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Norwegian divers struggled to open the hatch of the sunken Kursk submarine today, 354 feet under the Barents Sea. There have been conflicting reports from Russian, Norwegian and British rescue teams over the amount of damage to the submarine's hatch and over what may have caused the accident. From Moscow, NPR's Michele Kelemen reports.

Shorey's, a Seattle legend, is closing its famed bookstacks. In business since 1890, the landmark bookstore is now doing 60% of its sales on line. So owners are shutting down a local landmark and becoming a web-only service. Christine Arrasmith of member station KPLU in Seattle reports.

Puzzle master Will Shortz quizzes one of our listeners, and has a challenge for everyone at home. (This week's winner is P. D. Wadler from Chicago. He listens to Weekend Edition on member station WBEZ.)

NPR's Michele Kelemen reports from Moscow that Norwegian divers in the Barents Sea have confirmed Russia's worst fears: all 118 men aboard the submarine Kursk are dead. As the rescue effort wound down, Russians continue to ask questions about their government's handling of the tragedy. Attention also turned to the task of raising the sub from the ocean floor before its nuclear reactors begin to leak.'

The Pain Relief Promotion Act would establish that the alleviation of suffering is a "legitimate medical purpose" for potent drugs. The bill also would reassert a federal ban on dispensing drugs for doctor-assisted suicide. Commentator Joe Loconte likes the bill, and tells us why.

From Missoula, Montana, Kathy Witkowsy reports on the widespread damage that drought and wildfires are causing in the western part of the state. Hundreds of thousands of acres of forest have burned already, and millions of acres more have been closed because of fire danger. Businesses that rely on tourism are losing money, and ranchers are facing losses too. More than 200 buildings have been destroyed by fire.

Frank talks with Jennifer Ludden about the situation in the Middle East, as Israli and Palestinian leaders prepare to meet with President Clinton next week.

Frank reads letters from listeners.

Labor day is the traditional start of the fall campaign. Political watchers believe that 90% of the electorate have already made up their minds on their presidential selection. Host Steve Inskeep talks with Dan Gonyea on how both Bush and Gore are targeting the remaining 10%.

Host Steve Inskeep talks to columnist Doug Grow of the Minneapolis Star Tribune about a dispute over kosher dill pickles at the Minnesota State Fair.

Host Steve Inskeep talks with Professor of Labor History Nelson Lichtenstein about why companies so often have workers work overtime. The issue has been central to recent strikes at United Airlines and Viacom.

Host Steve Inskeep talks with James L.W.West III about Trimalchio: An Early Version of The Great Gatsby (Edited by James L.W. West III/Cambridge University Press/2000). West says that F.Scott Fitzgerald's Trimalchio was a good novel, but that The Great Gatsby was a masterpiece -- and that Fitzgerald and his editor, the famed Maxwell Perkins, achieved this in the re-writing. West is Distinguished Professor of English at Pennsylvania State University.