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NPR's Jim Zarroli reports the Internet music site CDNow has been purchased by Germany's Bertelsmann conglomerate. The company is one of the most popular retailing sites on the web. But due to costly advertising campaigns and small profit margins, CDNow has lost more than 200-million dollars since it was created.

In his latest Play-by-Play commentary, NPR's Neal Conan profiles the Long Island Ducks of the Independent Atlantic League. Although the league has no affiliation with the Majors, fans are flocking to games. And the Ducks have become one of the most popular teams in the area.

NPR's Ketzel Levine explores the secret obsession of actor Peter Strauss. Once Strauss discovered gardening, it quickly became a second career.

NPR's Eric Weiner reports President Clinton joined leaders of the other G-8 developed nations in their annual summit. While economics is the reason for the summit, political issues normally take up much of the meeting. this year was no different and Clinton met with Russian President Vladimir Putin today to discuss the proposed US missile defense system that Russia and almost all other nations at the meeting oppose.

Commentator Matt Miller says the rules of being a member of the political left are changing. A strong defense plan and an aversion to big spending are important aspects of the modern Democrat. Miller is a syndicated columnist and co-host of Left, Right and Center on member station KCRW in Santa Monica.

Host Brian Naylor talks to NPR's Jennifer Ludden about the status of the Middle East peace negotiations at Camp David in the absence of President Bill Clinton. According to an Israeli official, Prime Minister Ehud Barak has agreed to a United States proposal to share sovereignty in parts of East Jerusalem.

Aileen LeBlanc of member station WYSO reports on a quartet of musicians are trying to raise money to help pay for the restoration of architect Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water house. The group has composed music they say was inspired by the house itself. They will be performing their work tomorrow at the house in Mill Run Pennsylvania.

NPR's Eric Weiner reports on President Clinton's visit to Okinawa, Japan for the G-8 Summit. Today, the President addresses the concerns of the people in Okinawa over the presence of U.S. troops there.

NPR's Barbara Bradley reports a federal judge in New Mexico will hear arguments today on why investigators believe Wen Ho Lee leaked classified nuclear information to the Chinese. Lee claims he's being singled out because of his race. The judge has already asked both sides to work with a mediator and try to come to terms on a grounds for bail and a possible plea bargain.

NPR's Chris Arnold reports the Internet music company Napster has been hauled into court by the music industry for its popular system that allows people to download copyrighted music for free. But even if the recording industry prevails, its battle against web piracy may have just begun. There's a new breed of free music services that go beyond Napster's technology.

Commentators Katharine Mieszkowski and Kaitlin Quistgaard talk about Virgin Atlantic's announcement that passengers will soon be able to receive phone calls and e-mail in flight, destroying one of the last oases of unconnected time. Fliers won't be able to escape deal-making seatmates and second-hand cell phone noise.

NPR's Debbie Elliott tells Linda Wertheimer a Florida jury has ordered tobacco companies to pay more than 144-Billion dollars in punitive damages to sick smokers.

Noah talks to NPR's Wade Goodwyn about the jury verdict in the Branch Davidian lawsuit against the government. Goodwyn reports an advisory jury today quickly decided the government bears no responsibility in the deaths of Branch Davidians at the standoff at their compound in Waco, Texas in 1993. A long seige of the building by federal authorities ended in a fire that killed eighty people. Government attorneys argued the Davidians intentionally set the fire themselves. A judge will make the final ruling in the case.

Commentator David Fleischaker blames high gas prices around the country on consumers who drive gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles. He suggests leaders could help by educating consumers, encouraging exploration for oil and gas, and mandating minimum mileage. Fleischaker is an independent oil and gas producer who lives in Oklahoma City.

Noah talks to George Pully, a deacon at the Beulah Christian Church in Zebulon, North Carolina, about a bell that was stolen from his church. It was one of four antique bells stolen from churches and homes in the Raleigh, North Carolina area last weekend. The missing bells are all quite large, weighing between 50 and 1500 pounds.

Reporter Marge Pitroff of member station WUWM in Milwaukee reports on the role of modern summer camps in the lives of today's kids, and the potential benefits and drawbacks of structured recreation.

The federal government's probe of the Olympic bribery scandal may be coming to an end. NPR's Howard Berkes has a report from Salt Lake City.

Kate Seelye reports from a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon, where there is little optimism about the ongoing summit at Camp David. The refugees want to return to the homes they fled during past Arab-Israeli wars, but few believe the summit will make that possible.

NPR's Michele Kelemen reports on a dispute at the highest levels of the Russian military. A long-standing personal rivalry between the defense minister and the chief of general staff broke into the open this week. The chief of staff suggested scaling back Russia's strategic missile force. The defense minister called the idea "madness." President Vladimir Putin has so far refused to take sides.

Chiles en nogada is a special dish in Mexico eaten around the month of September to celebrate Independence Day. This summer marked 200 years since its creation.

The Department of Justice is investigating whether baseball's Baltimore Orioles have illegally refused to sign players who defect from Cuba. Senator Jesse Helms claims team owner Peter Angelos instituted the policy to maintain good relations with Fidel Castro. But some baseball insiders say another factor may be at work: Cuban defectors quickly find agents and don't come cheap. NPR's Tom Goldman has the story.

The Senate today passed a bill that would phase out the nation's inheritance tax over the next 10 years. The vote was 59 to 39 --- with 9 Democrats joining all but 4 of the Republicans in the majority. But the vote was not sufficient to override President Clinton's promised veto. before final passage, the Senate stripped all of its own amendments from the bill, so as to match the bill passed by the House and send the measure directly to the President's desk. NPR's Peter Kenyon reports.

Commentator Jeremy Rifkin says in the world where we measure nano-seconds and have every time-saving device imaginable, we still find ourselves without free time. Our culture is obsessed with efficiency. Rifkin is looking for a paradigm that replaces efficiency with sufficiency.

NPR's Linda Gradstein reports thousands of Israeli settlers in the West Bank could face a tough decision if the ongoing summit talks at Camp David produce a final peace accord. Some of the settlers could well have to choose between finding new homes inside Israel or staying where they are, as Jews in an independent Palestinian state.

The Taliban took over Kabul a month ago. How is the U.S. dealing with the group's interim government in Afghanistan and what challenges lie ahead?