Frank Morris

Meth is back "with a vengeance," police say. Now made mostly by superlabs in Mexico, it is stronger, cheaper and more prevalent, cutting across demographic barriers and sparking serious crime.

Despite a reputation for being suspicious of government and outsiders, some rural residents now say state funds are needed to help fix the big economic and drug problems faced by small towns.

Lead, the "useful metal," was the pride of the Romans. For the last 5,000 years, it was used in products ranging from water pipes and makeup to wine — until we discovered how poisonous it is.

The Cold War is over, but decades later, several defunct missile silos built to fight that war still dot the American landscape. A developer in Kansas is converting one such silo complex into an underground condo tower.

Food Inc., a documentary film about the modern agricultural industry, is a hit with big-city movie reviewers, small organic farmers and vegetarians. But ordinary farmers — the people who grow the lion's share of what America eats — have largely been left out of the mainstream media debate over the film.

The rising Mississippi River has broken through a half-dozen levees and forced major bridges to close. The record high water is consuming towns in its path.

In Iowa, devastating floodwaters are beginning to inch their way down the southern part of the state. The next city that's in jeopardy of being swamped is the railroad hub of Burlington. Residents are digging in to try to save their town.

One year ago Monday, residents of Greensburg, Kan., awoke to a tornado ripping through their small town. The storm destroyed homes and possessions, and leveled all of the town's churches. After a year of rebuilding, many Greensburg residents have found renewed faith in their town and in themselves.

A day after he handed his resignation to President Bush, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says the war in Iraq wasn't going as well as had been planned, echoing President Bush's appraisal about recent progress in the conflict. Rumsfeld declined to give himself a performance grade.

At least 10 people were killed -- and 40 injured -- in the Midwest after a series of tornadoes swept across the Midwest. The bulk of the deaths occurred in Missouri. Crews assessing the damage Monday say it is remarkable more people weren't hurt.