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Ten years after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident, NPR's Dan Charles reports that similar nuclear plants continue to operate throughout the former Soviet Union. More than a dozen plants with similar design flaws remain in operation, despite calls to shut them down. The biggest impediment is money to pay to replace the power the plants generate.

whether English should be made the official language of the United States. Tonight, we conclude our series with a commentary form Ruben Martinez, who is living in Mexico City, for a perspective from the other side of the border.

On a day in February, Jason Reinier put a call out to sound recordists. He asked them to record the sounds in their neighborhoods, and to send those sounds to him . He took those sounds and put them together as an audio snapshot of February 17th 1996. We play them for you today on the first international noise awareness day. (8:00) (IN S

on the $35 million campaign the AFL-CIO is planning this year to defeat 75 House members -- almost all of whom are Republicans. Labor hopes to reassert itself as the important voting block it once was. But many union members voted Republican in the last election and getting them to follow the union leadership's guidance on election day is a formidable task.

NPR's Chitra Ragavan reports on what's at stake in the up-coming Indian elections that begin Saturday. Voters, which could number almost 6-hundred million, are turning out to cast ballots for one-third of the seats of Parliament. Voters of all classes and castes are said to be disgusted with the government's corruption and question the benefits of democracy.

NPR's Joe Palca reports that a new study has shown that genetically engineered foods can produce unexpected food allergies. In the study, being published in The New England Journal of Medicine, researchers found that genetically engineered soybeans could provoke an allergic reaction in people who are allergic to nuts that supplied the engineered genetic material. An editorial accompanying the study says it raises questions about the adequacy of safeguards by the Food and Drug Administration.

Linda talks with Harley Shaiken, a labor specialist at the University of California at Berkeley, and David Cole, director of the Office for the Study of Automotive Transportation at the University of Michigan, about the strike at General Motors that has shut down 21 assembly plants across the country and threatens to escalate into a national ordeal. Cole talks about the industry's push to become leaner and their use of "just-in-time manufacturing." Following the lead of Japan, GM now keeps only a very small supply of critical components, like brakes, in stock. Shaiken explains how this practice gives union strikes considerable leverage because a small number of strikers can paralyze a large organization.

NPR's Mary Kay Magistad reports that China's war games and missile tests have apparently failed to cow the Taiwanese on the eve of Taiwan's presidential election.

Linda Gradstein reports from Jerusalem on the the aftermath of the suicide bomb attacks, including the disclosure that an Israeli Arab drove the latest suicide bomber into Tel Aviv. The continuing crackdown against Palestinians suspected of being terrorists has left moderate Palestinians nervous that Israel is through with the peace process.

Robert speaks with Iris Chang, author of the book "Thread of the Silkworm." Chang relates how one of the founders of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California was deported during the anti-communist 1950s to China, where he became the father of the Chinese missile program.

Commentator Mark DePaolis says that sooner or later, we are going to have to deal with one of the most serious threats to female health: women's shoes. They are too small, too pointy and too tall. But the rememdy is draconian -- ugly shoes.

NPR's Linda Gradstein reports that as the closure of the West Bank and Gaza strip continues, people are becoming frustrated and angry with Israel. Some say there could be a backlash against the peace process.

Robert reads from the latest batch of listeners' comments.

NPR's Adam Hochberg reports that North Carolina's legisture will meet in special session to decide what to do with a billion and a half dollar surplus in state's unemployment insurance fund. Due to strong economy and low unemployment, state has accumulated surplus. Republicans want to give cut rate, or refund tax to businesses that pay it.

In part two of our public hospitals series, Frank Browning reports on the debate at the University of San Francisco General Hospital over what changes may be needed in medical education to meet the challenges public hospitals face from managed care. To reduce cost, they're having to shift away from expensive specialty care in the hospital to preventive general care, delivered in an outpatient setting. That's not what they're accustomed to doing, but it's what most poor people who depend on public hospitals need.

Roving correspondent Bob Garfield tells the story of Phil Frankenfeld. Since he earned his PhD seven years ago, the political scientist has been sending hundreds of letters and commentaries to journalists and academics in a fruitless attempt to land a job. In the meantime, he's been writing poems, constructing anagrams and generally trying to find volunteer work for his intellect.

NPR's Ed Lifson reports that both United Airlines and Boeing are trying to downplay the significance of a letter United sent to Boeing complaining about the performance of Boeing's new 777 jets. A United executive said the new jet's performance was a major disappointment. Boeing officials said the letter and complaints were routine.

NPR's Elizabeth Arnold reports on the campaign of Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole as he tries to tighten his grip on the Republican presidential nomination with a strong showing in tomorrow's Super Tuesday primaries. Voters will go to the polls tomorrow in Texas, Florida and five other states, where the largest number of delegate so far -- 362 -- will be awarded to the candidates. Dole has a strong lead in public opinion polls against his two primary challengers, Steve Forbes and Pat Buchanan.

Eric Westervelt of New Hampshire Public Radio reports that many New Hampshire voters still have not decided who they will vote for in Tuesday night's primary. And many of those who do have a preference say they could still change their minds. Voters say this indecision is due in part to their lack of enthusiasm for any of the Republican candidates. The volatility of the electorate makes it impossible to predict who will win what is shaping up to be a tight three-way contest.

Linda talks with Richard Brookheiser, a senior editor for National Review, about his new book, "Founding Father: Rediscovering George Washington." Brookheiser discusses the professional and personal factors that made Washington one of the most beloved leaders of his time. (Publisher: Free Press)