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Liane Hansen speaks with singer/songwriter Wayne Hancock. He ollows in the footsteps of Hank Williams with his debut cd, "Thunderstorms and eon Signs" (DejaDisc DJD 3221).

- NPR's Dan Charles reports that transportation officials today said Valujet is a safe airline. Charles looks at the history of Valujet and reports on its successes and failures.

NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports from Abidjan on the saga of an overloaded freighter carrying nearly four thousand people who fled the recent fighting in Liberia. The leaky vessel set out from Liberia nine days ago, but has been sailing up and down the west African coast, as Ivory Coast and Ghana have refused to accept the refugees. Today Ghana allowed the ship to dock, but many of whom are suffering from dysentery. The reluctance of west African nations to accept more refugees follows warnings from diplomats that the international community may abandon Liberia if its warring factions fail to make peace. (3:00) CUTAWAY 1A 0:59 1B 4. JURY REFORM - In Los Angeles, Virginia Biggar reports on a soon-to-be-released report on how to reform the California jury system. Reform has been on the legal agenda for years, but the OJ Simpson trial highlighted many flaws in the system, say critics. Recommendations for change vary from paying jurors more to punishing potential jurors for avoiding jury duty.

2: REYNOLDS PRICE... writer, teacher, poet ... has turned his attention to the life of Jesus and the gospels. His latest book, "Three Gospels" (Scribner) is a translation of the gospels of Mark and John from the original Greek and includes a new gospel, "An Honest Account of a Memorable Life". In 1984 PRICE was diagnosed with spinal cancer, and became paralyzed from the waist down. His other books include, "The Promise of Rest", "A Whole New Life" and "The Collected Stories".

In Chicago today, Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America announced that former Secretary of Labor Lynn Martin will conduct an independent review of company policy regarding sexual harassment and discrimination. Mitsubishi is the target of two sexual harassment suits. NPR's Cheryl Corley reports that a lawyer representing some of the women charging sexual harassment says hiring the former Labor Secretary is just a public relations move.

The U-S and North Korea have an agreement that may help the U-S get back the remains of more servicemen missing from the Korean War. The U-S has committed to paying North Korea two million dollars to cover the cost of recovering 162 sets of remains that were returned in 1993-94. Thousands of servicemen who were in the war are unaccounted for. NPR's Phillip Davis reports on the agreement.

Scott Simon welcomes the cicada mating season.

A listener ENLIGHTENS us on the business of candlemaking.

NPR's Ted Clark reports that yesterday's bombing reveals undercurrents of anti-Americanism in Saudi Arabia and resentment toward the government there. Though the opposition is fuelled by militant Islam to some degree, analysts say that Saudi Arabia remains stable, though the opposition will have to be managed carefully if the country is to remain stable.

2: Biographer LAURENCE BERGREEN. Saturday May 11 is the 108th anniversary of Irving Berlin's birthday. Bergreen's biography of Berlin, entitled "As Thousands Cheer: The Life of Irving Berlin" , was first published in 1990 and re-issued in paperback (Da Capo Press) in 1996. (REBROADCAST from 6

has struck down the state's "Three strikes and you're out" law. After a third felony conviction, the law required a judge to hand down a sentence of 25 years to life. Only the prosecutor was allowed to waive the law. But the court's decision says that judges may waive the sentencing guidelines.

Scott speaks with violinist Roman Totenberg. Mr. Totenberg recently won Boston University's most prestigious teaching award. His daughter joins us to sing his praises.