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Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore likes to present himself as the candidate of substance and detail. Today, he might have outdone himself, presenting a 200-page tome containing his plan for the U.S. economy. Gore's blueprint includes a $300 billion "rainy day fund" as a buffer against an economic downturn, but Republican rival George W. Bush says Gore's spending programs would wipe out that much of the current surplus and more. From Cleveland, Madeleine Brand reports for NPR News.

A Pentagon security barrier accidentally lifted the German Defense Minister's car yesterday, injuring the minister who was arriving for talks with Defense Secretary William Cohen. A similar incident occurred in 1998 to the Japanese defense minister's car. Noah talks with Jim Mannion, Pentagon Correspondent for the Agence France-Press, about the Pentagon's security malfunctions.

We hear an excerpt of a speech yesterday in Allentown, Pennsylvania, by Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush, in which he outlined his plan for Medicare.

NPR's Ted Clark reports that a diplomatic row between the United States and North Korea is likely to undermine efforts to normalize relations between the two countries. North Korean diplomats headed for the U.N. Millennium summit were searched by American Airlines security personnel in Frankfurt, Germany. The angry North Koreans turned around and went home, after loudly denouncing the United States as a "rogue" nation. The diplomatic delegation included the North Korean number two official, who had been scheduled to hold first time, face-to-face meetings with the leaders of Japan and Russia in New York.

Commentator Lenore Skenazy, who lives in New York City has a few words about the traffic gridlock caused by the United Nations Millennium Summit.

As the U.S. Open tennis championship moves into crucial late rounds, all eyes are on stars like Pete Sampras, Venus and Serena Williams and Martina Hingis. Reena Advani reports there are also other performers out there on center court -- the ballboys. Unlike tennis players, when ballboys do their job well, they go virtually unnoticed.

Noah and Linda appeal to listeners for their questions about this year's campaign issues, to be answered on an upcoming program. (1:30) The number to call is 202-898-2395.

The Fugitive was one of the classic television programs of the 1960's. Now, the drama of a man on the run from the law, trying to prove his innocence, is coming back this fall in an all new series. Roy Huggins, who created The Fugitive and is executive producer of the new version, talks to Linda about its return.

NPR's Don Gonyea reports that executives from both Ford and Bridgestone/Firestone faced harsh questioning on Capitol Hill today. Members of Congress wanted to know why the companies were slow to warn the public about a growing problem with defective tires and why they didn't inform the U.S. government about an overseas recall. U.S. safety regulators were also criticized for not catching the problem earlier. The defective tires are now blamed for 88 deaths and hundred of injuries in the U.S.

To marks California's 150th anniversary as a state , Bob looks back at the early years of the Gold Rush. The Gold Rush "jump-started" California, made it grow faster than anyone could have expected. We learn how disappointing those early years were for many of the people who went west. This story features commentary from historian Kevin Starr, and dramatic readings from diaries and other documents of the time. (8:15) Kevin Starr is the state librarian of California and author of 8 books about the state, including Americans and the California Dream: 1850--1915 by Oxford University Press (Trade); ISBN: 01950

Host Bob Edwards talks with NPR's Ted Clark wrapping up events at the UN's Millennium Summit.

Guatemalan and American scientists working in the jungles of northern Guatemala have rediscovered Cancuen, a city that was one of the most important commercial centers of the Mayan world from 400 BC to 800 AD.