to the contest ahead, and they're polarized in their views, according to the latest NPR poll. The poll finds that if the election were held today, voters would be almost evenly split between President Bush and Sen. John Kerry. NPR's Mara Liasson reports.

Sen. John Kerry takes another step toward clinching the Democratic presidential nomination Tuesday with victories in Southern states. Kerry, who no longer faces substantial competition in his bid to oppose President George Bush, had campaigned heavily in Florida, a likely November battleground. Hear NPR's David Welna.

With his win in Tuesday's Illinois primary, Sen. John Kerry officially secures the Democratic presidential nomination. He now faces the tough task of defining himself clearly to voters, as attack ads from President Bush's re-election campaign portray Kerry as weak on national defense. Hear NPR's David Welna.

Iraqi negotiators work toward signing a revised interim constitution, with hopes of a ceremony Monday. Last week, just as the constitution was about to be signed, a number of Shiites on Iraq's Governing Council objected to some of the language in the document. Hear NPR's Liane Hansen and NPR's Ivan Watson.

Spanish police detain an Algerian in connection with last week's deadly terrorist bombings in Madrid. Police believe they have identified five Moroccans who took part in the attacks, but say other foreigners may have been involved. Officials are still investigating a possible link to al Qaeda. NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports. Hear NPR's Michele Norris and professor Jessica Stern.

The prices of cooking oil are rising. Why that could put global security at risk.

An explosion in the heart of Baghdad kills at least 25 people and leaves nearly 50 others wounded. The blast, which investigators say was the result of a 1,000-pound car bomb, left a huge crater outside the Mount Lebanon hotel, which was nearly destroyed by the blast. Hear NPR's Robert Siegel and NPR's Steve Inskeep.

Though Democrats don't have the votes to pass such a bill, the Senate majority leader insisted voting on it wouldn't be "an abstract exercise," putting every senator's stance on the record.

Four Southern states hold primaries this week, and Sen. John Kerry is making an all-out effort to have impressive victories in the South on his way to the nomination. The Democratic candidate made several jabs at President George Bush at a campaign rally in San Antonio, Texas. NPR's David Welna reports.

A new study finds that aggressively lowering cholesterol levels far below current recommendations can substantially reduce the risk of heart attacks and other heart disease. Experts say the results of the study, which looked at high-intensity treatment with drugs known as statins, are likely to alter heart disease treatment. Hear NPR's Renee Montagne and NPR's Richard Knox.