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NPR's Claudio Sanchez reports on a new book that contains information for parents who are looking for quality alternative schools for their children.

HOST SCOTT SIMON TALKS WITH NEW YORKER MAGAZINE CONTRIBUTOR LAWRENCE WESHCLER ABOUT HIS LATEST ARTICLE, WHICH TIES THE BOSNIAN WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL WITH THE WORKS OF THE DUTCH MASTER JOHANNES VERMEER (yo-HAHN-ess ver-MEER)

occurring in Austin, Texas this weekend at the National Issues Convention, where presidential candidates will have to answer to the average voter.

Film critic Bob Mondello takes a look at a new Italian movie by the same director who made "Stolen Children". In this film, director Gianni Amelio explores the dire effects of the coming of capitalism to Albania.

NPR'S MIKE SHUSTER REPORTS ON EVENTS THAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR IN BOSNIA

Producer Ginna Allison sends us this story of one of the most famous of American folk songs, "John Henry", and of the man and community behind it. John Henry was a black railroad worker who's said to have died after outperforming a mechanized railroad spike driver back in the 19th century. He is said to have come from Talcott (pronounced: TALL-cut), a small town in West Virginia. Allison brings us the voices of Talcott's people...and the music of Doc Watson and John Cephas...which echo the exploits of John Henry, and reveal how the racially diverse community views the song, the town's history, and each other.

Jacki talks with Aziz Abu-Hammad of the Middle East Human Rights Watch about the potential for political instability in Saudi Arabia. The bombing of an American run military training facility a few weeks ago has raised eyebrows and created a sense that opposition to the Royal family in Saudi Arabia may be growing.

The General Accounting Office released a study today that public school buildings and facilities throughout the country are in disrepair. The problems include plumbing, heating and crumbling foundations. NPR's Cheryl Devall reports that local school districts are calling for more federal and state funding to help solve these problems.

President Clinton announced his support today for a constitutional amendment to protect the rights of crime victims. A spokesman says Mr. Clinton is not endorsing any specific proposal, but the general idea of such an amendment. The probable Republican presidential nominee, Bob Dole, already has come out in favor of a victims' rights amendment. The version Dole is supporting would make sure crime victims are notified of court proceedings, given the chance to be heard on plea bargains and sentencing, and informed if the offender escapes or is released from jail. NPR's Chitra Ragavan reports.

Rolf Ekeus, the head of the U.N. Commission in charge of monitoring Iraq's compensation with orders to disarm itself, has stated that he believes Iraq still has significant stores of chemical and biological weapons, as well as long-range missiles. The BBC's Rob Watson reports.