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Even before last weekend's storms killed at least 26 people and knocked out power to 3 million, engineers were worried about the nation's power grid. The American Society of Civil Engineers says unless $673 billion is invested in the grid, it could break down by 2020.

As California's public schools have cut back on science programs, Dan Sudran has created the Community Science Workshop Network to help fill the gap. The free workshops let low-income kids play with microscopes and build hot air balloons.

The second biggest soccer tournament in the world — the Euro 2012 — wraps up Sunday in Kiev, Ukraine. One of the marquee names for the Italian side is Mario Balotelli. Born to parents from Ghana, Balotelli is constantly harassed by racist fans and sometimes by players on the field. Weekends on All Things Considered guest host Laura Sullivan speaks with Daniel Taylor of The Guardian about Balotelli's hot temper and how the taunts sometimes take their toll.

Mitt Romney is in Israel this weekend, in part to drum up support from pro-Israel groups living in the United States. The Jewish vote makes up only 4 percent of the American electorate, but it's where those votes are located that has both sides spending millions to woo them.

Middleborough, Mass., recently imposed a $20 fine for swearing in public. Linguist Geoff Nunberg says profanity makes hypocrites of us all.

The rolling NASA laboratory called Curiosity has begun its two-year mission on the Red Planet. The nuclear-powered robot pulled off a tricky touchdown in a Martian crater. There is a lot riding on this mission — not the least is the $2.5 billion price tag.

Anti-nuclear protests are growing in Japan over Tokyo's decision to restart two nuclear reactors in the wake of the March 2011 disaster at the Fukushima nuclear plant. Many Japanese fear another accident, but others say the lack of nuclear power will further hurt the ailing economy.

Democrats and Republicans are going to the brink over tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans in a showdown that threatens to send the U.S. over a year-end "fiscal cliff." So what's at the heart of the impasse?

The same laid-back attitude and openness to outsiders that draws tourists to the peaceful country has also attracted Mexican cartels and their Colombia cocaine suppliers. Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla says it tests Costa Rica's view of itself as a peaceful country in a violent region.

As in 2008, Florida is breaking GOP rules to hold a winner-take-all primary in January. But this time the decision could confuse the race: If the nomination fight is close, any Florida Republican voter could challenge the delegate count at next year's convention.