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Last night, President Bill Clinton bid farewell to delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. In his 41-minute speech, Clinton championed the nation's economic prosperity and praised Al Gore. Today, Clinton joined Gore on the campaign trail in Monroe, Michigan, symbolically passing the political torch to his vice president. NPR's Anthony Brooks is traveling with the Gore campaign, and he talks with Noah Adams from the Gore-Clinton rally.

Linda talks to E.J. Dionne, Columnist for the Washington Post, and David Brooks, Senior Editor at the Weekly Standard, about the next steps in the torch-passing from President Clinton to the presumed Democratic nominee, Vice President Al Gore. They discuss the president's mission in his speech last night, and what Gore needs to accomplish when he addresses the delegates on Thursday.

NPR's Mike Shuster reports the Russian navy has begun a rescue operation to save the 116 men trapped in the nuclear-powered submarine "Kursk" at the bottom of the Barents Sea. The Russians are trying to send a rescue capsule down to the stranded sub. The first try to do this failed. It's a difficult, time-consuming operation, particularly since the sub is buffeted by strong currents. The capsule can bring up only 20 men at a time and must ascend very slowly, to avoid the risk of decompression sickness.

Paul Chapman reports from London that British Airways today grounded its fleet of Concorde supersonic jets, following the example of Air France. British Airways took the step after learning that airline safety officials were about to revoke the plane's airworthiness certificate. Air France stopped flying its Concordes after one of the planes crashed last month outside Paris, killing 113 people.

Linda talks with Janice Harris -- a suburban mom, a P.R. consultant, and a "swing voter" -- about President Clinton's appearance last night at the Democratic Convention in Los Angeles. Yesterday, we heard Linda's conversation with Janice Harris and several of her friends about their expectations for the Democratic convention and what they wanted to her from the podium.

NPR's Jon Hamilton reports that the American Heart Association has updated its guidelines for emergency treatment of heart attacks. Training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has been streamlined -- and the technique is easier than ever. The heart association is also calling for wider use of emergency defibrillator machines.

Teacher and Commentator Daniel Ferri, faced with some frustrated sixth-graders, shows them that sharing ideas isn't necessarily cheating.

Noah notes the President's dramatic walk into the Democratic Convention hall last night. It was comparable -- according to Pat Knighton, an ESPN boxing producer -- to the entrance of a champion fighter.

Noah has a brief note on claims by the Democratic National Convention Committee that this is the first "green power" political convention. The Dems are utilizing alternative energy sources and recycled and biodegradable materials.

When African slaves escaped from Brazil into Uruguay, they brought their Candomble religion and music, which metamorphosed into Condombe, a vibrant music embraced by black and white Uruguayans. It's now used in everything from the tango to protest songs. But some say Condombe's essence is being lost to commercialization. Reese Erlich reports.

ATC Host Linda Wertheimer talks with a group of suburban women from Ohio about the presidential candidates -- George W. Bush and Al Gore. These middle class working women with children are considered a key part of the so-called swing vote. They also reside in a crucial state -- Ohio -- which remains up-for-grabs. The group includes: Gina Cronin, Anne Stevenson, Jennifer Lang and Kristi Gallup. The four ladies remain on the fence about whom to vote for -- as they find both candidates attractive for different reasons.

Alan Cheuse reviews a novel called Dear Mr. Kawabata, by Rashid Al-Daif, a Lebanese poet and novelist who teaches at the Lebanese University in Beirut. His novel has just been published in the United States in a translation by Paul Starkey. (1:30) Please Note: Dear Mr. Kawabata is published by Interlink.

Noah Adams is in Washington, and Linda Wertheimer is in Los Angeles. They set the scene at the Democratic Convention in Los Angeles, which is beginning today. President Bill Clinton addresses the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles tonight. In his nationally televised speech, Clinton will reflect on the past eight years, bid farewell as President and the party's leader, and make his case for the election of Vice President Al Gore. Clinton passes the torch to Gore in times of almost unprecedented prosperity. But his complicated political legacy casts a shadow over Gore's candidacy. NPR's Mara Liasson has the story.

Conventions of major political parties and international organizations such as the World Bank often draw more media than participants. And the media, in turn, attract protesters seeking attention for their causes. This week in Los Angeles the streets will again be alive with marchers, but NPR's Aaron Schachter reports that not all of them will fit the familiar media stereotype.

The BBC's Chris Simpson reports on a summit in Lusaka, where African leaders are demanding immediate implementation of provisions of an existing peace agreement between warring factions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Vice President Al Gore is talking issues with voters this week as he heads slowly toward Los Angeles and the Democratic National Convention there. The Democrats hope the substance-rich rhetoric will draw a sharp contrast to the Republican convention last week, which Gore and his backers criticized as all show. Gore brought his pitch to a group of seniors today in Harry Truman's hometown of Independence, Missouri. NPR's Anthony Brooks talks with us from event.

As time runs out for the stricken Russian submarine, NPR's David Kestenbaum examines the logistics of efforts to rescue its crew.

Nick Wood reports from the town of Mitrovica in northern Kosovo, that NATO-led peacekeepers seized control of the dilapidated Trepca mining complex today, prompting angry protests from local Serbs. The United Nations administration in the province said it was closing the mines as a health measure, because the Trepca smelters were spewing out toxic fumes. The head of the UN administration, Bernard Kouchner, said an international consortium plans to renovate the mines and eventually reopen the facility.

NPR's Kenneth Walker reports once verdant Kenya is suffering from a three-year drought. Unemployment is surging, as are hunger and poverty.

Noah talks to Mary Horstman, Forest Historian and Heritage Program Manager for the Bitterroot National Forest, about efforts to protect the Alta Ranger station -- which is the oldest in the nation -- from wildfires. Workers wrapped the one room cabin in a material designed to protect the structure from sparks and fire damage.