President Obama called for major changes to American educational system yesterday. Among those changes are for states to lift limits on charter schools and improve the quality of early childhood education. Joining The Takeaway to talk about these changes is Seth Andrew, the founder and head of the Democracy Prep Charter School in Harlem and Pedro Noguera, sociology professor and head of the Metropolitan Center for Urban Education at New York University.

Two soldiers and a policeman have been murdered in Northern Ireland in the past few days. It’s brought a shock to the province which—in the most part—has enjoyed peace since the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, that led to power-sharing. The murders have been claimed by two Republican splinter groups—the so-called Continuity IRA, and the Real IRA—who are both against the peace process.

Seasoned Northern Ireland watcher Kevin Cullen at the Boston Globe discusses the significance of what’s happening in Northern Ireland, and how this story is being viewed by Irish Americans in Boston. John Hockenberry hosts from Boston.

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Studies show less than half of the students in New York City high schools graduate on time. And many think that New York City is a rough place to go to school. The Takeaway invites two students from Democracy Prep Charter School in Harlem who think otherwise. Daniel Clark Jr., is 12 years old, and a seventh grader and Nia Hill-Mims is 13 years old, and an eighth grader. They are joined by Nia's mom Catherine Hill to talk about what it's like to go to charter school in New York City.

At a science conference in Copenhagen this week, there's a "last call" for scientists who want to present evidence in the case for global warming. American, British and other European scientists will present latest scientific findings on climate change since the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report in 2007. This is in part an attempt to encourage an international climate treaty in December in Copenhagen. Joining The Takeaway from Copenhagen is BBC Environmental Correspondent Matt McGrath.

One topic being addressed at the conference is rising sea levels. Watch the video below for more information.

The man who committed perhaps the largest fraud in the history of Wall Street could now spend the rest of his life in prison. Bernard L. Madoff will likely plead guilty tomorrow to all the criminal charges filed against him by federal prosecutors. After nearly 20 years of running a Ponzi scheme that consumed billions of dollars of other people's money, those spurned want their day in court. The Takeaway talks to Diana Henriques, New York Times senior financial writer about the new details that have emerged in the case and what victims want.
For more, read her article Madoff Will Plead Guilty; Faces Life for Vast Swindle in the New York Times.

The U.S. Senate voted to lift some restrictions on relations with Cuba imposed by the Bush Administration in 2004. It says that Cuban Americans should be allowed to travel to the Communist island once a year and send more money to relatives there. The Senate has also agreed that restrictions on sending food and medicines to Cuba should also be eased. President Obama is expected to sign the bill into law later today.
BBC America Editor Americo Martins joins The Takeaway to discuss what this means for the U.S. and Cuba.

As President Obama enters his 50-some days in his presidency, the First Lady is starting to shape her own identity and agenda. Michelle Obama is known to be a champion of healthy food and living and has encouraged community vegetable gardening. White House officials say this will shape her overall agenda. Rachel Swarns covers Mrs. Obama for the New York Times talks with The Takeaway about the First Lady's healthy living habit.

Read more in Rachel's article, Michelle Obama’s Agenda Includes Healthful Eating in the New York Times.

The relationship between Former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his top aide Christine Beatty may be over and done, their text messages live on. On Monday, 682 text messages were released for public consumption and on Tuesday a million-dollar lawsuit was filed by the former mayor's attorney. Some of the texts show Kilpatrick exchanging sexual innuendo with other women. On The Takeaway this morning, Oneita Jackson, who writes the O Street Blog and is a copy editor for the Detroit Free Press talks about this electronic paper trail and it's implications.

Congress has passed a measure that would allow bankruptcy judges to change the terms of mortgages to help strapped homeowners avoid foreclosure. Supporters say it will keep people in their homes while the banking industry says it will prompt lenders to raise rates across the board. University of Iowa Law Professor Katie Porter, a specialist on bankruptcy and mortgages, and her father Daniel Porter, vice president of Kerndt Brothers Savings Bank in Lansing, Iowa, join The Takeaway with an analysis.