On the eve of President Obama's speech in Cairo on Thursday, a recording, believed to be of Osama bin Laden, also made headlines. The message is the latest sign that the al-Qaida leader is alive, up on current events and communicating with the outside world. But a number of factors may now be combining to make bin Laden's safe haven in Pakistan less so.

The San Diego Police Officers Association and the city are filing paperwork in court today in a fight over whether the city can change the Deferred Retirement Option Program. KPBS reporter Katie Orr explains DROP allows city employees the begin receiving retirement payments before they stop working.

Kenneth Branagh stars as "the Norse Morse," Inspector Kurt Wallander, the scruffy Swedish sleuth created by best-selling author Henning Mankell. In three whodunits, Mankell pits his hero against the creeping malaise affecting contemporary Sweden, where permissiveness and the collapse of the welfare state are slowly undermining the spirit of law and order. A maelstrom of bizarre crimes, involving axe murders, scalpings, random assassinations and cyber-terrorism, taxes Wallander's wits.

More than 100 volunteers spent part of today removing non-native plants at the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. KPBS Reporter Ed Joyce tells us the effort was part of World Environment Day.

The National Marine Fisheries Service released its biological opinion on the effects of the state and federal water projects on threatened and endangered runs of several fish species in California.

The City of San Diego’s well-publicized budget struggles include pay cuts and fee hikes. But even cuts and hikes aren’t enough to quell Mayor Jerry Sanders’ worry, anger and frustration at Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s intention to borrow $2 billion from local governments. So I assumed that other cities in San Diego County would also be worrying at the prospect of state legislators shoveling property taxes from small municipalities into California’s coffers. After all, fewer city dollars mean fewer city services and smaller staffs to serve local residents.

Slavery was legal in America in all of the original 13 colonies. We'll explore the history of the Underground Railroad in helping slaves find freedom, and how the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center continues to work on human slavery in the modern world.

La Jolla Playhouse stages celebrated playwright Terrence McNally's latest drama Unusual Acts of Devotion. In the play, McNally charts damaged souls and damaged cities, loves lost and recovered, and the joys of simple but enduring acts of devotion.

Cancer is the leading cause of death in San Diego County. But a cancer diagnosis is not necessarily a death sentence. On the eve of National Cancer Survivor's Day, which is June 7, we'll explore the latest in cancer rates and treatments, and talk with cancer survivors.

Actor Ed Helms is probably best known for his work with Jon Stewart on "The Daily Show" and for his role as Andy in the American version of "The Office." But this week you can find him in the bro-comedy "The Hangover," directed by "Old School's" Todd Phillips. I spoke with the actor when he was in San Diego last month about his new film and tackling different kinds of comedy.

The city of San Diego is in the early stages of creating a year round homeless shelter downtown. All of the people and organizations involved agree something needs to be done about the hundreds of homeless people living on the streets. But what to do and how are unresolved questions.

San Diego County will host a conference on vital aging later this morning in Balboa Park. More than 400 local seniors are expected to attend the bi-annual event.

What do astronauts do when they need to pee? KPBS Reporter Tom Fudge says some students at UCSD's Jacobs School of Engineering are looking for a better answer.