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The US women's softball team won a gold medal at the Sydney Olympics Tuesday in the hardest possible fashion. As NPR's Tom Goldman reports, the team was considered unbeatable after a two-year winning streak of 112 games. But it lost three straight games in the early round of competition, nearly putting it out of medal contention. The US then fought back and swept the three teams -- China, Australia and Japan -- it lost to earlier in the tournament.

David Greenberger reviews a new CD by Dave Alvin, titled Public Domain: Songs from the Wild Land. The tracks are all traditional folk songs, like "Shenandoah,' and "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down."

Representatives from the major film studios faced the Senate Commerce Committee today and promised to take steps to limit the marketing of violent R-rated films to children. The hearing came after a report by the Federal Trade Commission revealed that the studios sometimes target marketing campaigns at children too young to see R-rated films. NPR's Lynn Neary reports.

Republican Presidential nominee George W. Bush campaigned at a school in southern California today. Bush is the underdog in the state, but says he is optimistic that he can win an upset there. NPR's Andy Bowers talked to one voter who explained both why Bush both down in the polls and holds realistic hope.

NPR's Guy Raz reports from Copenhagen, where voters are preparing to take part in tomorrow's referendum on Danish membership in the European Monetary Union. A "yes" vote would mean adopting the Euro. The Danish Prime Minister handed out roses in the streets today, hoping to persuade Danes to vote for membership. The Euro's tumbling value in recent weeks could dampen support for joining the single currency. But "no" vote activists say their main objection to the Euro is that abandoning their national currency amounts to a loss of national sovereignty. Polls indicate the vote is too close to call.

NPR's Tom Goldman reports on a day of startling upsets by US athletes at the Olympics in Sydney. First, Rulon Gardner, a Greco-Roman wrestler of modest prior accomplishment, defeated the Superman of his sport, Alexander Kareline of Russia. Three-time gold medal winner Kareline had not lost a match since 1987. Later in the evening, the American baseball team shut out Cuba in the gold medal game. The favored Cubans had won the last two Olympic titles.

Noah talks to Assistant Principal Athletic Director Richard Hoopes of Star Valley High School, in Afton, Wyoming. Hoopes used to coach Rulon Gardner in wrestling. Gardner has won Olympic gold in Greco-Roman wrestling. Hoopes says his former student called him this morning at 2:30 to tell him about his win.

Senator Joe Lieberman is a household name because he's running for vice president. But he also has a second campaign to run this fall, for re-election to his Senate seat in Connecticut. He insists he intends to run both races, but some Democrats are having second thoughts. They worry that if Al Gore and Lieberman win the national race, Connecticut's Republican governor will fill the vacant Senate seat with a Republican. Connecticut Public Radio's John Dankosky reports.

Catherine Houchins is pastor at the Metropolitan Community Church of the Blue Ridge in Roanoke, VA. She is conducting funeral services for Danny Overstreet, who was shot and killed at a Roanoke gay bar on Friday. Six others were wounded in the shooting. Noah talks to her about the mood in the southwest Virginia community.

Commentator Desiree Cooper talks about James, a young man who bludgeoned his father and is completely unrepentant about it. James says he suffered from abuse from his father. Cooper says that there is much concern about violence on television making kids more violent, but that real violence in their lives is an even more negative force in the lives of kids.