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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.

Reviewer Mark Jenkins reviews the CD by Indian Sitarist Ananda Shankar and a British DJ known as State of Bengal. It's a pop mix of hip beats and Indian pop music. (3:30) Note: The CD is "Ananda Shankar and the State of Bengal." It's on the Real World Records label.

The colorful, iridescent soldier fly in question has "legs for days," Australian researcher Bryan Lessard said. He hopes that pop culture names will help attract attention for vulnerable species.

The Pentagon conducted a test of an anti-missile system last night. It failed. NPR's Steve Inskeep reports.