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Kansas asked the Supreme Court today to allow the state to keep pedophiles and other so-called "sexual predators" confined after they have served their prison sentences. Kansas says the measure is needed to prevent new acts of violence. But the lawyer for a convict that Kansas wants to keep confined says he should not be punished for acts he has not committed. The state's highest court ruled for the convict, saying Kansas law violates the right to due process because it allows prisoners to be committed to mental hospitals without proof that they are mentally ill. NPR's Phillip Davis has a report of the day's arguments at the Supreme Court.

Commentator Christopher Caldwell says that affirmative action draws a more negative polling response than any other government program; it's an affront to due process and an invitation to racial strife. Kemp has called it a 'wedge' issue and says he will not campaign on it. But 'wedge' issues are what politics is about, says Caldwell.

NPR's Tom Gjelten reports on the significance of today's postponement of municipal elections in Bosnia. It's one more indication that the peace process is struggling to survive, since it is getting minimal support from the ethnic factions in Bosnia. The result could be the continued presence of US troops in Bosnia, well past the deadline for their withdrawal.

- Host Jacki Lyden speaks with former Secretary of State James Baker, considered the architect of the Middle East peace process for his role in conveneing the first regional peace talks in Madrid five years ago. Baker warns that Israel's intransigence is endangering Middle East peace and the United States must be "forceful and aggressive" in its diplomacy to prevent the collapse of all that has been achieved so far.

Linda speaks with presidential historian Michael Beschloss {BESH-loss} about whether current scandals (Clinton's campaign financaing, Gingrich's admissions to the House Ethics Committee) have weakened Americans' faith in politicians and in our political process. Beschloss argues that due to special prosecutors and increased scrutiny of those in office, politics today is actually much cleaner than in the past.

NPR's Ann Cooper reports from Kigali on the relief community's efforts to resettle the roughly half-million Rwandan refugees who have returned from Zaire over the past few days. United Nations officials say that the process has been relatively orderly, given the massive numbers of people who suddenly started pouring across the border last Friday.

Danny talks to New York Times correspondent Roger Cohen about a vote in Algeria to change the constitution so that Islam is the official religion of the country, but which bans Islamic political parties. Cohen says man Algerians most are calling the process fraudulent and he predicts fighting that has left thousands dead in Algeria over the past five years, will continue.

working on political campaigns this year. From high schoolers to recent college graduates, the young political aspirants are getting hands-on experience in the election process.

- In Cairo, plans for a summit between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and PLO chief Yasir Arafat collapsed as neither leader felt prepared to clinch a deal over an Israeli troops withdrawal from Hebron. NPR's Sunni Khalid reports that the troubles over Hebron are casting a pall over the entire Middle East peace process.

Commentator Mickey Edwards says he has no sympathy for journalists who say there was no news at the GOP convention--he says watching the parties speak and meet is part of the democratic process...it is self-government at work.

Watershed, a new novel by Percival Everett, takes the reader to the sparsely populated Native American territory of the West. It is there that a young scientist has gone to map the land for water, but in the process he happens upon a local murder. Alan Cheuse has this review. (Stations: Watershed is published by Graywolf Press.)

NPR's Martha Raddatz reports that today marks the anniversary of an event that changed the future of Bosnia. One year ago, a mortar shell exploded in a crowded marketplace. 37 civilians died. The massacre was the catalyst that convinced NATO to be more aggressive. The resulting NATO air strikes against Bosnian Serb military positions continued until all three warring factions in the former Yugoslavia agreed to establish a peace process.

NPR's Eric Weiner reports from Gaza that almost four months after the election of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, all progress toward Palestinian self-rule begun by the Middle East peace process is stalled. Surprisingly, that has not yet eroded Yasser Arafat's position, and Arafat remains popular despite being unable to show any progress. But that situation won't last forever.

Noah talks to the executive at Orion Pictures in charge of international marketing of movies... and several foreign buyers. International sales account for a tremendous chunk of the Hollywood money chest - with foreign buyers contributing early on in the movie making process. It appears that people all over the world are as obsessed with the American dream as we are.

NPR's Tom Gjelten reports that President Clinton and Congress are gearing up for a showdown over the administration's decision to certify Mexico as fully cooperating in the drug war. A number of lawmakers have vowed to overturn the certification. Some observers say this fight proves that the annual certification process is not worth the diplomatic and political trouble it causes.

The signing of the agreement on Hebron between Israel and the Palestinians has proven to have far-reaching implications. Most of the Arab world was watching to see what conservative Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would do in those negotiations. The fact that the peace process has continued has raised hopes that a peace agreement might be reached between Syria and Israel as well...which would go a long way toward achieving a comprehensive peace in the Middle East. The United States is expected to push for such an agreement between the two nations soon. NPR's Eric Weiner reports.

From Jerusalem, Laurie Neff reports that the Middle East peace process is facing a new crisis. Palestinians are furious over recent Israeli moves to build a new settlement in East Jerusalem, and their staging of a smaller-than-expected withdrawal from rural occupied territory in the West Bank. Israel's moves have brought the nation strong international criticism...even from the normally moderate King Hussein of Jordan, with whom Netanyahu met personally only two weeks ago. (3:30) 2B CUTAWAY 0:59 Funder 0:29 XPromo 0:29 CUTAWAY 2B 0:29 RETURN2 0:29 NEWS 2:59 NEWS 1:59 THEME MUSIC 0:29 2C

More than 20 historically Black colleges have used the CARES Act to wipe out their students' outstanding tuition balances. Erasing their debt, HBCU leaders say, benefits the students, and the school.

The community members known as "violence interrupters," can play a vital role diffusing potential gun violence retaliation in neighborhoods that don't trust police.

Despite having gotten good reviews for his guest-hosting stint, new host (and executive producer) Mike Richards has found himself greeted with mixed feelings at best.

The U.S. is sending some troops back to Afghanistan. The FDA authorized additional COVID-19 shots to some. And, a record numbers of migrants came to the border in July.

The report covering a four-week period also showed Florida facilities had the second-lowest worker vaccination rate and lagged in vaccinating residents

As legal battles heat up, the Department of Education will consider expanding the "hope scholarship" to provide access to vouchers for families against mask mandates.

Research shows that snapping too many pictures may harm your ability to retain memories. But selfie addicts, don't despair! There are techniques to make photography enhance memory, not undermine it.

Maryse Condé's new novel follws a lonely man, an obstetrician who adopts an orphaned baby girl and tries to find her family — it's an examination of loss and grief on a personal and national level.