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about the slide in stock prices over the last week. The downward trend started last Friday, when the federal government reported that the nation is experiencing record levels of employment.

In Illinois, a former military base has been transformed into a unique community of foster families. Each family gets a house rent-free and a yearly salary. Brent Wolf of W-I-L-L in Urbana, Illinois reports that although fifty percent of the children in the community have been abused or neglected, the program is thriving because of the attentiveness of the adults.

In New York's Fourth Congressional District, an interesting race is shaping up for the seat currently held by freshman Republican Dan Frisa (FREE-zuh). Carolyn McCarthy, whose husband was murdered in the 1993 Long Island Railroad shooting, has decided to run against Frisa because of his position on gun control. NPR's Melissa Block reports.

at the International AIDS conference going on in Vancouver, Canada this week...

Recently-elected Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott is finding out quickly about the frustrations of gridlock. The Defense appropriations bill is being held hostage to a dispute over nuclear waste disposal, and a range of other bills are being held up as well. NPR's Peter Kenyon reports.

NPR's Jim Zarroli reports that the stock market sustained serious losses today, with its key barometer off as much as one hundred thirty-three points at one point. Technology stocks were particularly hard-hit, following computer manufacturer Hewlett-Packard's announcement that it would discontinue making disk-drive components. This news, combined with Motorola's announcement of lower-than-expected earnings and a lower bond market, sparked a sell-off that triggered the Stock Exchange's "uptick rule" that restricts computer-driven sell programs to stabilize the market.

Host of Comedy Central's "Politically Incorrect," BILL MAHER. The former stand-up comic's new book is "Does Anybody Have a Problem With That: Politically Incorrect's Greatest Hits," (Villard) With panelists of diverse ideologies (Patty Hearst to Al Sharpton to G. Gordon Liddy...) and sometimes explosive conflicts, the show has been described as "the McLaughlin Group on acid." Beginning in January, "Politically Incorrect" will air right after Nightline on ABC. BILL MAHER'S previous book is a novel called "True Story" (Random House).

NPR's senior news analyst Daniel Schorr says that Bob Dole is doing more than courting Colin Powell as a running mate.

Noah talks with Willie Stern, a staff editor for Business Week magazine, about the news that federal authorities have begun a criminal investigation of the crash of ValuJet Flight 592. Stern says that the targets of the investigation are ValuJet and SabreTech Inc., an aircraft maintenance company that acknowledged it mistakenly labeled as "empty" a shipment of oxygen canisters that may have played a role in the crash. Investigators are examining the possibility that both companies may have lied to authorities after the crash.

Film critic JOHN POWERS reviews director Bernardo Bertolucci''s latest film. "Stealing Beauty" stars Liv Tyler and Jeremy Irons.INT. 2: Singer MEL TORME. For more than 50 years, Torme has been one of most accomplished and versatile pop and jazz singers. Known for years as "The Velvet Fog," Torme, who grew up in show business, first made his reputation in the Big Band era as a songwriter, arranger, drummer and singer. He later sang in MGM musicals. Described by Ethel Waters as "the only white man who sings with the soul of a black man," Torme is one of the few white performers to share the spotlight with jazz greats like Sarah Vaughn and Ella Fitzgerald. "The Mel Torme Collection: 1944-1985," a four CD box set, has just been released. (Rhino) (REBROADCAST FROM 10

PARROT-HEADS: Commentator Steven Stark ponders the enduring appeal of ock singer Jimmy Buffett.

NPR's Tom Gjelten reports on the latest discussions among America's major trading partners about their possible retaliation for the Helms-Burton law. Helms-Burton punishes certain foreign companies that do business in Cuba; it's the most drastic law of its kind ever enacted in the United States. Mexico, Canada, and the European Union have not yet announced specific counter-measures, but recent history with similar laws shows that foreign governments can make it illegal for their companies to follow U-S orders.