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NPR's Susan Stamberg remembers her colleague, Mike Waters, who died yesterday at age 69. He hosted this program from 1971 to 1974, part of that time as co-host with Stamberg. Waters had a rich, deep voice. It was said "he had a cathedral in his head." We hear some his work -- include a skit in which a sunrise is "directed" by Waters as an archangel.

NPR's Tovia Smith reports on the decision by a Greenwich, Connecticut judge that Michael Skakel, Ethel Kennedy's nephew, can stand trial for the murder twenty-five years ago of a 15-year old neighbor. It's still undecided, however, whether Skakel will be tried as an adult or a juvenile, and the penalties are vastly different.

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.

Tornadoes kill more than 30 people in several states, including Alabama, Tennessee and Ohio, authorities say. At least 10 people are dead in Alabama and 15 in Tennessee. Thousands are without power. Steve Chiotakis with member station WBHM reports.

Daniel talks with Peter Reddaway, Professor of Political Science at George Washington University in Washington D.C. about the possible successors to Russian President Boris Yeltsin who was admitted to hospital last week. Yeltsin has not announced that he will run in the next Presidential election, due to be held next summer, and his low popularity rating indicates he is not likely to win even if he does run.

NPR'S Edward Lifson reports on what is believed to be the first drive-up boar semen facility. Run by the Fox family in Oskaloosa, Iowa, the artificial insemination facility provides semen from high-quality boars for Iowa's growing hog industry. When a farmer has a sow that is ready to be artificially inseminated, he just drives up and picks up his order.

Pat Buchanan's mixture of social conservatism and his own brand of economic populism have propelled him to the status of a major contender in next week's Republican presidential primary in new Hampshire. While many of the candidates share his views on social issues, Buchanan stands apart from them on economic ones, particularly trade. NPR's Brian Naylor looks at the rise of Buchanan as a political player since his first entrance as a candidate in 1992.

Larry Pratt, a co-chairman of Patrick Buchanan's presidential campaign, has stepped aside following allegations that he has been a featured speaker at white supremacist meetings. Pratt denies any links to racist groups, and says he hopes to put the charges to rest and then rejoin the Buchanan campaign. The allegations surfaced in a report on the associations of leaders of the various presidential campaigns, and NPR's Peter Overby has more on that study.

NPR's Joanne Silberner reports on two federal HMO programs for the elderly. People who join get not just medical care - they also receive social supports like home nursing aides -- but members are limited to the health care providers in the HMOs. The goal is to keep people as healthy as possible as long as possible while holding down costs. So far, at least, there are few complaints about the programs.

The strategically important nation has been ruled by one man for the past 30 years, but President Suharto, is now 75, and recent rumors of his ill health are affecting the country's financial strength.

Robert and Linda look at how the gubernatorial races turned out -- when it was all over, the ratio of Republican to Democratic governors remained unchanged, 32-17. On the other hand, Democrats have control of both chambers of the state legislatures in 19 states -- a gain of 2 -- compared to the 15 controlled by Republicans. Legislatures are split between the two parties in 13 states.

NPR's John Ydstie concludes his series on reforming the social security system with an examination of the plan favored by the advisory council's chairman, Ned Gramlich. Gramlich's proposal occupies the middle ground between the other two plans. It also relies on the financial markets to boost retiree benefits, but without redirecting a large chunk of the payroll tax into personal retirement accounts.

with NPR's Don Gonyea. Carmakers sold more than 15 million vehicles, the most since 1988. But the industry did have its troubles...like the labor strikes at General Motors and questions about the safety of airbags and anti-lock brakes.

-- enough to kill 15,000 people -- this time in a bottle buried beside a railroad track. It was hidden by a member of the Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult that carried out the Tokyo subway gas attack.

Harvey Pitt resigns as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Pitt had a stormy 15-month tenure as SEC chief and was recently under fire for his handling of the appointment of William Webster to head an accounting oversight board. Hear NPR's Jim Zarroli and James Cox of Duke University.

Host Lisa Simeone talks to Tickey Pule, director of the Botswana National Museum, about the return of the remains of an unknown African man, which had been on display in a museum in Spain for over 100 years. The remains, called El Negro in Spain, were stolen from a grave in the early 1800s by two Frenchmen. Pule explains the importance of having the remains returned to Botswana for a proper reburial.

The Senate is expected to begin debate next week on the latest version of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill. This year, the sponsors think they have enough votes to choke off a filibuster. But some of the Democratic-leaning interest groups, such as labor unions, are having second thoughts about new provisions in the legislation this time around. NPR's Peter Overby reports.

Noah talks with Milwaukee County Supervisor Jim McGuigan about the controversy over Dennis Oppenheimer's sculpture of a giant blue shirt. The 35-foot-tall shirt is planned to decorate a parking structure at the Milwaukee Airport. Some people in town are worried that the sculpture will reinforce the city's blue collar image. The artist says that's not what he had in mind.

NPR's Barbara Bradley explains how prosecutors investigate and build cases when they suspect a public official has been bribed. The U.S. Attorney in New York is investigating whether President Clinton's pardon of the fugitive multimillionaire Marc Rich was given in return for contributions by Rich's ex-wife to Democratic causes. Prosecutors say it's hard to prove criminal intent, but bribery cases have been successful with circumstantial evidence.

NPR's Martha Raddatz reports that investigators with the Federal Bureau of Investigation are in Saudi Arabia to gather information about the bombing of the U.S. military housing complex in Dharan that killed 19 Americans. There were initial reports from Saudi officials that the car used in the bombing may have been recovered, but U.S. officials doubt the getaway car has been found.

NPR's Michael Goldfarb reports from London on European reaction to the new U.S. moves against Iran and Libya. European Union members are already angry over the trade law punishing countries who do business with Cuba. Some of the EU members have significant financial interests in Iran and Libya. Today, there were new warnings that the 15-member EU would strike back.

Commentator Merrill Matthews has a suggestion for five new taxes that would help raise money and also encourage our elected officials to act more responsibly: A term limits tax, a flip-flop tax, a sound-bite tax, a negative campaign ad tax and a lying item veto tax. Merrill Matthews is with the National Center for Policy analysis in Dallas, Texas.

about President Clinton's efforts to revive peace negotiations in Northern Ireland and in the Middle East. Today the President meets with Ireland's Prime Minister John Bruton. President Clinton just returned from a two-day trip to Egypt and Israel.

A Republican member of the House Standards of Official Conduct Committee today recused himself from participating in the ethics case against Speaker Newt Gingrich. Congressman David Hobson of Ohio withdrew to leave the ethics panel with an equal number of Democrats and Republicans deciding the issue, following the recusal of Democratic Congressman Jim McDermott. Robert talks with NPR's Brian Naylor for an update on the Gingrich case.

NPR's Julie McCarthy reports that more than 200 children in Japan have been hospitalized and thousands more affected by an outbreak of food poisoning that authorities believe is related to the E-Coli (Ee KOH-lie) bacteria. E-Coli has been linked to lethal cases in the United States ... all believed to be caused by eating beef that was not adequately cooked.