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The Italian-born romance novel cover model joined nearly 6,000 others from 140 countries at LA Convention Center this week to take the Oath of Allegiance to become an American citizen.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission wants to seize a 6-foot-long pet reptile — they say he's just too big. But he isn't a normal alligator says his owner, Mary Thorn of Lakeland, Fla.

The airport authority received 8,700 noise complaints last year. What became clear is that most of the calls came from a single person. The Washington Post says the unnamed person called 6,500 times.

Nico, 6, was on a walk with his family, when his younger brother chucked his favorite toy over the guard rail and down onto a canal. A group that cares for the canal retrieved the stuffed animal.

The Paris Agreement sets a goal of limiting global warming to under 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit above pre-industrial levels.

Morning Edition attended Tony Hawk's Boom Boom Huckjam last night in Washington, DC. It's Tony Hawk's latest business venture, a traveling road show with the world's best skateboarders, bikers, and motocross riders performing live choreography and tricks to live music in front of huge indoor crowds. The Huckjam hasn't been a runaway commercial hit...but you'd never know it from how it's produced. (6:13)

A government report finds that efforts to limit human exposure to toxins aren't helping kids as much as they are helping adults. The report, issued today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found that children between the ages of 6-11 are sponging up the chemicals found in cigarette smoke and soft plastic toys. It also found that Mexican-Americans have abnormal levels of the pesticide DDT in their bodies and that pregnant women carry more mercury than expected. NPR's John Nielsen reports that federal officials say they are concerned but not alarmed by the findings.

Phillip Davis reports that 14 year old Lionel Tate was sentenced today to life in prison without parole. Lionel was convicted in January of first degree murder in the 1999 death of a playmate, who died as Lionel imitated the violent wrestling shows he liked to watch. Broward County judge Joel Lazarus imposed the mandatory sentence after refusing to reduce the verdict to a lesser charge. He described the murder of 6 year old Tiffany Eunick as "callous and indescribably cruel." Defense attorneys said they would ask Gov. Jeb Bush to commute the sentence.

Music critic Meredith Ochs listens to 40 years of recordings by Chris Strachwitz. Forty years ago Strachwitz started on a journey to record great American music. His focus was on roots music; folk, blues, cajun, and zydeco. He liked to record the artists in their homes, beneath pine trees, and in other natural settings. Meredith Ochs says that this five CD collection tells the story of a great American journey. (6:00) The five CD set is Arhoolie Records 40th Anniversary Collection, The Journey of Chris Strachwitz. See http://www.arhoolie.com.

NPR's Nina Totenberg reports that the Supreme Court has ruled that it's unconstitutional for public hospitals to test pregnant women for illegal drugs and, without their permission, give the results to police for possible prosecution. The arrangement between doctors at a public hospital in South Carolina and local police was designed to identify pregnant women using crack, and protect their fetuses. The 6-to-3 decision concludes that such an arrangement between doctors and police violates the Constitution.