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Bob Garfield, co-host of NPR's On the Media reports on permission specialists -- the people who get the suspects in the "cops" type shows to sign on the dotted line to allow their stories and images to be used in these "reality shows." There are lots of reasons why few suspects hesitate to sign -- some hope it will help their case, some just want that 20 seconds of fame before being put away for 20 years, and some, they say, are just stupid.

From member station WNYC, Beth Fertig reports on the vote this week by parents at five of New York City's most troubled schools over whether to allow a private company to step in and run the schools.

NPR's Andy Bowers reports on the potential California gubernatorial candidacy of actor Arnold Schwarzenegger. With the state's power crisis ebbing away at Gov. Gray Davis' (D) popularity, many Republicans feel The Terminator is the man who can rescue their party. After all, they note, Ronald Reagan, George Murphy, Sonny Bono and Clint Eastwood parlayed entertainment careers to political office in California.

Host Bob Edwards talks with George Stevens, San Diego Deputy Mayor, who introduced a resolution to eliminate the word "minority" from all official city documents and discussions. Stevens, an African American, suggests "minority" is a word of subtle discrimination employed by whites. The resolution was approved by the San Diego City Council this month.

NPR's Julie McCarthy reports on the trial of Parry Wacker, a man caught smuggling 58 Chinese people into Britain last year. Only two of the illegal immigrants survived the journey and Wacker is being charged with manslaughter.

Eric Engleman reports from Moscow that Russian space officials have rebuffed a U.S. request to delay Saturday's scheduled lift-off of a Soyuz spacecraft bound for the International Space Station. NASA wants the Russians to delay their flight, because the U.S. space shuttle Endeavour has to spend extra time docked to the space station working on computer problems. The Soyuz will be carrying two Russian cosmonauts and American millionaire Dennis Tito. Over NASA objections, the Russians agreed to take Tito up to the station after he reportedly paid $20 million.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has asked convicted Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh to spend his remaining time on earth as a vegan. Commentator John Ridley says PETA's choice for celebrity spokesperson is a stroke of genius.

NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr wonders why President Bush "chose this moment to open a national and international argument" about missile defense.

NPR's Barbara Bradley reports that the Bush administration has decided to end the practice of consulting the American Bar Association about potential nominees for federal judgeships before making their names public. For nearly 50 years, both Republican and Democratic presidents have consulted the ABA about judicial nominees before announcing them. Conservatives are pleased with the decision because they say that the ABA has a liberal bias.

NPR's Larry Abramson reports on last night's burn-down of the Russian space-station Mir. Some sky-watchers in Fiji were able to see a burning fire in the sky as the station entered the Earth's atmosphere.