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NPR's Kathy Schalch reports that presidential candidates have a lot more to spend their money on than expensive television advertising, which often gets the most attention. They spend the bulk of their funds on staff and travel, and direct-mail solicitations to help them raise even more money. This year is already the most expensive campaign in history, but experts aren't sure just what all that spending is getting in return.

Linda Wertheimer speaks with NPR's Don Gonyea. A strike at a pair of General Motors brake plants in Dayton, Ohio is in its 14th day. Negotiators for the company and United Auto Workers local 6-9-6 talked all day yesterday...throughout last night...and all day today to try to settle the dispute. The main issue is GM's desire to cut costs by shipping some work to non-union supliers outside the company. It's not clear what's being accomplished at the bargaining table because of a news black-out. What is known is that the strike continues to affect GM plants across North America.(5:00) Funder 0:29 XPromo 0:29 CUTAWAY 1B 0:29 RETURN1 0:29 NEWS 2:59 NEWS 1:59 THEME MUSIC 0:29 1C 5. SLAPP LAWSUITS -- NPR's Steve Inskeep reports on and lawsuit filed by landowners and developers who were prevented from building a Wal-Mart store in Hyde Park, New York. Such lawsuits, commonly called SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) suits, are becoming increasing popular with developers...who go after city officials and town activists who block their plans.

For about two decades, Caroline Hebard has spent much of her time in a most unusual way - searching with her German Shepherds for victims of natural and manmade disasters. Hebard and her dogs are experts in canine search and rescue - an art that originated in Europe but is now used in the United States. In this piece, we meet Hebard and her dogs and they take Danny out for a little training session in the art of search and rescue.

Commentator David Cole, a professor at Georgetown University Law School, says the House of Representatives did the right thing in removing many of the more controversial provisions in the anti-terrorism bill. He says the bill that passed isn't perfect, but its a big improvement on the invasive bill that was first proposed.

This past week, Leland Capp was the passenger in a Cessna floatplane which his friend was flying. Tragically, Leland's friend had a heartattack while flying the plane, leaving Leland, who is not a pilot, to take over the controls. We have an excerpt of the recorded conversation between Capp and the air traffic control operator who talked him through the successful landing.

NPR's Joe Neel reports that the Food and Drug Administration today released statements from three former Phillip Morris employees. The FDA says the statement support the agency's contention that tobacco companies purposefully manipulate the nicotine in cigarettes to keep smokers addicted. The FDA has proposed widening its jurisdiction over tobacco products to try to keep young people from smoking.

The United Auto Workers strike at two General Motors parts plants in Dayton, Ohio continues...as do talks between the union and the automaker. All of G-M's assembly plants in the United States have been closed due to the strike. NPR's Don Gonyea reports on how Dayton and surrounding communities hav been affected by the strike.

An audio postcard from Charlie Mayer. Some students at Swarthmore College have taken their drumming class (Rhythmic Analysis) to the forest behind the school, to welcome the new season with sound. (2:00) (IN S

Linda speaks with Robin Chotzinoff (SHOATS -in-nuf) author of "People with Dirty Hands," a book of essays about the joy of gardening. Chotzinoff is partial to old roses, the strong smell of chili, and hot, squishy tomatoes. (MacMillan: NY.

NPR's Peter Overby reports on the new requirement that lawyers register with Congress if they act as lobbyists. Previous regulations that required lobbyists to register had exempted lawyers because of the attorney-client confidentiality privilege. Today, a report on those who have registered reveals client lists and other details the attorneys would have preferred not to reveal.

Commentator Merrill Matthews has a humorous suggested list of warning labels to put on different federal agencies and government offices. Some are hazardous to your health, some are hazardous to your pocketbook and some to the well being of your children.

Vincent Thompson of member station WHYY reports on the major dispruption on Interstate-95, five miles north of Philadelphia. Arsonists set a huge pile of illegally dumped tires on fire, and that, in turn, damaged a section of the highway that carries about 150-thousand cars each day.

Part two of our special report. (IN S

Jyl Hoyt recently visited Peru, and prepared this piece about efforts there to legalize the coca leaf. Coca, which produces the base substance of cocaine, is banned by the United Nations. Farmers in Peru argue that the leaf itself is no more addictive than a couple of cups of coffee. They say they ought to be able to use the leaf in products like tea or toothpaste, and if coca were legalized, they would no longer have to sell the leaf illegally to drug dealers.

Commentator Andre Codrescu says it would be a lot if we could just plant v-chips in people's brains...rather than TVs. That way we could all have a sunny outlook on life--all the sex and violence could be scrapped off by the government and destroyed.

Linda talks with Joe Mahood (MAY-hood), chair of the science department at Aragon High School in San Mateo, California, about the ideas being discussed at the education summit in New York.

NPR's Joanne Silberner reports on how the health of the generation born after World War II compares to that of their parents. The so-called fitness craze -- which hasn't lasted and is not that pervasive -- has little to do with the fact that they probably will live longer than their parents. And the fitness craze hasn't kept them from aging.

reads letters from our listeners.

Daniel speaks with Andy Sirwar, Senior Writer at Fortune Magazine and Dan Hammermesh, Economics Professor at the University of Texas about what 30 million dollars can buy these days. That is the amount that former Republican presidential candidate Steve Forbes spent on his campaign before dropping out this week.

Noah talks to Belgrave Hotel receptionist Rosiland (ROSE-ah-lend) Buttner in the Waelsh seaside resort town of Temby about the effcts of the February 15 oil spill on the beaches there. She says it took four to five days after the spill for changing winds to push the slick to Temby. But now clean-up crews have done a splendid job of tidying things up. The spill is being called the biggest in British history.