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Before the Democratic Convention, Linda talked with several women from Ohio who are undecided voters and are looking to the conventions for signals as to how they should vote. We heard their conversation Monday. This week, Linda is checking back with them to hear their reactions as the Democratic convention progresses. Today we hear from Mary Curran about whether Joe Lieberman's speech helped persuade her one way or the other. She says yes ... and no.

Linda talks to Jacob Weisberg, Chief Political Correspondent for the on-line magazine "Slate," about the production values of the convention -- how the message is packaged and produced, with music and videos and other techniques designed for the television viewers. He says the Republicans offered a sleek production. The Democrats are always a little more chaotic. (4:30) The internet address for Slate is http://slate.msn.com/

NPR's Barbara Bradley covers wire reports that Independent Counsel Robert Ray has convened a new grand jury to hear evidence about the sex scandal involving President Clinton and Monica Lewinsky. Ray is concerned with whether the president committed perjury in his testimony about the matter. The White House is questioning the timing of the the news leaks about this new grand jury, which was reportedly seated in July, as they come on the same day Vice President Al Gore is to address the Democratic Convention.

Co-Host Renee Montagne talks to Bill Turque, Washington correspondent for Newsweek Magazine and author of Inventing Al Gore, about the vice president upcoming speech before the Democratic National Convention. (4:46) Inventing Al Gore (Biography Series) by Bill Turque is published by Thorndike Pr (Largeprint); ISBN: 07862

NPR's Chris Arnold reports on a type of sharecropping that targets Hispanic farmers in California. The farmers sign contracts with vegetable brokers, who lend them money to go into business and then claim a large share of the crops as payment. The farmers tend to be former migrant workers, who are not fluent in English.

Al Gore will give the biggest political speech of his life tonight at the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. As he accepts his party's nomination for president, Gore will reintroduce himself to the American people, hoping to demonstrate that he has the substance and the character to lead the nation. NPR's Anthony Brooks has traveled with the campaign for much of the year and reports tonight from L.A.

Noah reads letters from All Things Considered listeners. Subjects this week include Robert Trout's reports on Democratic conventions of the 1940's, political theater, and musical theater -- West Side Story. (3:15) Please Note: To contact All Things Considered, write to All Things Considered Letters, 635 Massachusetts Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20001. The e-mail address is atc@npr.org.

Natalya Yefimova reports on the effort to rescue the crew of the sunken Russian submarine and the reaction in Russia.

The announcement is the latest development in Jeopardy!'s troubled search for a new host following the November death of longtime presenter Alex Trebek.

With her hair neatly braided, the girl sat next to her baby brother, dressed for an outing, complete with a backpack and note — but their parents were nowhere to be found, the U.S. Border Patrol said.

Co-host Madeleine Brand talks with Leslie Stainton, author of a new biography of Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca. Lorca was killed in 1936 by a fascist firing squad. Lorca spent almost a year in New York City and his dark and sometimes surrealistic poetry about the city is still considered timely by many.

Co-host Renee Montagne talks about the conclusion of the Democratic National Convention.

It's the final installment of call-outs to undecided female voters in suburban Ohio -- a key group to win over in the upcoming Presidential election. Today, Linda checks in with Gina Cronan for her reaction to Vice President Al Gore's speech last night. Gina is a working mom from University Heights, Ohio. She's a life-long Republican but has not been pleased with Texas Governor George W. Bush. Last night, Gina says, Gore won her over -- in large part by his discussion of key issues.

Steve Krueger of member station KPLU in Seattle reports that Microsoft, a company that was once a political recluse, is now a major contributor to both the Democratic and Republican presidential campaigns.

A montage of Vice President Al Gore's acceptance speech last night at the Democratic National Convention.

NPR's Don Goneya reports on the reaction to Gore's speech at the Democratic National Convetion and to the disclosure in Washington that Kenneth Starr's successor as independent counsel has summoned a new grand jury to hear evidence against President Bill Clinton in connection with the Monica Lewinsky sex scandal.

Belia Mayeno-Choy of Youth Radio reports on two young people who are working the Inside and Outside of this weeks' Democratic Convention in Los Angeles. 20-year-old Mara Gassman is the youngest delegate to the convention. 24-year-old Gabriel Sayegh has joined in numerous street demonstrations.

NPR's Melissa Block reports on the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles.

Co-host Renee Montagne talks to NPR's Cokie Roberts and political analyst Charlie Cook about Al Gore's acceptance speech.

Co-host Madeline Brand talks with Democratic Vice Presidential candidate, Joe Lieberman.

Conventions have as many meanings as they have participants. Most of the people involved in the political process make their own contribution and experience the event in their own ways. NPR's Andy Bowers offers several vignettes from this week's convention.

NPR's Richard Gonzales reports on efforts to improve the safety of development in fire prone areas. Regulations against building in high fire risk areas are most effective, but still pretty rare. In some communities, people and their neighbors, insurers and local officials have taken the task of "fire-proofing" into their own hands.

Noah Adams talks with sportswriter Stefan Fatsis about the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics trials in Boston. Several members of the women's team which won a gold medal in 1996 are trying to make the team again. Interestingly, women's coach Bela Karoly has been given unprecedented power to select the team from among the top finishers at the trials. Usually, the team consists of the top six finishers at the trials.

NPR's Daniel Zwerdling traveled to Nicaragua to report on a new twist in the ever expanding global economy. As international companies travel the world in search of cheap labor, some workers are trying to form unions to demand better wages and better conditions. Zwerdling tells the story of Chentex, a Taiwanese consortium that was attracted to Nicaragua because the nation offered space in an industrial park, no taxes for the first ten years and lots of people willing to work for low wages. But unlike many developing nations where "sweatshops' are set-up, Nicaragua has a history of unions. Under the Sandinistas, peasants and factory workers were encouraged to unionize. When the workers, mostly women, tried to organize at the Chentex factory they were fired and harassed. The way the workers see it, the government made a kind of pact with the devil and they need unions to protect themselves. The way the government sees it, international companies offer employment and a much needed economic boost. The way the companies see it, they are not anti-union, and they are offering work and wages in places where none would exist without them.

Unions say talks have intensified, the company says a deal is within reach, but Verizon telecommunications workers are still on strike and without a contract. NPR's Snigdha Prakash reports the main disputes revolve around work transfers and mandatory overtime. One participating union had threatened to bolt the talks, but backed off, saying that "significant progress" has been made.