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NPR's Cheryl Corley reports on the end of "Social Promotions" in the Chicago school system. Under this policy, students were graduated to high school even if they did not meet eighth grade graduation standards. Now students will only be able to graduate to high school if they meet academic requirements.

NPR's Claudio Sanchez reports that millions of kids in the US still receive "bilingual education" (instruction in their native languages and in English) despite widespread criticism that the practice keeps non-native English speakers at a disadvantage. Supporters of the program say kids with no English skills need help keeping up in their studies until they become proficient in English, and they want government funding for the program to continue. There's very little hard evidence on the effectiveness of bilingual ed, so the debate over the program tends to rest on ideological differences over the status of English vis a vis other languages spoken in this country.

NPR's Vicky Que reports that a new study is raising questions about whether certain hormone-based contraceptives may increase the risks of becoming infected with the AIDS virus. In the study, researchers found that monkeys that received the hormone progesterone were more likely to be infected with SIV, the monkey equivament of HIV, than monkeys that did not receive the hormone. The findings suggest that contraceptives like Norplant may not only NOT protect against HIV, but may actually enhance a woman's chances of becoming infected. Researchers cautioned, however, that more research is needed to determine whether the findings hold true for humans.

NPR's Eric Weiner reports on Israeli prime minister-elect Benjamin Netanyahu's first speech to the Israeli people. Netanyahu narrowly defeated incumbant Shimon Peres to become the nation's youngest-ever head of government. In his speech Netanyahu commited his government to continuing the peace process with the Palestinians and Arab neighbors.

NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports from Abidjan on the saga of an overloaded freighter carrying nearly four thousand people who fled the recent fighting in Liberia. The leaky vessel set out from Liberia nine days ago, but has been sailing up and down the west African coast, as Ivory Coast and Ghana have refused to accept the refugees. Today Ghana allowed the ship to dock, but many of whom are suffering from dysentery. The reluctance of west African nations to accept more refugees follows warnings from diplomats that the international community may abandon Liberia if its warring factions fail to make peace. (3:00) CUTAWAY 1A 0:59 1B 4. JURY REFORM - In Los Angeles, Virginia Biggar reports on a soon-to-be-released report on how to reform the California jury system. Reform has been on the legal agenda for years, but the OJ Simpson trial highlighted many flaws in the system, say critics. Recommendations for change vary from paying jurors more to punishing potential jurors for avoiding jury duty.

the new labor initiative with a well-coordinated counterattack. They plan to label the campaign as an attempt by Washington union bosses to tell rank and file members what to do in an effort to enhance the union leadership's power. The GOP has filed complaints about union spending with the Federal Election Commission, but the law governing such independent expenditures is murky. Peter Overby reports.

- For several years the Stratfield public elementary school in Fairfield, Connecticut has scored high marks for academic excellence with a well established reputation as one of the best public schools in the nation. But Tandaleya Wilder of Connecticut Public Radio reports that recent allegations of test tampering have tarnished Stratfield's image...and led to an investigation of the school.

Noah talks with Chuck Culpepper, a sports columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader, about Rick Pitino's decision to keep his job as the head coach of the University of Kentucky men's basketball team. Pitino had been offered a five-year, thirty million dollar deal with the New Jersey Nets, which would have made him the head coach of that team, as well as the director of basketball operations. Culpepper claims that Pitino's reluctance to move comes as no surprise, even though Pitino hails from the New York-New Jersey area, and the deal would have included partial ownership of the Nets. Pitino has claimed that he likes the sense of community that Lexington provides, as opposed to the center-less sprawl of the New Jersey suburbs.

Muslims all over the world are celebrating the Feast of Sacrifice today, marking the end of the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. There are several rituals performed during the pilgrimage and to better understand them we asked three Americans who practice Islam to reflect on their experiences.

NPR's Elizabeth Arnold reports...republicans on capitol hill are sturggling to come up with a way to pay for the temporary gas tax repeal they want to vote into law. And democrats want to make sure consumers get the benefits of any tax cut. Democrats also are trying to come up with a way to bring to a vote..legislation to raise the minimum wage.

Yesterday, members of the group, Colorado State Senator Charles Duke and representatives of the FBI met face-to-face for the first time... Though the groups were separated by a barbed-wire fence, the talks signaled a degree of optimism about the possibility of a peaceful settlement.

Noah Adams speaks with mountain climber Jon Krakauer about his experience last week on Mt. Everest. Krakauer and his team were caught near the peak when a storm hit on Friday, killing at least 9 climbers. Krakauer, author of "Into the Wild" (Villard: New York, 1996) and a contributing editor of Outside Magazine, spoke to us from Katmandu, Nepal.

Bobby Hill reviews Casandra Wilson's current cd New Moon Daughter. It is a collection of songs by contemporary songwriters done with a hushed dirgeful voice. (6:30) THE CD IS CALLED NEW MOON DAUGHTER BY CASANDRA WILSON ON BLUENOTE RECORDS. (IN S

NPR's Sue Simpson reports on the anxiety in South Africa's mixed-race, or "colored," community, in the new era of black majority rule. Under apartheid, coloreds were treated better than blacks--they could own businesses and got preferential treatment in housing and jobs. Now many fear that they will become second-class citizens in the new South Africa, as Nelson Mandela's government tries to improve the lot of the black community.

Today is Cinco de Mayo, a day of celebration for Mexican-Americans, and among the foods found at fiestas today is a dish called menudo, which is prepared from tripe. Tripe is the inner lining of a cow's stomach. NPR's Ina Jaffe sent us this report about a California company that manufactures menudo in a can.

NPR's Steve Inskeep (INZ-keep) reports on the ruins of a Scottish castle that stand on a tiny island in the middle of the Hudson River in upstate New York ... ruins which appear on the misty water like a chunk of debris from some medieval flood. The castle was built as a home and warehouse by Francis Bannerman, a turn-of-the-century weapons dealer. Today, his castle is seen by thousands of commuters in passing trains...and an effort is underway to stabilize the ruins before they collapse into the harbor.

Linda discusses the news that delegates to the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting have approved a boycott of Walt Disney Company products, including their movies and theme parks. The Baptists disapprove of certain Disney policies on homosexual employees and Disney's release of certain films. She talks with Wiley Drake, a pastor of the First Southern Baptist Church in Buena Park, California, who brought the vote on the boycott to the floor.

Commentator Kristine Holmgren says in the nation's heartland, young people are suffering from the same issues as the rest of the nation---single parent familes, poverty...and then isolation, boredom and a tendency to reckless behavior.

one of the organizers of a coalition of American Catholics who are attempting to change some of the Church's most established traditions. Though the Pope has proven staunchly resistant to the sorts of changes the group wants to foster -- the ordination of women and the permission of marriage in the priesthood, for example -- the coalition is hoping to influence Church policy in the future by demonstrating grass-roots support now.

Three top Air Force officials have been relieved of command in connection with the plane crash that killed Commerce Secretary Ron Brown and 34 other people in Croatia. The Air Force says the brigadier general and two colonels responsible for the 86th Airlift Wing have lost the confidence of their commander, because of facts revealed in the probe of the plane crash. The statement does not assign any blame for the crash. The investigation continues. NPR's Martha Raddatz reports on today's developments.

Israel will elect its next prime minister on Wednesday. Robert talks with an Arab family from Acre (AY-kr), a coastal city in northern Israel. The Mansour family, and their inlaws, have prospered in the peace that Prime Minister Shimon Peres has celebrated throughout his campaign. While most Arab Israelis vote for obscure leftist Arab parties, Israel's Arab elite generally hopes to maintain the relative peace which is now prevailing in Israel. The Mansour family will likely support Peres in Wednesday's election.

NPR's John Ydstie reports that the critical Cockpit Voice Recorder being analyzed at National Transportation Safety Board headquarters in Washington indicates that there was a fire in the passenger compartment of the aircraft before the plane went down.

Charles de Ledesma (duh-luh-DEZ-mah) looks into London's easy listening music scene. Deejays are combing thrift shops for old records from the 50s, 60s and 70s, and bands like the Mike Flowers Orchestra and the Gentle People are playing live easy listening music at nightclubs devoted to both easy listening and cheesey listening! At the Madame Jojo's, the fare is strictly easy, while at the club Cheese, cheesey listening rules.

Bob Dole ended his Senate career today with an emotional farewell speech before a packed Senate chamber. He reminisced about the joys and struggles of his life, including 35 years in Congress, and telling some of his favorite anecdotes about other senators. NPR's Elizabeth Arnold reports on Dole's last day as Majority Leader, as he now turns his attention full-time to the presidential campaign.

NPR's Anne Garrels reports from Moscow that Russia and Britain are trying to settle a problem over charges of spying. Russia says it is considering kicking out nine British diplomats Russia says ran a spy ring. The British say Russia hasn't told them details of the allegations and threatened to retaliate.