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In the first of a four-part series, NPR's Howard Berkes reports on John Wesley Powell's vision for developing the western United States. He recognized how serious a restraint the lack of water was in the region, and laid out a plan for how to best use the limited resource.

They came by bus, train and, in at least one case, roller-skates. The people who traveled to the historic March on Washington from around the country 40 years ago this week made the journey despite threats of violence. NPR's Juan Williams reports on the stories of march participants and organizers.

Legendary jazz bandleader Artie Shaw donates two of his clarinets to the Smithsonian Institution, including the instrument he used in 1938 to record his first big hit, "Begin the Beguine." Shaw received the institution's James Smithson Medal for his lifetime achievements in music. Until he retired in 1954, Shaw's fame rivaled that of Benny Goodman. Hear NPR's Melissa Block and NPR's Robert Siegel.

We conclude our summer reading series this week with Dr. Julie Freischlag, surgeon-in-chief at Johns Hopkins Hospital and chair of the department of surgery at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She's recently enjoyed The Secret Life of Bees (Penguin Books; ISBN: 0142001740), by Sue Monk Kidd, and two books by Barbara Kingsolver: The Prodigal Summer (Perennial; ISBN: 0060959037) and The Poisonwood Bible (Perennial; ISBN: 0060930535).

A car bomb that tore apart Iraq's holiest Shiite Muslim mosque Friday killed at least 100 people, authorities say. Among them was Ayatollah Mohammed Baqer al-Hakim, a prominent Shiite cleric. Six suspects are being questioned, but their identities and allegiances are unclear. Hear NPR's Scott Simon and NPR's Emily Harris.

Thousands take to the streets of Najaf, Iraq, mourning the death of more than 100 people -- including key Shiite cleric Ayatollah Mohammed Baqer al-Hakim -- in the bombing of one of Islam's most revered shrines -- the Imam Ali Mosque. Hear NPR's Emily Harris, NPR's Jacki Lyden and Imam Sayed Moustafa al-Qazwini of the Islamic Educational Center of Orange County, Calif.

NPR’s Liane Hansen speaks with Labor Secretary Elaine Chao about the prospects for the American workforce, as the country attempts to recover from a sluggish economy. The U.S. Department of Labor has established an online job bank and a toll-free help line at 1-877-US-2JOBS.

NPR's Melissa Block talks with Larry Charles, who directed the new movie starring Bob Dylan, Masked and Anonymous. Charles also picked the songs for the soundtrack. They're all Dylan songs — either he's performing them or a panoply of international musicians are. We sample some of the international fare. Among them are Italian and Japanese covers of Dylan tunes, which Charles says are testament to Dylan's worldwide appeal.

Puzzle master Will Shortz quizzes one of our listeners, and has a challenge for everyone at home. (This week's winner is Brandon Rogers from Yelm, Wash. He listens to Weekend Edition on member station KPLU in Tacoma, Wash.)

So far this year, health officials report more than 1,300 human cases and 19 deaths from West Nile virus. Those numbers are certain to climb in the next few weeks. Yet as NPR's Jon Hamilton reports, experts insist that the risk of dying or becoming seriously ill from the mosquito-borne disease is remarkably small.