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Commentator Andrei Codrescu is quite struck by Timothy Leary's decision to have his suicide be a live event on the internet.

NPR's Dan Charles reports on a congressional hearing held today on airplane safety inspections. During the hearing, an Federal Aviation Administration safety inspector testified from behind a screen, with his voice distorted, that FAA safety inspections are inadequate. The FAA defended its inspections, saying the agency was doing the best it could with limited resources.

NPR's Joe Palca reports on the murky ethical questions that can arise during medical research. Palca tells the story of a woman with multiple sclerosis who volunteered to test an experimental drug. She says she was promised a free supply of the medication in exchange for her participation. Medical ethicists say patients should never be made promises like that, and should not enter studies with the expectation that they will benefit personally.

News Analyst Daniel Schorr says that President Clinton of late has spoken of a streamlined--yet effective--government, and has been developing this theme since his State of the Union speech in January.

Last Saturday, Washington Mayor Marion Barry, left town last Saturday, on a personal hiatus, he said, to recover from a spiritual and physical breakdown. He says he took "inventory" of himself and found that he needed spiritual healing because he began to see "tell-tale signs of spiritual relapse and physical exhaustion." Where do these code words come from , though? Robert Siegel talks with Washington Post editor Richard Leiby (LIBE-ee) about the incorporation of "reformation and transformation language into DC politics.

Chris Arnold reports on Scott Cook and Tom Proulx (PROO), founders of Intuit, the hugely successful creater of home finance computer software. Ten years ago, the company almost went under, but they manaaged to survive by mortgaging their homes, borrowing from their parents' retirement money, and working very long days. Now, they sell "Quicken," the most popular home finance program in the world.

Pierce thinks its a good idea.

Noah talks to Daniel Yergin, President of the Cambridge Energy Research associates, about why people in America are so quick to suspect a conspiracy when oil prices are skyrocketing the way they have been lately. Yergin says proposals to roll back the 4.3 cent gas tax, cries of foul play, and President Clinton's plan to sell oil reserves don't focus on the source of the increase. Yergin is a Pulitzer-Prize winning author for his book, "The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power."

NPR's Steve Inskeep has been following developments in a race for the congressional seat in Pennsylvania's 15th district, between incumbent Democrat Paul McHale and Republican challenger Bob Kilbanks. The contest is considered a toss-up and the kind of seat both parties say they need to win in order to control the House of Representatives. As in other congressional races, money has a major role. The piece focuses on where both candidates have gotten their money, and how that is affecting the race. (12:30). CUTAWAY 1C 0:59 1D 7. TRIMPIN. German-born, Seattle-based sound sculpturist. He creates assemblages of found and second-hand objects that make interesting musical sounds. Trimpin has earned international acclaim despite the fact that none of his work is in any museum collections anywhere...as soon as an exhibition is over, he dismantles the work and recycles the parts into new works. His works only exist in the memories of those who've seen and heard them. And Trimpin's works are inspired by memories of his childhood. He's created sound for Merce Cunningham's latest work, which is being performed tonight and tomorrow in Seattle. As tedious as all of this sounds, the SOUNDS THEMSELVES are a lot of fun. Deirdre Kennedy reports.

Commentator Daniel Pinkwater has decided to reduce and offers his own special 3-part diet. Keyword: Ratatouille.

The presumptive GOP presidential nominee, Sen. Bob Dole, today challenged President Clinton to come out strongly in favor of a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution if he is serious about getting rid of the federal deficit. Dole plans on bringing the amendment up on the Senate floor one last time before he retires next week. President Clinton responded that Republicans were hiding behind the amendment to avoid negotiating on specific spending cuts. NPR's Elizabeth Arnold reports.

In the second of two reports on Mexican immigrants, NPR's David Welna visits New Rochelle, a wealthy suburb of New York City which has became a favorite destination of young men from the poor town of Cotija (coh-TEE-ha) in central Mexico. A few thousand Mexicans--legal and illegal--live in New Rochelle. They're part of an eastward drift among growing numbers of Mexican immigrants attracted by good wages and little fear of immigration raids. Swamped by the massive illegal population in the southwest, the immigration service doesn't have the resources to focus on places like New Rochelle.

Reporter Amy Bernstein visits the headquarters of a magazine for pre-teen girls called "Girls' Life." The relatively new magazine is the first full-fledged glossy of its kind and has become something of a phenomenon in the publishing world. With over one hundred thousand current subscribers and two to three thousand more pouring in every month, the magazine seems to have found a niche...although advertisers still need to be convinced of its appeal and the buying power of its primary demographic group.

NPR's Eric Westervelt reports on the so-called empowerment zones that were unveiled...in this incarnation...by the Clinton Administration with big fanfare two years ago. They were touted as a way to use tax credits and social service block grants to revitalize blighted urban areas. Now, some are pointing to Philadelphia, which was one of six sites which qualified for "empowerment zone" money, as an example of how the program has succeeded. But critics say the concept may not be working.

NPR's Richard Gonzales reports on the resolution of a longstanding farm labor battle. The United Farmworkers Union signed a five-year contract this past week with agri-business giant, Bruce Church Incorporated, one of the largest producers of lettuce.

Producer Joe Richman's series of audio diaries from teenagers around the country continues. This month's entry is from 14-year old Ricky Sherman of Buffalo Grove, Illinois. Ricky's dad says God is make believe; his mom is an agnostic. But Ricky thinks the possibility of God is an appealing one. (12:30) CUTAWAY 1C 0:59 1D 6. LANDMARK COLLEGE -- Tatiana Schreiber (tah-CHAH-na SHRY-bur) reports on the only accredited college in the U.S. exclusively serving students with learning disabilities. She attends a recent graduation ceremony to talk with students and teachers.

The Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site in Danville, California is making available for the first time the only known recording of O'Neill as he reads from his play 'Long Day's Journey into Night'. Susan talks with park ranger Jean Houts, who conducts daily tours of Tao House - where O'Neill wrote four of his most important plays.

Bob Mondello says that the new film "Mission: Impossible" doesn't self-destruct, but is only an adequate thriller.

A Congressional hearing was held today into the ValuJet Airlines crash in the Everglades in May, and the Federal Aviation Administration's oversight of airline safety. Among those testifying were FAA Chief David Hinson, Transportation Department Inspector General Mary Schiavo, and ValuJet President Lewis Jordan. NPR's Dan Charles reports.

Commentator Jack Beatty says that even with giving up his Senate seat, Bob Dole is in trouble because his party is in trouble. That's because Beatty thinks the GOP economic plan has been a disaster.