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Hollywood's often called a "dream factory" because its films strive to take viewers to places they could never go themselves. But NPR's Bob Mondello says on occasion, he finds himself waking up from the dream. It happened this past week, during his viewing of the Bertolucci film The Dreamers.

When a devastating earthquake struck Bam, Iran, in December, photographer Kvon Behpour caught the first flight back to his homeland. He tells NPR's Steve Inskeep about the story he found in the quake's survivors.

Scharffenberger Chocolates is the first new American chocolate company to appear in decades. It produces high-end treats in competition with the finest European chocolate -- and fulfills a lifelong dream of the two founders. NPR's Laura Sydell reports.

About 5,000 members of a National Guard unit in North Carolina will be mobilized to Iraq -- the largest call-up of state guardsmen in decades. It's part of one of the largest troops movements in U.S. history. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers will move in and out of Iraq over the next few months. Jessica Jones of member station WUNC reports.

The Halliburton Company announces it will defer billing the Pentagon $140 million in meals for U.S. troops stationed in the Middle East until bookkeeping irregularities are resolved. The oil services giant says it will suspend billing the government until it can resolve discrepancies over the number of meals ordered and the number actually served. Hear NPR's John Burnett.

Public service advertisements are at the center of the latest battle over the Medicare prescription-drug benefit, which became law more than two months ago. Republicans say the ads are educational. Democrats call them taxpayer-financed propaganda that misrepresents how much seniors will save. NPR's Peter Overby reports.

The Bush administration warns U.S. travelers not to visit Haiti, citing rising safety and transportation concerns. A small military team is also being sent to Haiti to assess the security of the U.S. embassy. Leaders of militant anti-Aristide groups have called on Haitian police to abandon their posts, promising new assaults on the nation's cities. Hear NPR's Michele Norris and NPR's Martin Kaste.

In the last few days, political pundits, online supporters and even his now-departed campaign chairman have forecast that Howard Dean would exit the presidential race if he loses Tuesday's primary in Wisconsin. On Monday, Dean tried to stop the chatter, noting that he speaks for his campaign and insisting he's still in the race. Hear NPR's Robert Smith.

President George Bush would like to make his tax cuts permanent, and add some new ones. The most dramatic new proposal from the White House would allow Americans to pay less tax on their savings. Many Democrats contend it's just another tax break for the wealthy. NPR's Kathleen Schalch reports.

Howard Dean says he can still win Tuesday's Wisconsin primary, despite lagging in the most recent polls. With the primary a day away, Dean has been forced to endure some turbulence in his own campaign -- including the exit of his chairman, who had aired plans for quitting the race. Hear NPR's Michelle Norris and NPR's Robert Smith.