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San Francisco based Wells Fargo won its three-month effort to takeover another California based bank today. First Interstate agreed to be acquired in a stock transaction valued at $11.6 billion. If the deal is approved by regulators it will be the largest merger in U.S. banking history. The deal is expected to eliminate as many as 7,000 jobs, half of them in the Los Angeles area, as hundreds of First Intersate branches are closed.

NPR's Wade Goodwyn reports that, more than nine months after explosion destroying the federal office the mystery of John Doe #2 remains. Immediately after the explosion, the FBI release two sketches, one was ID'd as John McVeigh and, despite a massive manhunt the other was never found. Some federal prosecutors hint that there was no John Doe II, but NPR interviews five people who believe they saw him with McVeigh, and the other defendant, Terry Nichols. (12:30) CUTAWAY 1C 0:59 1D 7. AFRICA POLICY - Linda talks with Thomas L. Friedman, foreign affairs columnist for the New York Times, about his recent trip accompanying Madeleine Albright to African nations on a mission of "preventive diplomacy." Albright is the U-S Ambassador to the United Nations. One country they visited of particular concern is Burundi, where Tutsis have been persecuting Hutus. The Hutu tribe makes up 85 percent of Burundi's population and the Tutsi, 15 percent. The Tutsi control the army and the government. Many observers fear an explosion of violence similar to the genocide in Rwanda in 1994.

NPR's Anne Garrels reports from Moscow on the continuing battle between Russians and Chechen rebels. In a southern Russian village, it is the third day of artillery and rocket attacks on Chechens holding hostages. In the Chechen capital of Grozny, 30 workers at a power plant have been kidnapped. And, in the Black Sea, another group of rebels holds 200 people hostage aboard a ferry which they have threatened to blow up.

Robert talks with author Salman Rushdie, who's latest novel is "The Moor's Last Sigh." It is set in Bombay, with characters drawn from different religious groups, and a narrator who is living his life at double speed. (Publisher: Pantheon)

Former Democratic Congresswoman Barbara Jordan of Texas died today after a long illness. Ms. Jordan was one of the most influential blacks on Capitol Hill and reached national stature as an outspoken member of the House Judiciary Committee that recommended the impeachment of President Richard Nixon in 1974. We hear an excerpt from a speech she gave at the 1992 Democratic Convention.

NPR's Mike Shuster reports from Sarajevo that the American Forces in northern Bosnia are still on high alert. There is continuing concern about the threat Islamic fighters might pose to U.S. Forces. The fighters, known as mujahadeen, came to Bosnia in 1992 to help the government army. There is also concern about a threat posed by an American who has been associated with Islamic causes in the past.

American poet T.S. Eliot wrote about the planets revolving "like ancient women / Gathering fuel in vacant lots." Robert reads his poem "Preludes."

Pope John Paul II begins his week-long tour of Latin America today. This trip includes stops in Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. Hopes run high that this visit will help shore up support for the Catholic church in a region that has traditionally been one of its strongholds. Emma Paterson reports from Guatemala on how increasingly popular evangelical churches are posing a threat to the dominance of the Catholic Church in Central America.

The massive coastal fortresses that served as slave trading posts during the 16th to the 18th centuries have become the backbone of Ghana's tourism industry. Jennifer Ludden reports that for many African Americans, visiting the forts is a highly emotional experience. Some are coming away from the official tours both angry and disappointed by the seemingly casual attitude shown by their Ghanain guides to a painful chapter of their history.

Yet another study has focused attention on the effects of television violence. NPR's Brooke Gladstone reports that a year-long study funded by the National Cable Television Association finds TV programming awash in mayhem that mostly goes unpunished. Researchers examined entertainment programming on broadcast and cable channels. Sports and newscast were not included in the study.

John Testrake, the TWA pilot who demonstrated extraordinary cool when his Flight 847 was hijacked to Beirut in 1985, has died of cancer at the age of 68.

Harriet Baskas takes us on visit to the extraordinary rock garden that Milton Walker started in his Seattle back yard back in the 1950s. He worked on it for more than 30 years, and today it's an acknowledged national landmark. This isn't your average backyard rock garden. We're talking about massive concrete walls inlaid with semi-precious stones and glass, minature mountain ranges and lakes, and a twenty foot high tower.

Linda Gradstein reports from Jerusalem on efforts to teach Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza the basics of voting in advance of elections for a president and legislative council in the autonomous territories. The elections on Saturday are the first time Palestinians have ever participated in the Democratic process on their own land.

Commentator Donna D'Amico Mayer describes the experience of being left by her husband of 20 years.

NPR's Elizabeth Arnold reports that commentator Pat Buchanan headed to Iowa today after his surprise win in yesterday's Louisiana caucuses. He beat Texas Sen. Phil Gramm, who had hoped that a strong lead in Louisiana would give him a boost in the Iowa caucuses next week. Both men saw the Louisiana race as a contest for the conservative Republican vote. A strong showing by the Christian right and the anti-abortion wing of the party was credited with Buchanan's victory. Both men, however, have an uphill fight in Iowa, where polls show many voters are leaning toward millionaire Steve Forbes.

NPR''s Jim Zarolli reports how the Baby Bells might benefit from the Telecommunications bill that was passed this week by Congress.

Commentator Joe Loconte (le-CON-tee) talks about a program that is peacefully dealing with the explosiuve issue of prayer in schools. It's a seminar that brings together school adminstrators, teachers and parents in a discussion about teaching religion without PREACHING about religion. He says evangelicals and other religious conservatives have an important role to play in supporting this kind of dialogue.

Noah talks with Jack Webb, a citrus farmer in East Lake, Florida. Webb says the low temperatures are worrisome, but the weather so far this winter is nothing compared to devastating cold snaps of the 1980's, when the mercury dropped to the low teens overnight.

NPR's Andy Bowers reports that Bosnian Serb leaders today suspended talks with Muslim-Croat officials to protest the arrest of Serbian officers accused of war crimes. The Bosnian Serbs are demanding release of the men who were seized on their way to talks with NATO officials in Sarajevo.

NPR's Trevor Rowe reports that criticism is mounting against some countries participating in the NATO-led peacekeeping operation in Bosnia. Indonesia has sent some people to serve as policemen who do not speak English and another country has sent policemen who do not know how to drive.