This weekend, Big Brown has the chance to don the elusive triple crown — only 11 horses have done it before — if he wins the Belmont Stakes. And if he does, he’ll do it without steroids; read more about alternative medicine for horses, and steroids effects here….

An-My Lê’s photographs and films examine the impact, consequences, and representation of war. Over at Art:21’s blog, Lê discusses how she came to be an artist after originally planning to become a doctor. Watch the interview.

P.O.V., public television’s premier showcase for independent nonfiction film and video, seeks programs from all perspectives to showcase in its annual national PBS series. All subjects, styles and lengths are welcome. Submit your film by June 27, 2008. See instructions….

The first students have begun returning to school in Wenchuan, China, the epicenter of last month’s devastating earthquake, which killed nearly 70,000 people. Many of the dead were schoolchildren who were crushed when poorly constructed school buildings collapsed in the quake. Read more….

Since 1972, the Papua New Guinea Rainforest has disappeared at an alarming rate, even in protected areas. New satellite images show the extent of the damage. In 2001, The Odyssey visited PNG and talked to one of the forests’ protectors first-hand.

Five years ago, President Bush held landmark meetings with the Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers, hoping to advance a Middle East peace plan. But, today there is still growing uncertainty over Israel’s future as Bush meets with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for talks over Iran’s nuclear drive.

Fueled by a mix of delegates won in the last two states and a score of superdelegate announcements, Sen. Barack Obama claimed the mantle of presumptive presidential nominee. Rival Sen. Hillary Clinton did not concede, telling her supporters that she’d take several days to calculate her next political move. See the full report on NewsHour.

Three years ago, the city pledged to develop miles of Greenpoint and Williamsburg East River waterfront as part of a development deal. But while plenty of condos have already been built, most of the parkland has yet to materialize.

Barack Obama finally resigned his membership at Trinity United Church of Christ, his congregation of more than 20 years. R&E managing editor Kim Lawton discusses Obama’s departure from the church and whether candidates and public officials should have a zone of religious privacy.

Long before turning his attention to architecture, David Rockwell harbored a fascination with staged environments. “Storytelling is at the basis of all the design that we do,” Rockwell says. Watch this video about Rockwell’s recent projects.