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Commerical airlines struggling in a sluggish U.S. economy, compounded by war, push for economic help from Congress. Airlines are asking for $9 billion in aid, but lawmakers are reluctant to grant that amount. They say the airlines remain inefficient, even after Congress granted a $15 billion bailout in 2001. NPR's Peter Overby reports.

Established five years ago in Michigan, the Sphinx Competition encourages young Hispanic and African-American string musicians to get involved in the classical music world. Founder and president Aaron Dworkin says American orchestras lack diversity. Celeste Headlee of member station WDET reports.

Fred Rogers, the host of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, dies of cancer at the age of 74. Rogers hosted the popular children's program on public television for more than 30 years. NPR News reports.

On the eve of the annual Grammy presentations, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences seeks to recover from the departure of a scandal-plagued president. And the music industry confronts a steep decline in CD sales. Hear NPR's Michele Norris and Eric Boehlert of Salon.com.

Poet, playwright and performance artist Sarah Jones tours with a one-woman show called Waking the American Dream. Her many characters reflect astonishing diversity and encourage an effort to know -- not fear -- our neighbors. NPR's Susan Stamberg reports.

Gods and Generals arrives in theaters. It's a film based on novelist Jeff Shaara's inner look at key Civil War figures in the early years of the conflict. Director Ron Maxwell also handled Gettysburg. That film was based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Killer Angels, written by Shaara's father Michael. NPR's Bob Mondello offers a review.

The Whitney Museum of American Art in New York features an exhibit called "Listening Post." Two artists turn ramblings from computer chat rooms into audio-visual art, using a collection of miniature display screens and computer-generated voices. Jad Abumrad reports.

February is far from Hollywood's biggest month of the year, since the film community is focused on Oscar nominees. New offerings tend to be fluffy. But there are exceptions, such as the British comedy Lawless Hearts, which gives the audiences several angles on each of its characters. NPR's Bob Mondello has a review.

A new exhibit at New York's Museum of Modern Art examines the lifelong relationship between Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso. It pairs works by the two artists, showing how they influenced each other despite their very different styles. David D'Arcy reports.

A strike by Broadway's musicians union wins supports from actors and stagehands, who pledge to honor the picket lines. Producers are forced to cancel many weekend musicals. The dispute focuses on computerized "virtual orchestras" and efforts to abolish a guaranteed minimum number of live musicians for each show. Jeff Lunden reports.