Rising Violence Claims A General In Syria's Capital

Syria's state-run news agency says a high-ranking military officer has been assassinated. NPR's Kelly McEvers reports the attack comes as violence in Syria is quickly escalating.

Medical Care Reportedly Under Attack In Syria

As the violence continues in Syria, International aid agencies say that medical facilities have become a target for government forces. In many cases, doctors on the ground are being forced to treat patients in their own homes, and reaching the wounded has become extremely difficult. Host Scott Simon speaks with Dr. Greg Elder from Doctors Without Borders, who's running that agency's efforts in Syria.

Boston's Neighborhood Parishes May Become Branch Offices

The Archdiocese of Boston is taking a business approach to its problem of too many parishes, too few priests and not enough parishioners. It plans to merge parishes into clusters and placing them under one pastor. It will eliminate dozens of parish jobs for lay people and take away local control of a church's budget and religious education program. The plan is being met with considerable pushback from priests and parishioners. Monica Brady-Myerov of member station WBUR reports.