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NPR's Ted Clark reports that President Bush today certifies countries as being cooperative in the war against drugs. Countries that are not certified could face sanctions. Some members of Congress propose to alter or even drop the certification process on grounds that it is condescending to other governments and fails to produce the desired result. The Bush administration says the process should be re-evaluated.

Eight-hundred and forty pounds of cocaine were uncovered in a tunnel on Monday by U.S. Customs Special Agents. The handmade tunnel runs about 25 feet from a sewer to a house. This is the sixth tunnel found in Nogales since 1995. Robert Siegel talks with Matthew Allen, group supervisor for the Office of Investigative Services for U.S. Customs, about the tunnel.

Banning Eyre reviews A Lo Cubano by the Cuban hip-hop quartet called Orishas. While spin-off releases related to the Buena Vista Social Club are captivating music fans outside Cuba, on the island of Cuba, the Orishas are big. This band is now based in France, though they insist they are not in political exile.

Commentator Robert Franklin says that the pardon controversy has demonstrated to the whole country what the African-American community has always known: You are only entitled to as much justice as you can afford. Money and celebrity tend to distort the process of distributing justice.

NPR's Robert Smith reports on the day after the major earthquake in Seattle. Officials are touring the area, assessing damage and everyone is cleaning up.

This year, for the first time, all California eighth graders are required to take algebra. As NPR's Mandalit Del Barco reports, the move is part of a national trend toward having younger students study the subject, which is considered a "gatekeeper" course for access to higher education.

Robert Siegel talks with Robert P. Moses about Radical Equations, his new book that translates algebra into common English. Moses is using this method with African American children in the South as part of a contemporary civil rights movement based on education.

Robert Siegel talks with NPR's Melissa Block about this week's testimony in the trial of four men accused of conspiring with Osama Bin Laden to blow up the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998. An FBI agent has testified about his interview with one of the defendants -- Mohammed Sadeek Odeh. Odeh was a member of the group headed by Osama Bin Laden, who is accused of masterminding the attacks. The FBI agent said Odeh told him that he wasn't directly involved in the bombings, but that he felt morally responsible.

The earthquake that hit Seattle wasn't that much of a surprise -- the area is seismically active and geologists expect this kind of thing. But as NPR's David Kestenbaum reports, it does provide some lessons on what breaks and how to build better.

Linda Wertheimer speaks with Philip Delves-Broughton, N.Y. bureau chief of the Daily Telegraph, who is covering the trial of rap singer Puffy Combs. Combs is on trial for weapons possession and bribery charges. He testified in his own defense today. Delves-Broughton says that Combs denied the charges, and was very composed under cross-examination, making for an impressive witness. He also says Combs has been dressing conservatively, more like a banker than a rap star.

Robert Siegel and Linda Wertheimer read some of our listner's comments sent to us.

NPR's Mara Liasson reports on today's congressional hearing on the continuing Clinton pardon dispute. The House Government Reform Committee called Democratic donor Beth Dozoretz to testify about her knowledge of lobbying on behalf of a pardon for fugitive Marc Rich. Dozoretz invoked her fifth amendment right against self-incrimination and answered no questions. The panel also questioned former top Clinton aides. Clinton had waived his right to executive privilege, allowing them to testify.

Linda Wertheimer talks with Steve Saltzburg, professor of law at George Washington University School of Law. He specializes in criminal law and procedure and was a Department of Justice official from 1988-89. Saltzburg talks about what Congress can do as a result of the hearings on the Rich pardon. He says, despite the fact that Congress has no power to overturn the pardon, Congress can turn over any evidence of laws broken during the pardon process to the Attorney General for possible prosecution, and may consider introducing a constitutional ammendment. Saltzburg believes that Congress is more likely to suggest that future presidents should follow the normal procedures for review of pardon requests by the Department of Justice.

NPR's Jennifer Ludden in Jerusalem reports on a special Israeli commission investigating the deaths of 13 Israeli Arabs last October. The victims were shot dead by security forces during demonstrations in support of the Palestinian uprising in the West Bank and Gaza.

The work of former Pittsburgh Courier photographer, Charles H. "Teenie" Harris, is being shown at the Westmorland Museum of American Art in Greensburg, Pa. The pictures had been controlled by a private dealer for over 10 years. A recent court decision released the photos, which have been moved to the museum and are being studied by scholars. A new documentary about Harris' life called One Shot debuted at the museum earlier this month. Linda Wertheimer talks with Henry Simonds, co-curator for the Teenie Harris exhibit and editor and associate producer of the film.

The Capitol Steps perform a song satirizing the Presidential pardon controversy.

In the second of two stories, NPR's Richard Harris hangs-out with some Americans living in Antarctica. They support the scientific research station there, working as janitors and plumbers and administrators. These blue-collar workers are here for adventure -- like survival training on a floating glacier.

NPR's Jack Speer reports that Congress has approved legislation making it harder to file for bankruptcy. The bill is similar to one passed by the House last year, which was vetoed by President Clinton.

Commentator Charles Eisendrath narrowly survived an airplane crash into the jungle. As the plane plunged into the canopy, he says, his thoughts were more practical than panicked.

Host Bob Edwards talks with Ohio State Representative Tim Grendell. He and his wife, former Representative Diane Grendell, found a creative way around Ohio's legislative term-limits.

Fred Mogul from member station WHYY reports on the difficulties faced by conservative parishes of Episcopal and Anglican Churches. Leaders of the Anglican Church begin meeting today in North Carolina to discuss this, and other issues.

NPR's Mara Liasson reports on the House Committee hearings to review the pardons issued by former-President Clinton. Several of Clinton's former aides testified yesterday, claiming that he granted a pardon to fugitive financier Marc Rich strictly because of the virtues of Rich's case...NOT because Clinton received money from Rich's ex-wife.

NPR's Sarah Chayes reports French voters will cast ballots this month for mayors and city councilors under a new law requiring political parties to field equal numbers of male and female candidates. The idea of mandating gender parity on party lists originally met resistance. The French public, however, has now embraced the idea enthusiastically. Until now, France has had the lowest rate of participation in politics of any European Union nation.

Geraldine Coughlan reports from The Hague that the international war crimes tribunal has handed down indictments related to attacks by Yugoslav forces on the city of Dubrovnik in 1991 during Croatia's war of independence. The court has not revealed the names of the defendants nor released the text of the indictment. The individuals named have been charged with murder, attacks on civilians and destruction of historic monuments -- in breach of the 1949 Geneva Conventions. The medieval walled city of Dubrovnik, on the Adriatic coast, has been designated a world heritage site by the United Nations.

NPR's Wendy Kaufman reports that President Bush has declared parts of Washington state a federal disaster area. Damage from Wednesday's earthquake is estimated at around 2-billion dollars.