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NPR's Peter Overby talks with Linda about Charles Trie, the Little Rock businessman who raised some 600 thousand dollars in contributions for President Clinton's legal defense fund. Earlier this week, the chief trustee of that defense fund announced that the money was being returned. Trie is more than a long-time Clinton friend. He's a member of Democratic National Committee's "National Finance Board"...a fundraising structure in which members agree to raise or give 350 thousand dollars a year.

Steve Krueger of member station KPLU in Tacoma, Washington, reports on the apparent suicide of Evan Hunziger. Hunziger was held for months by North Korean officials after begin accused of spying. Hunziger claimed he was spreading the gospel. He was released in November and returned home but was found today dead of a gunshot wound.

- Host Jacki Lyden speaks with Bill Brzezinsky, the owner of a cafe in the dusty, economically depressed town of Roby, Texas, where a number of farmers pooled their resources and won the state lottery recently, to the tune of $46 million. Brzezinsky says the sudden infusion of wealth hasn't changed much in Roby. But he's offering a new millionaire's special on his menu.

Personal bankruptcies have increased sharply in the past year. A new study puts the increase at 26% from the year before...a development that many economists find surprising. Analysts say it's unusual for bankruptcy to be increasing without being accompanied by a recession. NPR's Elaine Korry reports.

Robert talks with reporter Eric Lyman in Lima about the tense hostage situation in the Peruvian capital, where leftist guerrillas are holding at least two hundred people -- including senior government officials and foreign diplomats -- at the Japanese ambassador's residence. The rebels took over the residence during a party last night; they're demanding the release of jailed comrades. The guerrillas, who belong to the small Tupac Amaru (TOO-pock ah-MAHR-oo) Revolutionary Movement, have released about one hundred seventy hostages, most of them women.

formerly part of the Soviet Union, now an independent state. Uzbekistan is redefining its historical past. It now traces its origins to the 14th Century conqueror, Emir Timur, known in the West as Tamerlane.

NPR's Martha Raddatz reports on another hearing on Capitol Hill today, discussing the effects of possible chemical exposure during the Persian Gulf War. The Pentagon announced today that it is looking for scientists to conduct more studies on how low-level exposure to chemical weapons affects both people and animals. The research is part of the Pentagon's efforts to solve the mystery of why thousands of veterans who fought in the Gulf War have suffered a range of ailments including nausea, chronic fatigue and memory loss.

For the first time since 1979, Iraqi oil started flowing to markets legally today. It's a result of the UN oil-for-food resolution that relaxes the stringent embargo against Saddam Hussein's nation. US officials express confidence that the UN-monitored oil sales will not erode the general sanctions program and the grand coalition that opposed Saddam Hussein in Desert Storm. But analysts are not so sure. They expect nations in the region will see the deal as a green light to resume trading and smuggling with Iraq. NPR's Ted Clark reports.

NPR's Adam Hochberg reports that the insurance commissioner in Florida is threatening to revoke the license of the Prudential Insurance company to do business in his state. The commissioner is unhappy with a proposed settlement to reimburse thousands of customers who were sold unnecessary life insurance policies.

taking place in the breakaway Russian republic.

which the Supreme Court hears today. At issue is a Kansas law, similar to those in five other states, that allows authorities to commit a convicted sex offender to a mental institution indefinitely and involuntarily, even after that person has served a full sentence.

Eric Weiner reports from the West Bank city of Hebron that as Palestinian and Israeli negotiators hammer out the final technical details for the long-waited Israeli withdrawal from the city, the mood of both Palestinian and Israeli residents of the town remains glum and full of apprehension about what might happen next.

The White House announced an agreement with several airlines today, under which the carriers will make sure that their cargo holds have fire detectors. The decision is a result of the ValuJet crash in the Everglades that killed 110 people last May. Investigators say the accident was caused by fire in the cargo hold. NPR's Steve Inskeep has a report.

NPR's Martha Raddatz talks with Noah about how the Pentagon is discounting reports that the Air Force is clearing the General who was in charge of the military housing facility where 19 US airmen were killed in a terrorist bombing in Saudi Arabia last June. An earlier report..by a special task force headed by a retired Army general...had faulted the Pentagon's entire command structure for paying insufficient attention to terrorist threats.

has asked the federal government to take over many of the city's financially-crippled programs, including Medicare, Medicaid and prisons...or the District will have to cut much of that one billion dollar bill. Other cities pass many costs onto their state government, D.C. doesn't have that option.

NPR's Mark Roberts reports on today's testimony at the trial of Oklahoma City bombing suspect Timothy McVeigh. A publisher of a series of books on how to make a bomb described such a book that McVeigh owned.

Police are advising commuters to stay home, as heavy rains follow a massive snow storm that dropped as much as 14 inches of snow in some areas of western Washington state. Art Hughes reports on how people in Seattle are coping with more snow and rain than they've seen in decades.

has agreed on a plan to eliminate certain tariffs.

the Bush National Security Council, about the administration's options after they learn to what extent Iran was involved in the bombing of the U.S. base in Saudi Arabia.

Noah talks with Ken Auletta, who writes about the media for The New Yorker, about reports today that Michael Ovitz is stepping down as the number-two executive for the Walt Disney Company. Auletta says that Ovitz' apparent departure is not surprising to industry- watchers...there have been many tensions within the company in the last six months.

to be held in Washington, DC today. The meeting will bring together hundreds of people of different ethnic and religious backgrounds to discuss their differences. The Anti-Defamation League pulled out of the conference after learning that a minister from the Nation of Islam would take part.

NPR's Claudio Sanchez reports that President Clinton wants to send thousands of tutors out to help kids learn to read. Experts in the field say these tutors will help kids practice their reading, and that could make a big difference. But they say that kids with the most serious reading problems will still require trainined professionals to deal with their problems, and the President's proposal won't help them.

NPR's Andy Bowers reports from Moscow on the meeting today between Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and her counterpart, Foreign Minister Primakov ((PREE-muh-koff)). Despite several hours of talks about a charter between NATO and Russia, both diplomats say there's more work to do.

A plan to build a new satellite-based communications network that would provide wireless internet service around the globe received a boost yesterday. Boeing has announced that it will be the lead contractor on Teledesic Corporation's $9 billion plan to put a network of low-orbit satellites in space. But Teledisic may find the skies crowded by the time it gets there. There are at least three similar projects already in the works. Teledesic, is owned by Bill Gates and cellular phone billionaire, Craig McCaw. NPR's Wendy Kaufman reports.

to the opening of a county-funding natural healing clinic.