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One of President Clinton's top goals for his second term is to improve the nation's education system. NPR's Mara Liasson reports that in the coming year, the president will push for the passage of a college tuition tax credit and for federal funding of a national literacy program, in an effort to stop the slide of America's elementary and secondary schools.

sports stories of the year. Among other things, they discuss golfer Tiger Woods, the story-book tale of the New York Yankees and their manager Joe Torre, the Chicago Bulls record breaking 72-win season and the success of female athletes at the summer Olympics in Atlanta.

in Tibet.

Senior news analyst Daniel Schorr says that President Clinton's words about smaller federal government and greater state power have not matched his recent actions.

Flying tourists over the Grand Canyon is big business. But the federal government now says it's too noisy, and has decided to restrict where, when and how often planes and helicopters can cruise over the West's top tourist attraction. NPR's Howard Berkes reports that neither environmentalists nor tour companies are happy with the compromise regulations.

The conclusion of Bob Garfield's country music odyssey.

to finish the controversial Three Gorges Dam by 2009. The project will provide more power than any other dam in the world, but it will flood a huge area along the Yangtze River in central China...including sites containing artifacts from ancient Chinese cultures. Archaeologists want more time, and many, to save the priceless historical treasures.

Critic Bob Mondello picks the best movies of the year, and surprise! "Twister" isn't one of them. He says that the most interesting films of the year actually were about disasters...just not the natural kind.

It's a battle for which city has the hottest New Year's Eve celebration. In New York's Times Square, police estimate a half million people will line the streets in a celebration complete with search lights, lazer beams and 3000 pounds of confetti. But in Las Vegas, 200,000 visitors are expected to celebrate and the big moment will come at 9 pm, with the "implosion" of the Hacienda Hotel. Rooms at adjacent hotels with good views have been booked for months, and "implosion parties" are planned. NPR's Margot Adler reports.

NPR's Tovia Smith reports on a move by the state of Massachusetts to require high school students to pass a 'GED' test before receiving a diploma. The equivalency test is usually administered to dropouts or prisoners trying to get a diploma but some in the state want to use it as a check on what students are learning in their schools.

how people's personalities change as they age.

National Transportation Safety Board officials are investigating the collision of two airplanes that occurred last night at an airport in Quincy, Illinois. NPR's Cheryl Corley reports that the fire from the collision left little behind, but earlier today federal officials located a cockpit voice recorder from one of the planes.