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The Federal Reserve has cut a key interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point, seeking to stem the flow of bad news surrounding the U.S. economy. The action pushes the federal funds rate down to 2 percent — the lowest level since late 2004.

Consumer advocate Ralph Nader announces that he will run for president. Nader, who ran for president in 2000 on the Green Party ticket, said on NBC's Meet the Press that he plans to run as an independent. Hear NPR's Liane Hansen and NPR's Mara Liasson.

Making it the biggest safety recall in computer industry history, Dell is recalling more than four million laptop batteries. The company says that overheating can cause the Sony batteries it uses to catch fire.

Most Americans are more likely to use credit cards, online banking or even mobile phones to pay the bills, but one check company is hoping to breathe a little life into the ledger.

Voters are participating Tuesday in primary elections in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia — they're being called the "Potomac Primaries." Better-than-average turnout is expected in Virginia and Maryland, with waits of up to 45 minutes in some areas.

Merck agrees to pay nearly $5 billion to settle lawsuits from consumers contending the painkiller Vioxx caused heart attacks and strokes. The safety problems of Vioxx and the withdrawal of Vioxx from the market was a watershed event in regulating prescription drugs in the U.S.

Iran is threatening to use trade and oil supplies as weapons against countries that voted against Tehran at a recent meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The IAEA approved a resolution referring Iran's suspect nuclear program to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions.

Apple growers in New England are looking to hard cider as a way to beat dropping prices and foreign competition. The fermented cider was the drink of choice for the nation's founding fathers.

Correspondent Philip Reeves completes his journey along the Indian stretch of the Grand Trunk Road. On the way, he goes to Amritsar and visits the Golden Temple, the holiest shrine of the Sikh religion. And then it's on to Wagah, the border with Pakistan. NPR's series continues on the road in Pakistan.

The Supreme Court rules that wine buyers can purchase directly from wineries in other states. The court struck down a ban on interstate shipment of wine, calling it discriminatory and anti-competitive. Richard Cartiere, editor of the Wine Market Report newsletter, discusses how the decision will affect wine buying.