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Beach-goers in Delaware have long considered horseshoe crabs the scourge of the shore. They rotted by the hundreds, stinking up the beach. But now the number of crabs spawning on the beaches is way down, and Bruce Schimmel reports local residents are trying to protect them. (4:30) note: music button following this piece on the air was from Sting's album "The Dream of the Blue Turtles," on A&M records.

NPR's Claudio Sanchez reports on a new media campaign designed to provoke pre-election discussion about how to improve American education. Television commercials will advocate better choices for families of all income levels. The group that sponsors the campaign is led by businessman Ted Forstmann. Forstmann is "on record" advocating government-paid tuition vouchers. But another participant, Senator John McCain says he doesn't support that. Former Reagan Administration official Robert Bennett says other options include support for home schooling and more student access to high technology.

Linda talks to Samuel Lewis, Senior Policy Advisor to the Israel Policy Forum, about the peace talks at Camp David between Israel and the Palestinians. They compare today's talks with talks between Israel and Egypt at Camp David in 1979. Lewis was US Ambassador to Israel 1977-1985 and Policy Planning Staff Director for the State Department, 1993-1994.

Kate Seelye in Damascus reports Bashar Al-Assad has, as expected, been chosen as Syria's new president. But his overwhelming victory in yesterday's referendum masks growing discontent in the country.

Storyteller Kevin Kling talks about the summer his voice changed; the summer he went fishing with his dad, and talked with the loons.

A new courthouse scheduled to open this week in Las Vegas is the first building to incorporate new architectural guidelines adopted after the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah building in Oklahoma City in 1995. Noah talks to Mehrdad Yazdani, Director of Design at Dworsky Asscociates in Los Angeles, California, about the building.

NPR's Aaron Schachter reports from Los Angeles where police officers are gearing up for protestors at next month's Democratic National Convention. Police staged a mock street demonstration yesterday and invited the press. Skeptics say the scripted event was designed to boost the reputation of the beleaguered LAPD.

NPR's Howard Berkes reports on today's announcement by the Federal government to change the designation of many gray wolves in the U.S. from the "endangered" to "threatened." The government says this is the result of successful efforts to rebuild wolf populations, but some environmentalist say it may leave them vulnerable to becoming endangered again.

When United Airlines and US Airways announced that they wanted to merge, the plan included the creation of a new airline - DC Air - which would be owned by Media Mogul Robert Johnson, of Black Entertainment Television. Commentator Leon Wynter says the prospect is a windfall for Johnson, who Wynter contends has turned his media empire into America's official black brand.

NPR's Cheryl Corley reports on the dilemma facing states that have passed bans on so-called "partial birth" abortions. When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against a Nebraska law that outlawed the procedures, it cast Constitutional doubt on similar laws in twenty-nine other states. Abortion opponents in several of those states are working to craft new bans. They hope rewritten laws will be able to pass Constitutional muster. But it may not be an easy task.

All Things Considered staff member Debra Schifrin talks about her recent 10 year high school reunion in the San Francisco Bay area. Having lived on the East Coast for six years, she was shocked at how the incredible wealth that has flooded Silicon Valley has affected her high school class. And she was surprised at her own reaction to all the talk about money.

The governing body of world soccer competition is investigating the circumstances surrounding yesterday's vote which awarded Germany the right to host the 2006 World Cup. A key delegate from New Zealand -- who had been expected to vote for South Africa to host the competition -- abstained, and Germany ended up winning by one vote. New Zealand delegate Charles Dempsey says he abstained because he came under intolerable pressure for his vote, receiving bribe attempts and letters of intimidation. Robert talks to Simon Greenberg, Sports Editor for the London Evening Standard about the story.