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Linda talks with Andrew Kohut, Director of the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, about the center's latest poll on how the presidential candidates' messages are playing with the public.

NPR's Linda Gradstein in Jerusalem reports the ongoing peace summit at Camp David is prompting dueling demonstrations in Israel, with supporters and opponents of the peace process taking to the streets.

NPR's Debbie Elliott reports a Florida jury will soon decide how much in punitive damages the tobacco industry should pay to some half-million Florida smokers. The same jury has already found that the tobacco companies made a dangerous and defective product. It awarded nearly thirteen-million dollars in compensatory damages to three plaintiffs. Now, the attorney for the smokers is asking for a judgement of as much as 196-billion dollars to punish the industry for its past conduct. But lawyers for the cigarette companies say that kind of an award would put the companies out of business.

Many people feared violence and protests would tarnish the Thirteenth International AIDS Conference in Africa, which ends tomorrow in Durban, South Africa. Some participants even withdrew because of concerns about their safety. But as NPR's Richard Knox reports, the meeting has taken place virtually without incident.

Cuban Americans in Miami today launched a flotilla of small ships headed for waters off Cuba. The anti-Castro exercise is to mark the anniversary of the death of 41-Cubans who fled the country six years ago on a tugboat. NPR's Phillip Davis has the story.

Noah talks with Brian Graunke, a resident of Medford, Oregon who was a victim of identity fraud. He and his wife were tipped off to the problem when Sprint called them to ask about an application for an account that was made in their names. They had not submitted the application. Identity theft has become one of the top concerns of American consumers, according to the Federal Trade Commission. A Senate Judiciary subcommittee held a hearing on the subject yesterday.

Inflation remained in check last month as consumer prices rose at the same pace as in five of the past six months. As NPR's Jack Speer reports, core prices rose just two-tenths of a percent last month, when food and energy prices are NOT taken into account. Even though gas prices escalated sharply in June, many economists see inflation remaining tame and believe the Federal Reserve is successfully engineering a "soft landing" for the booming economy.

The pandemic has contributed to a shortage in bus drivers, so Gov. Charlie Baker says 250 Guard members with commercial driver's licenses will be brought in to help.

Linda talks with Andy Kohut, Director of the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, about the part Catholic voters will play in this year's presidential election. Traditionally, as a block, Catholics have voted as Democrats, but the abortion issue is attracting Catholics to the Republican party.

Robert talks with Robert Reischauer, President of the Urban Institute in Washington D.C., about the way the government makes its surplus projections. He says it's tricky to agree on a certain number assumption to be used in making calculations. One assumption is based on changing demographics, and the other is based on projections for the economy.

At union halls around the country, Texas workers are talking about conditions in the Lone Star State and their relationship with GOP Gov. George Bush. The roadshow is sponsored by AFL-CIO leaders, who promise an all out campaign for Bush's Democratic rival, Al Gore. Persuading rank-and-file voters to oppose Bush is but challenge one. Next they must convince workers to vote for Gore. NPR's Don Gonyea reports.

NPR's Mary Ann Akers reports on what has become the most controversial party scheduled before next month's Democratic National Convention -- a fundraiser for a Hispanic vote political action committee to be held at the Playboy Mansion. Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, a California Democrat, defends the event as a way of obtaining money for her cause. The money will go to her PAC, not the Democratic National Committee. Vice President Al Gore insists he will not attend. But some Democrats are still grumbling at what the fundraiser may say about their party.

Commentator Elissa Ely talks about the barber that comes to the hospital where she works. The patients look forward to his visits. The barber connects with one particular patient in a way that Elissa -- a psychiatrist -- was never able.

Orla Guerin of the BBC reports on a United Nations effort to raise money to restore the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow.

In addition to the Republican National Convention, Philadelphia also hosted the 2000 National Youth convention this week. Youth Radio reporters Amit Paley and Megan Williams attended. Green Party candidate Ralph Nader addressed the gathering of young people. But delegates were disappointed that the Republican nominee did not. Issues at the convention included funding for education and drug rehabilitation.

The Canadian Navy has boarded an American-owned ship that was contracted to carry Canadian military equipment back from a Kosovo peacekeeping mission. The ship has been circling in international waters in the Atlantic Ocean, refusing to return the tanks, weapons, and other cargo until a financial dispute is worked out with a middleman. Linda talks to Natalie Clancy, a national reporter for CBC Television, in Halifax, Canada, about the situation.

A new opera with libretto by Ben Katchor. Katchor is the creator of the comic strip, Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer. Like the strip, the opera springs from Katchor's fascination with the urban landscape - specifically, two different buildings and their very different inhabitants. The work is being performed by musicians from the New York new music collective called Bang on a Can, at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in North Adams, Massachusetts, this weekend. Charlene Scott, of member station WFCR in Amherst, has the story.

NPR's Mike Shuster reports that ten years after the end of the Iraq war, the UN is geared to try to resume a new round of arms inspections, with a new organization and a new director. But, so far, Iraq is not cooperating. Iraq says the previous arms inspections that ended in 1998 had revealed all there was to reveal.

It was two years ago this month that car bombs exploded at US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. Commentator Pius Kamau is a surgeon in Denver. His sister was one of thousands that were either killed or injured in the blasts.

Scott Horsley reports negotiators for Bell Atlantic -- now known as Verizon are meeting with union leaders in Washington this week trying to resolve a contract dispute. A third of its workers, including telephone operators, line technicians, and clerical workers, are involved. The company says it has submitted a new contract offer, with a strike deadline looming tomorrow night. A strike could disrupt service for millions of customers in eastern states. In addition to the usual issues of wages and pensions, unionized workers are demanding a larger role in the company's fast-growing wireless and internet access divisions.