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Craig speaks with girl scouts attending today's 85th Anniversary sing along on the mall in Washington, DC. More than 50-thousand girl scouts from half a dozen staates gathered to celebrate scouting.

This past week, a handful of Senate republicans called for the ouster of Senator Mark Hatfield as Chairman of the Appropriations Committee as punishment for Hatfield's failure to vote in favor of the balanced budget amendment. The effort failed, and prompted these comments from a democratic supporter of the amendment, Senator James Exon of Nebraska.

Jacki Lyden examines the issue of political freedom in the third part of her series on Iran..She visits an intellectual magazine that was first published just 18 months ago. The magazine is called Goftegu which means "dialogue" in farsi and is a sign of a slight relaxation in the Government's attitude towards freedom of thought and expression. However, as Jacki Lyden reports, Iran has a long way to go before many of its intellectuals will be free to fully express their ideas.

Pinellas County commissioners voted not to raise a tax on gasoline, even though the money would be used to meet a shortfall in road repair funds.

Chris Arnold (f) reports that flood waters have cut off the Monterey Peninsula 100 miles south of San Francisco. Thousands of people were forced from their homes as the Salinas and Pajara rivers flooded some of the nations richest farmlands.

Jacki Lyden talks to college undergraduates enjoying their annual Spring break in Florida. The students are partying at the Baja Beachclub in Fort Lauderdale..all of whom are, of course, having a rather loud and boisterous time.

The Didgeridoo is a musical instrument that was invented many thousands of years ago by the Aborigines of northern Australia. A branch of a eucalyptus tree hollowed out by termites, this unusual looking and sounding instrument has become increasingly popular outside of Australia. Daniel talks with Nomad, an Australian musician who has just released a CD in which he combines the digeridoo with other musical forms from Africa and from Native Americans. Nomad introduces us to the digerdioo and tries to explain the specific technique used in playing it. (12:00) (The CD is called "Nomad" and is on the label AMI, Australian Music International, 253 West 18th Street NY NY 10011).

Abortion rights advocates and anti-abortion groups agree on something? Conservatives and environmentalists pursuing a common cause? NPR's Jon Greenberg reports that surprising coalitions are popping up in the new political landscape.

Joe is joined by three editorial page writers from around the country -- Mindy Cameron of the Seattle Times, Bob Kittle of the San Diego Union-Tribune and Nick Monsurat of the Burlington Free Press -- to discuss how the Republican Contract with America is playing out beyond the Beltway.

George Fredrich Handel and Jimmy Hendrix didn't have a lot in common besides making music. However, had they lived at the same time, they would have been neighbors in London. Jacki talks with Stanley Sadie who represents the trust of George Fredrich Handel and Cathy Etchingham who lived with Jimmy Hendrix. The Handel Trust wants to take over the Hendrix house.

Last week the Republicans in Congress approved a 200 billion dollar tax cut over the next five years. But as NPR's Jon Greenberg some Republicans are questioning the wisdom of cutting taxes before the deficit is reduced.

Joe talks to Charles Walston, the bandleader of The Vidalias, about their new CD, "Melodyland." on Upstart Records telephone (617) 354-0700. He says that he isn't going to give up his day job yet... it is hard to make a living being in a bar band... but starting a band in your forties as part of a midlife crisis is better than playing golf.

On Friday the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that February had one of the lowest unemployment rates in the last 4 years. But that's not necessarily good news for everyone... Daniel talks to two brothers, both economics professors, who sit on either side of the issue. Robert Gordon from Northwestern University in Illinois and David Gordon from the New School in New York.

The biggest welfare state in the country turns out to be a commonwealth, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, where nearly sixty percent of the population receives some form of welfare. Danny visits the island and examines why welfare is so widespread...it's linked to federal tax breaks that companies receive as an incentive to do business there. And he talks to Puerto Ricans about the impact welfare has had on the commonwealth's psyche.

Shirley Jahad reports on a Chicago ordinance that bans the sale of spray paint and thick markers. The measure was passed in an effort to reduce the city's graffitti problem. The paint industry has been challenging the law, which a Supreme Court justice this month refused to overturn.

The film "I am Cuba" is a Soviet propaganda film made in 1964 that is being shown for the first time in the United States. Daniel talks to film director Martin Scorcese who is presenting the film and Russian poet Yevgeny Yevteshenko who wrote the script about the film's artistic and cultural value.

Joe talks with Jon Miller, play-by-play announcer for Major League Baseball's Baltimore Orioles and for E-S-P-N. Miller is an announcer without a team as his employer, the Orioles, is refusing to field a team of players to replace those who are on strike. The Orioles are the only major league team to not field a replacement team, so Miller is waiting and wondering if he'll be working.

NPR's Chitra Ragavan reports on a House of Representatives subcommittee proposal to cut seven-point-two billion dollars from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD.

NPR's Jon Greenberg reports that two Americans being held by Iraq for alledgedly tresspassing on Iraqi soil, were convicted today and sentenced to 8 years in prison.

Jacki talks with Washington Post reporter Nora Boustany who has in Algeria. Boustany reports violence in Algeria is increasing as the people there struggle to find their identity and place in the world.

Madeleine Brand reports on a public education controversy in New Jersey. The state's high court recently ruled that there is a gross disparity between poor urban and rich suburban public schools. The state is trying to restore equity by cutting back the amount of money is spends on suburban schools. Urban school superintendants fear the money saved from the rich won't wind up in the hands of the poor.

Jacki speaks with Oscar Newman, an architect and city planner at the institute for community design analysis in New York, about "defensible spaces." They're an approach to revitalizing inner city spaces by closing off neighborhoods with gates that, in effect, turn neighborhood streets into cul-de-sacs. Newman says defensible spaces have been tried in several cities with good results: they give residents a more personal and intimiate connection to their neighborhoods, which translates into safer and more vibrant living spaces.

NPR's John Greenberg reports on the changing relationship between Washington and statehouses. The republican-controlled Congress has promised states that it will reduce the number of mandates it imposes on states.

NPR's John Ydstie reports on the myths and realities of balancing the federal budget. Congress is currently debating whether to pass a balanced budget amendment to the constitution.

Many Americans are still complaining about the state of education in America. NPR's Don Gonyea reports on a "charter school" in Michigan... one of many such special schools across the country that are providing an alternative to a standard public school education.