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Facing worsening homelessness and sprawling illegal encampments, some American cities are resorting to setting up regulated, outdoor shelters even in the dead of winter.

NPR's Melissa Block talks with author Morgan Talty about his book, "Night of the Living Rez," a series of short stories about members of a Native American tribe wrestling with poverty and addiction.

The Icelandic singer Björk has a new CD out called Volta. Reviewer Will Hermes describes it as highly energetic and creative. He speaks to Björk about her work, which includes African harp music and collaborations with pop producer Timbaland.

The Colorado Rockies have been blasted by six dust storms since last December. That's the worst it's been in at least two decades. And dust doesn't just make the snow look bad. It makes the snow melt fast.

A small number of corrupt farmers and insurance agents are scamming the nation's crop insurance system. They're staging crop damage and filing phony claims, to the tune of $160 million last year. Using a bag of cocktail ice and a camera, one tomato-farming couple took the government for millions of dollars.

SpaceX plans to launch rockets near Brownsville, Texas, and send the first person to Mars from there. Seven years after breaking ground, residents say the only thing skyrocketing is housing prices.

Ukraine is one of the world's biggest producers of wheat, corn and sunflower oil. Officials say 30% of farmland is now occupied or unsafe. "My fields were destroyed by the shelling," one farmer says.

Scott Simon speaks with Jeanne Gang, the architect behind the St. Regis Chicago. The 101-story skyscraper is the world's tallest structure designed by a woman.

Whether you're vacationing for a week or a weekend, Alan Cheuse has a fiction recommendation to fit. Novels from Jennifer Egan and Laurence Gonzales for your weeklong escapes; a novella from Ann Beattie for those three-day getaways; and stories from Robert Stone for all you day-trippers.

In rural Wardak province, some Afghans celebrated the return of the Taliban. One year later, here's what they want from the new government.