From NPR News in Washington. I'm Lakshma Singh.

Shock! That's how the Obama administration describes a news that a US soldier in Afghanistan allegedly massacred 16 men, women and children in two villages over the weekend. The White House says a full investigation is under way. This says it works to keep US-Afghan relations from unravelling in the wake of this incident and the recent Koran burnings at a US base. Meanwhile, the soldier's name is not yet been disclosed, but he is reported to be a staff sergeant with a 3rd Stryker Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord located south of Seattle.

US drivers are now paying an average of three dollars and eighty cents to fill their gas tanks, perhaps much higher if you live in Hawaii, California or New York. The average price has risen about thirty cents a gallon in just last month. NPR's Scott Hosley reports the White House is trying to make sure President Obama doesn't pay a political price for that.

The White House has released a new report showing steps it has taken to reduce reliance on imported oil. The administration acknowledges that provides little relief from high pump prices, but it cannot offer an immediate solution. The White House at least wants to show it's not part of the problem. The report notes US oil production is at an eight-year high, rebutting Republican claims that Mr. Obama has restricted domestic drilling. Meanwhile, this year of US oil consumption met by foreign sources fell to 45% last year. Mr. Obama will be touting those figures when he talks with local TV anchors from around the country today. He also discusses his push for a greater fuel efficiency, which would make even pricey gasoline a little less of a headache. Scott Hosley, NPR News, Washington.

Pacific Gas and Electric has agreed to pay 70 million dollars to help California's Sun Bruno community recover from the 2010 pipeline explosion. Federal investigators accuse PGE of allowing serious failures that led to the blast. Eight people died, dozen more were injured.

G.O.P candidates are campaigning in Mississippi and Alabama ahead of those states' primaries tomorrow. NPR's Kathy Lohr reports the latest polls show it is a tight race.

The head of Public Policy Polling says any of three candidates, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum or Mitt Romney, could win G.O.P primaryies in Alabama and Mississippi. Gingrich has a slight lead in Mississippi, closely followed by Romney and Santorum. And in Alabama, the latest poll shows the race is nearly even. That's surprising to some who say the former Massachusetts Governor is not conservative enough for southern voters. Gingrich and Santorum are campaigning hard in both states. The former Speaker is trying to re-energize his campaign while Santorum says even Judeo Christians and conservatives here can give him the boost to go head-to-head with Romney. Kathy Lohr, NPR News, Jackson, Mississippi.

Dow is up 45 points at 12,967. This is NPR News.

The federal government confirms Texas will no longer receive federal funding for its women's health program. NPR's Wade Goodwyn in Dallas reports it's a reaction to Texas's decision to bar Planned Parenthood from the program.

Texas's Governor, Rick Perry, and the legislature have unapologetically targeted Planned Parenthood and any other women's clinic which would accommodate any women seeking an abortion. In the process, Texas has cut funding to women's clinics by two thirds, eliminating access for nearly 300,000 Texans. But you can't do that and still get federal funding, and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathrine Sebelius confirmed it's expected on Friday cutting off 30 million dollars in federal funding to Texas. Governor Rick Perry shrugged it off and said the state would pay, although when the state has just cut 4 billion dollars to public education. Perry did not where that money would come from. Wade Goodwyn, NPR News, Dallas.

The highest ranking official to be chared in the deadly 2010 West Virginia mine blast is now expected to enter a plea next week. Former mine superintendent Gary May is charged with conspiracy to defraud the federal government. He is accused of disabling a methane gas monitor and lying on safety records. The 2010 explosion claimed 29 lives. It was the worst US coalmining disaster in some 40 years.

A federal appeals court has overturned the so-called Millenium Bomber's 22-year sentence, saying it's too short. The panel ruled 7-4 in favor of the government's appeal, that was released today against Ahmed Ressam who was convicted of nine counts. He was arrested in 1999.

I'm Lakshmi Singh. NPR News, in Washington.