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Linda Wertheimer talks with former senator Howard Baker, who was Senate Majority Leader at one point in his career. When he ran for President, he did not resign from the Senate...a move he now views as a mistake.

NPR's Jon Greenberg reports that welfare reform is one of the big uncompleted pieces of business from last year. As lawmakers continue to wrestle with an overhaul at the federal level, the states have been making their own changes. 37 states have been granted waivers to set their own rules on who is eligible for assistance. Today, President Clinton gave the states more leeway. In his weekly radio address, he announced any state that wants to, will now be allowed to pay teenage mothers a cash bonus if they stay in school.

NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports from Bosnia on the re-burial of the couple known as the Sarajevo Romeo and Juliet. Three years ago, the young Serb man and Muslim woman were killed by snipers while trying to escape the city.

NPR's Adam Hochberg reports on the North Carolina Senate race. Democrats think they have a chance this year to unseat Jesse Helms, but they first face a primary contest next month between Harvey Gantt, the black former mayor of Charlotte who ran unsuccessfully against Helms in 1990, and Charlie Sanders, a white businessman. Many blacks in NC are throwing support to Sanders, because they think he has a better chance of winning and they don't want to face a Helms-Gantt rematch. The 1990 campaign turned into a very nasty race with racist overtones.

NPR's Wendy Schmelzer reports that researchers have isolated the gene that causes Werner's syndrome, an unusual disorder that causes young adults to age prematurely. In addition to helping researchers understand more about that disease, the finding may provide clues to the natural aging process.

Noah talks with Harley Sheffield, a cyclist who was carrying the Olympic torch near Takoma, Washington on Tuesday. Sheffield got a flat tire when he was crossing a bridge and lost hold of the torch.

Tom Manoff listens to The effect of Dolby Surround sound on classical music cd's. In particular 2 cd's, both recorded by engineer John Eargle. Eargle's successful use of Dolby Surround in his recordings come from his style of recording. Tom Manoff says t h e these recordings, know as VR2 (Virtual Reality Recordings) not only sound good on current surround sound systems, and on new expensive surround sound systems, they also sound great on a good old 2 speaker system. (8:00) *** THE MUSIC COMES FROM THE MILLAR BRASS ENSEMBLE'S *** CD: BRASS SURROUND *** DELOS RECORDS 1-800-364-0645 & THE DALLAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONDUCTED BY ANDREW LITTON *** CD: THE 1812 *** OVERTURE DELOS RECORDS. (IN S

Robert talks with NPR's Elizabeth Arnold about a speech Senate Majority Leader Robert Dole made yesterday criticizing President Clinton's policies toward Asia. Dole, who is the presumptive GOP nominee for president, said Clinton has been indecisive and weak, leaving U.S. allies confused. But in some areas, such as extending Most Favored Nation trade status for China, the two candidates agree.

Noah talks with Sharyn McCrumb, the author of a novel about the death of Randall Stargill, and his four sons who come home to witness his passing. As in many of McCrumb's novels, the story is set in East Tennessee and concerns family, history, and the future of the land. McCrumb says she draws on many ideas from Celtic (KELL-tik) history, and that she plays music for inspiration while she writes. Furthermore, she doesn't always know the actual plotline of her mysteries when she begins. ("The Rosewood Casket" is published by Dutton.)

who are participating in a welfare-to-work job training program... Their first paychecks highlight the rewards and pitfalls of their entrance into the work force.

The President added new restrictions to the military's use of mines yesterday but decided against ordering an all-out ban on U.S. use of the weapons. He said his advisors would work to develop an international ban. Opponents of the devices were disappointed by the President's compromise decision.

Commentator Sam Fulwood III says after spending most of his life believing in intergration, he's frustrated by the persistance of racism and finds himself retreating into his own community of middle class blacks...and fears that the opportunity for whites to embrace blacks may have been missed. Fullwood is a reporter for the Los Angeles Times and author of "Waking from the Dream: My Life in the Black Middle Class" published by Anchor books.

Robert talks with Rose Friedman, a 14-year old from New York City, who tells us what teenagers there are saying these days. Lots of new terms are in everyday use there; parents and friends not in the know might completely misunderstand a sentence like: "The concert is going to be butters, mad dope."

Noah and Robert pay tribute to former assistant All Things Considered Producer Akili Ramon Tyson.

Robert Siegel, live from Jerusalem, reports on the day of voting in Israel. Results are not expected for at least a day...but exit poll information will be available. And we'll go to both Labor and Likud party headquarters.

Republicans and President Clinton both want to reduce federal taxes on gasoline. In fact, other countries pay much higher taxes on their gasoline, partly to pay for roads and to ameliorate environmental damage from auto traffic. Environmentalists argue that gas taxes should be high to pay for such costs, but some economists say it's unfair to place such a high burden on this one commodity, which is so crucial to economic activity.

NPR's Mara Liasson reports...a Clinton judicial nominee withdrew his name from consideration today. Florida attorney..Charles Stack..a dmeocratic fundraiser has been criticized by Bob Dole as an example of a bad judicial nomination.

NPR's Dan Charles reports that the role of typewriters in th eUNABOMBER probe has highlighted how law enforcement officials study typewriters in their investigations. Forensics experts can identify the unique signature of an individual typewriter. But the advent of computers and printers has undermined this ability.

An investigative committee in Sacramento has concluded that the county's child-protective system places too much emphasis on family preservation at the expense of children's safety. The committee, which was formed after 3 year-old Adrian Conway was beaten to death at his home, also says that training for case workers could be improved. Robert Siegel speaks with the committee's chair, retired Superior Court Judge Eugene Gualco.

Linda speaks with Father John Beal, associate professor of canon law at Catholic University in Washington, DC. He explains the law of excommunication as it applies to the blanket decree that went into effect yesterday in Lincoln, Nebraska. Twelve organizations have been singled out by Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Lincoln, as being "perilous to the Catholic faith."

NPR's Joe Palca reports that scientists have found new evidence that the human brain may be more flexible than previously believed. New research has found that when blind people read braille, they use a part of the brain that researchers had thought was only used for vision. That suggests the brain can rewire itself in ways never before understood.

A seven-year-old girl trying to become the youngest person to fly across the country died today in a plane crash near Cheyenne, Wyoming. Heather Wessley of Wyoming Public radio reports that Jessica Dubroff was flying a four-seat Cessna with her father and her flight instructor. The plane was leaving Cheyenne in bad weather and crashed in a residential area about a half-mile from the runway. Flyers must be 16 to hold a license under FAA rules.

A study published today in The New England Journal of Medicine shows that young male and female physicians with the same specialty earn equal amounts of money, if they work the same number of hours. Linda Wertheimer speaks with the study's author, Laurence Baker, Professor of Health Research Policy and Economics at Stanford University. Baker says that this is good news, but that among older physicians, men still earn more than women.

NPR's Dan Charles reports that the role of typewriters in th eUNABOMBER probe has highlighted how law enforcement officials study typewriters in their investigations. Forensics experts can identify the unique signature of an individual typewriter. But the advent of computers and printers has undermined this ability.

Reviewer Mark Jenkins reports on the latest cd release, "Keep a Secret," from the midwestern rock band Mysteries of Life. They're not your average classic-rock cover band...Jenkins discovers that the members have an unusual knack for producing catchy melodies of their own. (5:00) (IN S