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Steve Krueger of member station KPLU in Tacoma, Washington, reports on the apparent suicide of Evan Hunziger. Hunziger was held for months by North Korean officials after begin accused of spying. Hunziger claimed he was spreading the gospel. He was released in November and returned home but was found today dead of a gunshot wound.

which the Supreme Court hears today. At issue is a Kansas law, similar to those in five other states, that allows authorities to commit a convicted sex offender to a mental institution indefinitely and involuntarily, even after that person has served a full sentence.

NPR's Adam Hochberg reports that the insurance commissioner in Florida is threatening to revoke the license of the Prudential Insurance company to do business in his state. The commissioner is unhappy with a proposed settlement to reimburse thousands of customers who were sold unnecessary life insurance policies.

Noah has a remembrance of country singer Faron Young (FAIR-enn), who died today of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police found Young yesterday at his home. A former member of the Grand Old Opry, Young is best-known for his 1961 hit, "Hello Walls," which hit number one on the country charts.

Robert talks with reporter Eric Lyman in Lima about the tense hostage situation in the Peruvian capital, where leftist guerrillas are holding at least two hundred people -- including senior government officials and foreign diplomats -- at the Japanese ambassador's residence. The rebels took over the residence during a party last night; they're demanding the release of jailed comrades. The guerrillas, who belong to the small Tupac Amaru (TOO-pock ah-MAHR-oo) Revolutionary Movement, have released about one hundred seventy hostages, most of them women.

NPR's Peter Overby talks with Linda about Charles Trie, the Little Rock businessman who raised some 600 thousand dollars in contributions for President Clinton's legal defense fund. Earlier this week, the chief trustee of that defense fund announced that the money was being returned. Trie is more than a long-time Clinton friend. He's a member of Democratic National Committee's "National Finance Board"...a fundraising structure in which members agree to raise or give 350 thousand dollars a year.

- Host Jacki Lyden speaks with Bill Brzezinsky, the owner of a cafe in the dusty, economically depressed town of Roby, Texas, where a number of farmers pooled their resources and won the state lottery recently, to the tune of $46 million. Brzezinsky says the sudden infusion of wealth hasn't changed much in Roby. But he's offering a new millionaire's special on his menu.

For the first time since 1979, Iraqi oil started flowing to markets legally today. It's a result of the UN oil-for-food resolution that relaxes the stringent embargo against Saddam Hussein's nation. US officials express confidence that the UN-monitored oil sales will not erode the general sanctions program and the grand coalition that opposed Saddam Hussein in Desert Storm. But analysts are not so sure. They expect nations in the region will see the deal as a green light to resume trading and smuggling with Iraq. NPR's Ted Clark reports.

Personal bankruptcies have increased sharply in the past year. A new study puts the increase at 26% from the year before...a development that many economists find surprising. Analysts say it's unusual for bankruptcy to be increasing without being accompanied by a recession. NPR's Elaine Korry reports.

on Speaker Newt Gingrich's bid for a second term. His re-election has been clouded by his admission that the ethics sub-committee received misleading documents about funding of a college course he taught.

is bringing to an end to a big part of Michigan's industrial history. The plant, built in 1941, recently shut down after half-a-century of armaments building.

NPR's David Molpus reports that the hotel industry's labor costs -- specifically costs associated with high employee turnover -- are forcing the industry to get serious about developing more family friendly policies. David Molpus profiles several initiatives underway at the Marriott Corporation.