Search results for

Scott Simon speaks to Tom Excell and K.O.G., bandleaders of ONIPA, about their new album, "Tapes of Utopia." It's dedicated to the mix tapes sold in Africa's markets.

Robert talks about the state of the U-S Military with Gideon Rose, Olin Sr. Fellow for National Security Studies at the Council for Foreign Relations, and Senior Editor for Foreign Affairs magazine. Also joining the conversation is Andrew Bacevich (BAY-suh-vihch), Professor of International Relations at Boston University.

NPR's Claudio Sanchez reports on a Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup poll that finds more Americans than ever support public education, and reforming rather than changing the system. The annual poll finds for the first time that low funding for schools is listed as the number one problem. Poll respondents of both parties say that the federal government should give schools more money without no strings attached. They see Democrats as more friendly to public schools than Republicans in general, but they see Al Gore and George W. Bush as equally good for public schools.

Barbara Bradley reports on today's announcement that Attorney General Janet Reno will not appoint a special counsel to investigate Vice President Gore's 1996 campaign fundraising. Reno says further investigation would not result in a prosecutable case, so a special counsel is not warranted. Gore's campaign spokesman says the vice president is pleased with the announcement. His opponent, Texas Governor George W. Bush, says he understands the American people are tired of investigations, but also says Gore engaged in questionable fundraising activities.

President Clinton's legal defense fund released its semi-annual report today showing the same friends of the White House contributing as in past years. The fund was established when the president began accumulating big legal bills to deal with investigations by Congress and a series of independent counsels. NPR's Peter Overby reports.

Producer Dianne Ballon, of Maine, collected stories about people and their experiences with lawnmowers. We hear some of them firsthand. Some reflect on the skill required to avoid rocks with power mowers. Others talk about lawn mowing jobs they had as kids.

Ron McKay, a scientist at National Institutes of Health, joins Robert Siegel in NPR's Washington studios to talk about new guidelines for stem cell research.

Americans -- especially young Americans -- are losing the battle against fat. The percentage of teenagers who are overweight has doubled in the past two decades. Science reporter Frank Browning reports that the reason has to do with a culture that encourages overconsumption.

Robert Siegel and Jacob Weisberg, Chief Political Correspondent for the online magazine Slate, talk about the latest round of presidential campaign ads. 1969 is the title of Al Gore's latest. The George W. Bush campaign has released a new one called Education Agenda, and re-released an earlier ad called Hard Things. (7:00) Slate's address is http://slate.msn.com

NPR's Mike Shuster reports that Secretary General Kofi Annan has asked world governments to implement changes in U-N peacekeeping operations, as recommended by a report put together by an independent panel. The Secretary General established the panel last March after publication of two reports on the U-N's failure to prevent genocide in Rwanda and to protect residents of Srebrenica (sreh-breh-NEET-sah). The report calls for more efforts to prevent conflict and says peacekeepers must be allowed to defend themselves and their mandate. The report also calls for better peacemaking strategies.