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Congress voted to begin debate on a package of new gun control measures this week, passing a key procedural hurdle. But several proposals face a long road before reaching President Obama's desk. One proposal has garnered bipartisan support: additional measures targeting so-called "straw purchasers" and gun trafficking. Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon reports on why advocates say the new measures are necessary, and how one gun, purchased through a surrogate, ended up in the wrong hands.

Human Rights Watch is calling on Egypt's president to make public a report that documents police and military abuses against protesters from January 2011 to June 2012. Parts of the report have been leaked to a local newspaper Al Shorouk as well as the British publication The Guardian. In the leaked chapters there are descriptions of police violence and military torture of detainees. While a lot of this is already known about the police and military, the report was referred to the presidency in December and so far no action has been taken. The military this week defended itself, denying any wrongdoing and Egypt's president spoke in solidarity with them.

Members of Congress are demanding answers after an Air Force commander overturned the guilty verdict in a sexual assault case. A military jury had convicted an Air Force officer and sentenced him to a year in prison and dismissal from the service. The commander has not publicly explained his decision. Audie Cornish talks to Stars and Stripes reporter Nancy Montgomery, who's been covering the story.

NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with Carlton Larson, a professor at the UC Davis School of Law, about what is and is not treason.

Ahead of next week's Boston Marathon, Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon talks with running coach and author Tom Derderian about the heightened expectations for this year's race and how the Boston Marathon earned its distinction as the "Holy Grail" for serious runners. Derderian is a member of the committee that set new qualifying standards for this year's marathon.

This week marked a new step in Michelle Obama's evolution as first lady. In her hometown of Chicago, she delivered one of the most emotional speeches of her career. Obama almost never ventures into the top political controversy of the day, but her role may be changing.

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel arrived in Afghanistan on Friday, his first overseas trip as the new Pentagon boss.

Following two doctrinally conservative leaders, Pope Francis' pastoral approach in his first year has given the Catholic Church a new glow. But it's still unclear where he intends to take the church.

Yahoo is trying to boost search traffic with reviews of businesses from Yelp — in hopes that some of its popularity will rub off.

Democrats and Republicans generally agree that Congress needs to approve an aid package quickly. But it's proven harder than expected for everyone to agree on what should be in that aid package.