ABC News is reporting this morning that:

United States Army Major Nidal Hasan told a radical cleric considered by authorities to be an al-Qaida recruiter, "I can't wait to join you" in the afterlife, according to an American official with top secret access to 18 e-mails exchanged between Hasan and the cleric, Anwar al Awlaki, over a six month period between Dec. 2008 and June 2009.

Hasan has been charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder for the Nov. 5 shootings at Fort Hood, Texas, in which more than 30 other people were injured.

ABC adds that "two FBI task forces, in Washington and San Diego, received the intercepted messages, but deemed them innocent."

NPR's coverage of the Fort Hood shootings is collected here.

Other stories making headlines this morning include:

— Morning Edition — "New Guidelines Issued On Cervical Cancer Screening". "The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is offering new guidelines for cervical cancer screening — delaying the start of pap smears for young women and cutting back on the frequency of the tests." NPR's Brenda Wilson reports:

Related story by The New York Times — "Culture Clash In Medicine": "This week, the science of medicine bumped up against the foundations of American medical consumerism: that more is better, that saving a life is worth any sacrifice, that health care is a birthright. Two new recommendations, calling for delaying the start and reducing the frequency of screening for breast and cervical cancer, have been met with anger and confusion from some corners, not to mention a measure of political posturing."

— Morning Edition — Pelosi Says Abortion Issue Won't Sink Health Care Legislation. "House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday predicted that she can corral enough moderate Democrats to guarantee passage of health care overhaul legislation — even if it doesn't contain a controversial House proposal that would expand abortion limits. In an interview with NPR's Renee Montagne, Pelosi said that the key will be separating House members who are looking for any way to kill the bill from those who, "in good faith," want to pass legislation that embraces the longtime practice of prohibiting the use of federal funds for abortion":

— USA TODAY — "Housing Bust Halts Growing Suburbs": "The recession and housing collapse have halted four decades of double-digit growth for nearly half of the nation's biggest rapidly expanding suburbs. Twenty-four of the 53 cities of 100,000 or more that grew by at least 10% every decade since 1970 lost population in the last two years."

— The Associated Press — "European Union Selects Belgian, Briton For Top Posts": "EU leaders on Thursday handed the European Union's top new jobs to two little-known compromise figures — Belgium's prime minister and the EU's trade commissioner — dashing hopes of those who wanted to raise the continent's global profile."

Related report from Frank Browning in Paris — The choice of Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy as EU president puts someone in charge who strongly opposes making Turkey a member of the union:

— Chicago Sun-Times — "Say It Isn't So-Prah": "A couple of months ago, Oprah Winfrey closed down three blocks of Michigan Avenue to celebrate the beginning of her show's 24th season. 'Chicago, I love you!' she shouted to 20,000 fans who spent their day — and in many cases, their lives — hanging onto every profound word. Fast-forward to Friday morning, when Winfrey will announce on her syndicated talk show that it will end after its 25th season, in September 2011."

Related story on Morning Edition — Hollywood Reporter features editor Matt Belloni tells NPR's Renee Montagne this "signals a major change in the television business" since Winfrey is going to launch programming on cable next year:

Contributing: Chinita Anderson of Morning Edition.