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Host Jacki Lyden talks with NPR's Julie Rovner about the health care proposals from presidential candidates Al Gore and George W. Bush. Rovner says that while Universal Health Care Coverage was the buzz word in health care reform some years ago, there's been little mention of it this election season - except from Green Party candidate Ralph Nader.

Most people don't think of rivers when they think of Los Angeles, but in fact, the city does have one. And as Laura Sydell reports, activists are working hard to beautify that body of water which has become much more closely associated with scary scenes in movies than a bucolic retreat for local residents.

US immigration is at its highest level in decades. Many of those are arriving are women and children -- and groups that work with domestic violence shelters say they are increasingly receiving pleas for help from these women. This week, the Senate takes up the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, which strengthens previous domestic violence legisation and gives refuge, counseling and legal status to foreign women married to American citizens or residents. Host Jacki Lyden follows one woman's journey from New Delhi to New York, from abused bride and spouse to safety and self-empowerment. This piece was produced by Davar Ardalan. There is more on our special page.

NPR's Jennifer Ludden speaks with host Jacki Lyden about today's decision by the PLO to postpone a declaration of statehood for at least two months. PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat had said the Palestinians would formally declare statehood on September 13th.

Mitch Teich of member station KNAU reports on the efforts to get the Havasupai tribe hooked up to the Internet. The Havasupai make up the only town inside the Grand Canyon. But steep canyon walls and extreme weather have made Internet access difficult until now.

NPR reporter Martin Kaste visits the beachs of Copacabana and Ipanema where Brazil's beach volleyball teams practice for the Olympics. The women's team is the favorite going into the games, which will be played for the first time this year on real sand.

NPR's Eric Westervelt reports scores of abandoned houses in Philadelphia have crumbled in recent weeks, and engineers say many more are near collapse. The problem has sparked a spate of emergency demolition. Some residents fear their neighborhoods will never be the same.

Libertarian Candidate Harry Browne speaking in Iowa City, Iowa last night explained he is running for President because he wants to get government out of people's lives. Browne says there should be no income tax, no government oversight of education or wages. He believes individuals should decide for themselves.

One member of Congress has apparently lost his bid for re-nomination in yesterday's primary. New York's Michael Forbes, who was elected in the Republican sweep of 1994 and who voted to impeach President Clinton, switched to the Democratic Party last year following an ongoing feud with GOP leaders in Washington. Now it looks as if Forbes has been voted out of office by members of his new party. If the count does not change, Forbes was defeated by Regina Seltzer, a 71-year-old former librarian who raised just 40-thousand-dollars to Forbes' one-point-four million. Beth Fertig from member station WNYC reports on the result, which no one saw coming.

NPR's Jon Hamilton reports on a new treatment for advanced kidney cancer. The treatment involves replacing the patient's own immune cells with cells from a healthy person. So far, it's been used on 19 patients, and more than half have improved. Researchers say the technique may offer hope for people with other forms of cancer as well.

Fired nuclear scientist Wen Ho Lee is free after pleading guilty to one count of mishandling national defense information at Los Alamos nuclear laboratory. He has also agreed to tell the federal government in detail what he did with the data. Lee was sentenced to time served and released. NPR's Guy Raz reports.

Commentator Marion Roach recalls the first year she rode on a float in Troy, New York's annual Uncle Sam Parade. Sam Wilson is the local man who became known as Uncle Sam for his role in providing provisions to troops in the war of 1812. Roach found herself tossing candy to ungrateful people along the parade route, who simply tossed it back.

Robert talks to Larry Makinson, Executive Director of the Center for Responsive Politics, about political donations made by the media. He says the Republicans have been getting more money from the broadcast and cable industries, and Democrats have been getting more money from the movie and television production companies.

NPR's Julie McCarthy reports from London that British prime minister Tony Blair remained defiant today, vowing not to give in to protests against high fuel prices. But Blair said the blockades of refineries are posing a "real danger" to the nation's health services. The government says doctors and nurses can't get to work, and operations are being cancelled. Supermarkets are starting to ration food, for fear deliveries will soon be cut because of the gas shortages.

On the banks of the Skykomish River in Monroe, Washington today, Republican Presidential nominee George W. Bush announced a $5 billion environmental initiative. Bush said the program was needed to improve maintenance and resource protection in the National Park System. Aides hope the event will get the campaign back on message after days of distraction. Andy Bowers, of NPR News, is with the Bush campaign.

Defenders of the nation's leading entertainment corporations came to Capitol Hill today to say they do not market adult programming to minors. They were responding to the Senate Commerce Committee's hearing on a Federal Trade Commission report. The report indicates mature films, CD's and video games are routinely advertised in places where young children and teens will see them. Many members of Congress were eager to attack the industry's tactics. But they were just as careful to point out that they do not want to violate the First Amendment. NPR's Larry Abramson reports.

NPR's Jim Zarroli reports that two of the biggest names in banking are merging. Chase Manhattan will acquire J.P. Morgan in a deal valued at more than $35 billion. It is the latest such transaction in the rapidly consolidating financial services industry, and is expected to put additional pressure on smaller firms to get bigger fast.

Vice President Gore, stumping in Cincinnati yesterday, outlined his position on many issues. We hear an extended excerpt, in which he talks about improving education with better teachers and creating a more qualified work force.

Janet Heimlich reports that Austin, Texas utility officials are trying out a new program that allows their customers to buy power generated from renewable energy sources such as solar, or wind power. It means slightly higher power bills for customers who choose the program. But the city has long been home to a strong environmental community that supports such initiatives. Also, the rising price of fossil fuels -- oil and natural gas -- has closed the price gap, making the program more attractive to residents.

The Senate has been trying for several weeks to complete action on a bill granting permanent normal trade status to China. But several senators have resisted the bill, trying to attach amendments that would require various changes in Chinese policy. One such effort was directed at China's foreign arms sales, which have furthered efforts by other countries to develop weapons of mass destruction. But today, the Senate voted not to attach any weapons sales provisions to the trade bill. NPR's Peter Kenyon reports.