The self-proclaimed "overweight lover" of hip-hop rose to fame in the late 1980s, often making his weight the center of his act. He was part of the group "Heavy D and the Boyz." He died Tuesday in Los Angeles. Host Michel Martin looks at the life and work of the Jamaica-born hip-hop star.
Dan Brown, author of the blockbuster The Da Vinci Code, is back with his first novel in four years. Inferno follows academic hero Robert Langdon on a chase through Italy as he attempts to avert a biological catastrophe.
Designer Katie Shelly's upcoming cookbook offers 50 illustrated recipe "blueprints" for basic meals — from simple snacks to more hefty dishes like eggplant Parmesan. She hopes they'll inspire any level of cook to improvise in the kitchen.
NPR's Peter Overby reports on the Congressional testimony of IRS officials in response to the scandal over special scrutiny of tea party groups. Underneath all the politics, there's a policy question that hasn't been addressed.