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Lamar Alexander, the Republican senator from Tennessee, and Alex Haley, the author of The Autobiography of Malcolm X, were close friends and native Tennesseans.

While President Obama raised big issues in his inaugural address — climate change, gay rights, immigration, the shooting of schoolchildren — Congress eased back into session Tuesday with other priorities, fighting many of the battles left over from last year.

An NIH working group recommends that most of the agency's 360 research chimpanzees be sent to a sanctuary — a non-laboratory setting where chimps can live more natural lives. But even if the NIH accepts the recommendations, putting them into effect won't be easy.

A fresh fall of snow can mean more skiers and riders getting lost in the woods. Who should pay to rescue them can become a tricky issue, but some states can bill riders who have gone astray.

Prescription drugs like Vicodin have provided much-needed relief for many people suffering from pain. But these painkillers can be addictive, and they kill thousands each year. Doctors and regulators are looking into how to limit access to the drugs without causing more suffering for pain patients.

Nebraska's governor has approved a new plan to route the pipeline through the state. In 2011, the governor opposed the pipeline for its potential environmental impact. But on Tuesday, he wrote a letter to President Obama saying the new route avoids the more environmentally fragile parts of Nebraska.

A Pentagon investigation has cleared General John Allen, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan. The Pentagon had been looking into whether the general's email correspondence with a Florida socialite was inappropriate and violated military rules. Allen's nomination to become the top commander of NATO is still on hold, however.

The "No Budget, No Pay" act would withhold lawmakers' pay if they don't pass a new budget by April 15. In exchange, Republicans say, the borrowing limit would be extended into May. That would avoid another battle over raising that borrowing ceiling.

President Obama's plan to reduce gun violence includes provisions aimed at shoring up access to mental health care — but is that practical? Host Michel Martin discusses the plan's mental health goals with Michael Fitzpatrick of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and Dr. Carl Bell of the University of Illinois.

The genes of the root vegetable have a juicy story to tell of trans-oceanic adventure. A DNA analysis of sweet potatoes adds evidence to the theory that ancient Polynesians visited South America long before the Europeans arrived.