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John Irving's immense 1985 novel, "The Ciderhouse Rules," has become an equally immense play. It's being presented in two parts by Seattle Repertory Theatre. Part One, premiering tonight (Wed. 3/6) in Seattle, runs almost four hours. It requires seventeen actors playing multiple roles and two directors. One of them is noted actor Tom Hulce.

NPR's Anne Garrels reports from Moscow on one of the largest investors in Russia to date: the Coca Cola company of Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Coca-Cola's efforts to do business with the Russians is a study in stubborness... a stubborn company facing off against the inertia of the Russian bureaucracy.

Noah talks with Wayne Watkins from Capitol Records. He's the executive producer of a new six-CD set called "Ultra Lounge" -- recordings from the era of lounge music, the 1950s and early 1960s. Performers like Martin Denny, Bobby Darin, Julie London -- music which evokes smooth, smoky images of martinis, leopard skin, mambo, and the like. Watkins says lounge music has become popular among many young adults, who are dressing the part at nightclubs and listening to the music their parents might have played on their hi-fis.(6:00) (IN S

As the House prepares for a floor debate and vote Wednesday on a bill that would streamline procedures at federal regulatory agencies, David Baron looks at why the GOP, as well as business and industrial leaders, want health and environment regulations simplified. We examine one company's 18-year struggle with the EPA over a controversial additive for gasoline.

By a vote of 74 to 22, the Senate today passed the Helms-Burton bill, which expands sanctions against Cuba. NPR's Peter Kenyon reports. that the measure would require an act of Congress to loosen the current U.S. embargo of Cuba, and would permit the United States to aid pro-democracy movements there. It would also allow Cuban exiles whose property was confiscated by the Castro government to sue foreign companies who use that property. The House votes tomorrow.

Commentator Reuven Frank says that the media has some responsibility in making Pat Buchanan the popular fellow he is. The more the press condemns him, calls him names and puts labels on him, the more attractive they make him to a public that doesn't trust the press.

Noah talks with Vermont Representative and dairy farmer Ruth Towne about a bill that allows the cultivation of industrial hemp. The state House of Representatives voted for the act overwhelmingly. Legislators hope the two-year experimental plan will lead to a new source of income for struggling farmers.

In a straight party line vote the Senate Banking Committee today approved a measure to indefinitely extend the Whitewater committee. NPR'S Jon Greenberg reports Democrats argued that the further into this election year the committee hearings go, the greater the appearance of political motives. In vain, Democrats also appealed to Republicans' sense of history and fairness by pointing out that when Republicans asked for an early end date on the Iran/Contra investigation, Democrats agreed. Today, though, Republicans said too many questions remain and too many witnesses are unavailable until the conclusion of the McDougal-Tucker trial by the Independent Counsel.

NPR's Vicky Que reports that 1 in 4 new cases of HIV infections is among teens in the United States, according to a report released by the White House today. Consequently they should be the focus of campaigns to prevent the spread of the desease. But they aren't because of differences among adults about how to talk to kids about sex.(5:00) -b- 11. TALKING -- Commentator Elissa Ely talks about a patient who hardly spoke, moved with difficulty, and stayed locked in the same position for hours. One day, she has a visitor who talks to her intently and inspires her to cure herself through words.

NPR senior news analyst Daniel Schorr says that a new biography of Stalin supports a long-suspected theory on his death, 43 years ago today.

NPR's Dan Charles reports that the National Park Service wants to make sure that the it benefits financially if a biotech company ever finds something in a park from which it can make money. Many developing countries have taken similar steps to protect their interests when drug companies go looking for new medicines in the rain forest.

NPR'S Derek Reveron reports that the downing of two planes flown by Brothers to the Rescue with the death of four pilots, has strengthened the hand of hard-line Cuban exile groups in Miami. Recently, more moderate voices, advocating negotiation with Fidel Castro, have been assuming a more prominant role in Cuban-exile politics, but since the shoot-down, they are on the defensive, and the hard-liners again enjoy the upper hand.

Noah talks with former Senator George Mitchell, special advisor to President Clinton on Northern Ireland, about the stalled Irish peace process in the aftermath of the IRA bombing in London friday night. -b- 2. RUSSIAN INVESTMENT - NPR's Anne Garrels reports from Moscow on one of the largest investors in Russia to date: the Coca Cola company of Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Coca-Cola's efforts to do business with the Russians is a study in stubborness... a stubborn company facing off against the inertia of the Russian bureaucracy.

NPR's Sunni Khalid reports that Palestinians are concerned about how far Israel will go in its war on Hamas and whether it could mean more Israeli troops in the autonomous region. A statement from Hamas has said the attacks will stop to allow negotiations but many fear such promises from Hamas leaders may be worth little.

A Connecticut legislative committee yesterday heard testimony from one citizen who thinks the state should replace "Yankee Doodle" as the official state song. Certain references, say the citizen, are dated and sexist. We do a top-to-bottom analysis of the song to highlight its other possibly objectionable lyrics.

Commentator David Brooks says he's heard that Liberals are thrilled with the possibility of Bob Dole being the Republican presidential candidate. But he warns them not to party too soon, for they are the real losers. He says he's sorry to say it, but the Liberal agenda has completely vanished from the political map in 1996.

Linda speaks with Oliver "Buck" Revell, a former deputy director of the FBI, about how the Islamic extremist organization Hamas raises funds in the United States. Revell, now a private security consultant, says Hamas, using numerous front organizations, have been highly successful in raising funds in the United States and that some of money reaches the organization's military wing.

Life in the segregated South of the early 1960's is the setting for a new novel called The Last Hotel For Women by Vicky Covington. Reviewer Alan says the plot is brimming with both tension and grace throughout. (Simon & Schuster)

Commentator Stuart Chifet [shih-FAY] says Cyberspace allows everyone to be an active receipient of information, unlike previous media, like television or radio. We can move forward in cyberspace at the pace we determine.

Noah Adams speaks with Richard Rapaport who visited the military operation in Bosnia to see what high tech gear is being employed in that peacekeeping effort. Commanders can receive video from practically anywhere there are soldiers deployed in the field. And a huge remote controlled tank is used to detonate mines.