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A divide over immigration policy has already emerged among the Republicans running for president. Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a favorite of conservatives overall, is getting criticism for being too moderate when it comes to immigration. But the issue could hurt the GOP in the general election.

The 60-year-old meter gave way to one that takes credit cards and speaks seven languages.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry likes to hold out the Lone Star State as a model — his vision for the country. But while Texas' growing economy has been a reliable jobs producer, the state's health care system is straining. Many family planning clinics that help serve the large numbers of uninsured in Texas have seen cuts. One supporter calls it a "war on birth control."

The ban against gays serving openly in the military has been repealed. It affected the lives of thousands of people during the 18 years it was in place. NPR spoke with two of them: one who was discharged from the military under the policy eight years ago; the other a gay Marine who has been keeping his sexual identity a secret for 14 years.

Now that the controversial gays-in-the-military policy has been officially lifted, an active duty Air Force lieutenant reveals his true identity for the first time. And a gay-rights strategist reflects on how the military has responded to the shift.

Burhanuddin Rabbani was most recently chairman of Afghanistan's High Peace Council.

On Tuesday, the Pentagon officially terminated "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." More than 14,000 troops were discharged under the law that banned gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military. The repeal interrupted the discharge of Lt. Colonel Victor Fehrenbach. He speaks with host Michel Martin.

The Palestinian Authority will seek formal statehood recognition from the U.N. on Friday. The move has touched off a flurry of diplomatic maneuvering and is likely to define the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for months or possibly years to come.

The president is holding Libya up as a model for what the United Nations can do to protect civilians. Obama and other U.N. nations are pledging continued support and encouraging Libya's new leaders to keep their promises to forge a just, democratic society.

When President Obama laid out his deficit reduction plan, he made it clear he has given up on his so far fruitless search for common ground with the Republicans. With independents and some Democrats doubting his leadership skills, he has been taking a tougher line.