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The earthquake that hit Seattle wasn't that much of a surprise -- the area is seismically active and geologists expect this kind of thing. But as NPR's David Kestenbaum reports, it does provide some lessons on what breaks and how to build better.

Banning Eyre reviews A Lo Cubano by the Cuban hip-hop quartet called Orishas. While spin-off releases related to the Buena Vista Social Club are captivating music fans outside Cuba, on the island of Cuba, the Orishas are big. This band is now based in France, though they insist they are not in political exile.

Robert Siegel talks with NPR's Melissa Block about this week's testimony in the trial of four men accused of conspiring with Osama Bin Laden to blow up the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998. An FBI agent has testified about his interview with one of the defendants -- Mohammed Sadeek Odeh. Odeh was a member of the group headed by Osama Bin Laden, who is accused of masterminding the attacks. The FBI agent said Odeh told him that he wasn't directly involved in the bombings, but that he felt morally responsible.

NPR's Ted Clark reports that President Bush today certifies countries as being cooperative in the war against drugs. Countries that are not certified could face sanctions. Some members of Congress propose to alter or even drop the certification process on grounds that it is condescending to other governments and fails to produce the desired result. The Bush administration says the process should be re-evaluated.

Commentator Robert Franklin says that the pardon controversy has demonstrated to the whole country what the African-American community has always known: You are only entitled to as much justice as you can afford. Money and celebrity tend to distort the process of distributing justice.

Linda Wertheimer talks with Steve Saltzburg, professor of law at George Washington University School of Law. He specializes in criminal law and procedure and was a Department of Justice official from 1988-89. Saltzburg talks about what Congress can do as a result of the hearings on the Rich pardon. He says, despite the fact that Congress has no power to overturn the pardon, Congress can turn over any evidence of laws broken during the pardon process to the Attorney General for possible prosecution, and may consider introducing a constitutional ammendment. Saltzburg believes that Congress is more likely to suggest that future presidents should follow the normal procedures for review of pardon requests by the Department of Justice.

NPR's Sarah Chayes reports French voters will cast ballots this month for mayors and city councilors under a new law requiring political parties to field equal numbers of male and female candidates. The idea of mandating gender parity on party lists originally met resistance. The French public, however, has now embraced the idea enthusiastically. Until now, France has had the lowest rate of participation in politics of any European Union nation.

This year, for the first time, all California eighth graders are required to take algebra. As NPR's Mandalit Del Barco reports, the move is part of a national trend toward having younger students study the subject, which is considered a "gatekeeper" course for access to higher education.

Linda Wertheimer speaks with Philip Delves-Broughton, N.Y. bureau chief of the Daily Telegraph, who is covering the trial of rap singer Puffy Combs. Combs is on trial for weapons possession and bribery charges. He testified in his own defense today. Delves-Broughton says that Combs denied the charges, and was very composed under cross-examination, making for an impressive witness. He also says Combs has been dressing conservatively, more like a banker than a rap star.

NPR's Mara Liasson reports on the House Committee hearings to review the pardons issued by former-President Clinton. Several of Clinton's former aides testified yesterday, claiming that he granted a pardon to fugitive financier Marc Rich strictly because of the virtues of Rich's case...NOT because Clinton received money from Rich's ex-wife.

NPR's Pam Fessler reports that the Census Bureau has recommended the release of raw census data from the year 2000. Civil rights groups and some members of Congress had hoped the numbers would be revised to include people the census missed.

Fred Mogul from member station WHYY reports on the difficulties faced by conservative parishes of Episcopal and Anglican Churches. Leaders of the Anglican Church begin meeting today in North Carolina to discuss this, and other issues.