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NPR'S Jim Zarroli reports that Deutsche Telekom and Voicestream Wireless made it official today. The German telecom giant will acquire the Bellvue, Washington company in a stock and cash deal valued at more than 50-billion-dollars. The deal, if approved, would create a wireless phone service capable of operating in the U.S., Europe and Asia. The merger may face stiff opposition in Washington, though. Some lawmakers are concerned that the German government holds a majority stake in Deutsche Telekom.

Linda talks to Jacob Weisberg, SLATE magazine's chief political correspondent, about the latest round of political ads for the presidential campaigns.

Kathy Witkowsky reports on a controversial plan to re-introduce grizzly bears into the Bitterroot mountains of Montana and Idaho. Opponents of the plan fear that the presence of the bears will endanger human lives. Supporters argue that grizzly attacks on humans are extremely rare and that any problem bears will be removed or killed.

Playwright and Commentator Thom Jones talks about basketball and "Yo Mama" jokes, in a piece adapted from his play, "Birth of the Boom."

NPR's Ted Clark reports the Camp David summit ended today without an agreement between the Israelis and Palestinians, but President Clinton said significant progress was made, and both sides remain committed to peace.

NPR's Jennifer Ludden in Jerusalem reports on reaction to the collapse of the Middle East summit among Israelis and Palestinians.

Linda interviews Julie Bell, lead archaeologist for Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado about new sites discovered after a fire last week. Mesa Verde is the nation's largest archaeological preserve, with more than 4000 identified sites.

Secretary of Defense William Cohen told a Senate committee today that the United States would not be able to deploy an anti-missile defense system without the help of its allies -- some of which have been critical of the system. Cohen, however, said he was not discouraged by recent setbacks to the system's testing program. NPR's Guy Raz reports.

A note on some of the other stories we're following today.

Commentator Daniel Ferri gives a quick lesson in how be a teacher. Some of the basics: learn how to say "now" before you say anything else, wear dumb shoes, make dumb jokes and lie awake in bed all Sunday night.

Laura Womack reports from Albany, Georgia that Alabama and Georgia have both been declared agricultural disaster areas because of the southeastern drought, but that may not help some farmers survive. The disaster declaration means farmers can apply for federal assistance programs, but after being hammered by three successive years of drought conditions many farmers are so deeply in debt that they may not have the minimal assets necessary to qualify for the programs.

A demonstration is planned in support of defendants charged after a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol. The FBI says there's no specific threat, but security officials say they're ready no matter what.

As part of NPR's 50th anniversary, we're looking back at other cultural milestones of 1971. That year The Doors released their final album L.A. Woman — and the band's lead singer Jim Morrison died.

Hospitals in Alaska, Idaho and Nevada are reporting a crush of new coronavirus cases and limited medical staff, forcing some facilities to prioritize resources.

Marking the latest step in the commercialization of space, the SpaceX mission has launched four civilians, including a billionaire CEO, a physician assistant and a geoscientist.

A new book, Peril, says the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was attempting to head off a potential armed conflict when he called his Chinese counterpart twice in Trump's final months in office.

Palestinian human rights groups are calling for an international boycott of Burger King. They're angry that the company has maintained a franchise in a West Bank Jewish settlement -- one Burger King officials promised last year they would close. Protesters charge by maintaining the restaurant in an area populated by Israeli Jews, the company is tacitly endorsing Israeli claims to the land. NPR's Linda Gradstein reports.

NPR's Steve Inskeep has a report on the running speculation over who will be tapped to run for Vice President on the Republican ticket. George W. Bush spent today on his ranch, where he said nothing about who will be his runningmate. Bush aides also had no comment, even about when an announcement might be made. But former Defense Secretary Richard Cheney, who headed up Bush's vice presidential search committee, has told colleagues he is the leading contender for the job and is doing nothing to tamp down the swell of news reports that he is Bush's choice.

American scientists sometimes complain that they are underfunded and underappreciated. But compared to researchers other countries, they have it pretty good. In Russia, for instance, one physics experiment has been attacked by thieves trying to steal precious metals. In this week's science wrap-up NPR's David Kestenbaum took a look at happenings overseas.

The World Toe Wrestling Championships, the Cone Museum, and the Blood Pudding Tossing Contest: these along with other British eccentricities are celebrated in the light-hearted book Eccentric Britain. Host Jacki Lyden speaks to author Benedict le Vay about the people that in some countries would be looked at as crackpots, but in Britain are respected and even revered. (Eccentric Britain: The Guide to Britain's Follies and Foibles;The Globe Pequot Press; 2000)