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Noah speaks with Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, author of "Certain Poor Shepherds", a fictional account of the first Christmas and the travels of a dog and goat drawn by the star over Bethlehem. The question, "Do animals have a sense of divinity?" was raised, and Thomas, who also wrote "The Hidden Life of Dogs", says they do.

NPR's Mandelit Delbarco reports that the plaintiffs have rested their case in the civil trial of OJ Simpson, accused of the "wrongful deaths" of his former wife, Nicole, and her friend Ronald Goldman. The final witness for the plaintiffs was Fred Goldman, father of victim Ron, who testified to the tremendous pain his son's death has caused him. Now, the defense will take over, and is expected to focus on demonstrating flaws in police work following the murders.

Robert Carruthers about a football game that won't be played. Carruthers canceled the school's game with the University of Connecticut because several players were charged with assault and vandalism at a fraternity party.

Commentator Jacob Weisberg wonders about the latest category of crucial swing voters- "soccer moms." He says this categorization of some women is as misleading as the "angry white male" voter from the 1994 election. If you define these women as suburban and professional, they do lean toward Clinton--but this year, it's the men that are actually more fickle and likely to make up the "swing vote."

on the second presidential debate held in San Diego last night.

and Cokie Roberts about last night's presidential debate.

are limiting the number of new homeowner policies they write in coastal communities because of recent hurricane-related losses.

John Parker was a slave, an abolitionist and a businessman. Recently, his memoirs were discovered and published, providing a vivid account of this remarkable man's life. Actor Mississippi Charles Bevel reads excerpts from Parker's book.

of female prisoners by male guards in many state prisons. The Human Rights Watch investigation conducted a two-year study of 11 women's prisons in California, Georgia, New York, Illinois, Michigan, and the District of Columbia.

The cause of the crash of a USAir 737 in Pittsburgh two years ago remains a mystery. Today, the National Transportation Safety Board urged the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct additional research into the cause of the crash. In the meantime, NTSB recommended changes in the rudders on 737 airplanes, since rudder problems have been implicated as a possible cause of the accident. Dan Charles reports.

NPR's Edward Lifson in Serbia reports that tens of thousands of Opposition demonstrators tonight walked to the central cathedral in Belgrade. Led by Serbian priests and Opposition leaders, they're celebrating Christmas Eve according to Serbian Christian Orthodox calendar.

the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago over Meigs Field, a small airport located along Lake Michigan. Under the compromise announced yesterday, the State will continue to operate the airport for five years, after which the City will be allowed to use the land for whatever purpose it wants.

Senior news analyst Daniel Schorr says that the Clinton administration has backed itself into a corner with its objection (born of the presidential campaign) to the reelection of Boutros Boutros-Ghali as Secretary General of the United Nations.

with the federal assistance program to help out people affected by the storms.

Scientists have successfully developed new drugs to fight AIDS, but a vaccine is still not in sight. Some have blamed the government's approach -- saying that it favored drug development over vaccines. Others say that the virus is just too tricky -- and that it will still be years before a vaccine is perfected. NPR's Richard Harris looks at the status of HIV vaccine research today.

NPR's Julie McCarthy reports that officials from the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum are working out details of a plan to bring about the most ambitious trade liberalization plan in history. But as they were meeting, there were noisy demonstrations against the plan on the streets of Manila. Opponents complain that freer trade will allow large multi-national corporations to exploit the region's poor and the environment.

President Clinton's victory speech...

of the House of Representatives.

NPR's Melissa Block reports on the victory of Democrat Carolyn McCarthy, giving her a House seat from New York state. McCarthy was widowed after the Long Island Railroad shootings, and defeated incumbent Republican freshman Daniel Frisa after he voted to repeal an assault weapons ban.

from Morning Edition listeners.

Stephanie Griffith reports on the newfound popularity of American spirituals and gospel music in Paris. But there is some controversy over whose music it really is and whether it can be sung by just anyone. Say some, the color of one's skin or the country of one's origin does not make a difference in this matter - the despair, the "blues", that accompanies heartfelt spirituals and gospel is a human condition.

Leon Panetta about changes in the cabinet President Clinton may make and what's in store for the second term of the Clinton administration.

Robert talks with Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Center for People and the Press, about yesterday's elections and what the results mean for the nation. Kohut says that although there are discernable patterns in voting, there is no really defined pattern of what all the results of the races mean politically. Overall, mainstream political ideas carried the day...and neither the Republicans nor the Democrats ended up with a mandate.

Junot Diaz is a young writer who was born in the Dominican Republic. He was raised there, but also in New Jersey, and he has just published a collection of stories about growing up on his old home island and in the U.S. The book is called Drown.

Commentator Joyce Maynard makes a list of the qualities she finds appealing in a man... and finds that actor Steve Martin fits the bill. Then she ends up meeting him. This is the story of their meeting.