March 11, 1998 All Things Considered (entire program) Requires the RealAudio Player

An index of the day's stories:

Hebron -- NPR's Linda Gradstein reports that for the second day in a row, Palestinians on the West Bank held rock-throwing demonstrations to protest the killing of three Palestinians at a roadblock Tuesday. Israel claimed the Palestinians were killed when they tried to run down an Israeli soldier; Palestinians maintain the three had brake problems and couldn't stop at the roadblock in time. (3:00)

Kosovo -- NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports on the continuing tension in the Serbian province of Kosovo. There is still no dialogue between the ethnic Albanians and the Serbian government. Each is demanding uncompromisable conditions before the talks can begin. The Albanians say the only solution to the problem is independence. And, today, the United States criticized the Serbians for being uncooperative. (4:00)

Trash -- NPR's Jim Zarroli reports that two of the nation's biggest waste haulers are joining forces. The smaller company, USA Waste Services, is buying Waste Management in a stock-swap deal valued at $13 billion. The merged companies would control 20% of the trash hauling market. (2:30)

Surrogacy -- NPR's Renee Montagne reports on a state appeals court decision in California that could redefine notions about parenthood. The court ruled that a couple who contracted with a surrogate to carry a child conceived with a donated egg and donated sperm are the legal parents of that child. (2:30)

Pheromones -- NPR's Joe Palca reports on an experiment at the University of Chicago that suggests the existence of human pheromones -- hormone-like chemicals that can cause an effect outside the body rather than inside the body. Scientists say it's the most compelling proof yet that human pheromones exist. (4:00)

The Return of Yves Montand -- Sarah Chayes reports from Paris that the body of French singer-actor Yves Montand was exhumed today for DNA tests. A French court ordered the body to be dug up as part of a paternity suit brought by a woman who wants to be recognized as Montand's daughter. (3:00) 18:37.5

IMF -- Republican leaders say they will attach an anti-abortion provision to the pending International Monetary Fund package. Both the House and Senate are expected the pass the measure with that provision. The White House says President Clinton will veto the bill if it includes the anti-abortion language. NPR's Peter Kenyon reports. (3:30)

Indonesia -- NPR senior news analyst Daniel Schorr says that while Indonesian President Suharto might seem slow to introduce reform, the International Monetary Fund and the United States do not understand the cultural nuances of Indonesian society. As a result, no one seems to know whether Suharto will will accept an IMF bailout or opt for a riskier route. (3:00)

African Growth -- NPR's Ted Clark reports that the House of Representatives today is set to vote on a bill to encourage trade with, and investment in, Africa. The African Trade and Opportunity Act has become a priority for the White House; in two weeks Bill Clinton begins the first visit of a U.S. president to sub-Saharan Africa in twenty years. The administration wants the bill to become law before the president leaves as a way to demonstrate its commitment to Africa. (5:30)

Unity of Knowledge -- Robert speaks with Edward O. Wilson, Research Professor and Honorary Curator of Entomology at Harvard University. Professor Wilson makes his case for the notion that "a fundamental unity" is "underlying all forms of knowledge." Robert and Professor Wilson discuss the meaning and implications of this concept, which Wilson calls "consilience." In his new book, Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge (Published by Knopf and due out next month) and an article in the March issue of The Atlantic developed from the book, Wilson makes the case for a more holistic approach to classifying knowledge, and for the rejection of postmodern ideas about the fragmentation of reality and understanding. (8:00)

Military Training -- Pentagon officals say the Army, Navy and Air Force all oppose a recommendation by an influential panel to separate men and women during basic training. Defense Secretary William Cohen will make the final decision on the issue, but the views of the three services could be sent to him by the end of this week. NPR's Martha Raddatz reports. (4:30)

Aviano -- Pentagon officials say Marines involved in the cable car accident in northern Italy on February 3rd of this year will face disciplinary action. The Marines were flying their jet too low and severed a line carrying a ski-lift cable car. Twenty people aboard the car fell to their deaths in the valley below. The jet had a four-man crew. It is not known whether just the pilot or any others will be disciplined. NPR's Steve Inskeep reports. (3:00)

X-38 -- Noah talks with Chris Nagy, the chief engineer of the X-38, an emergency escape pod intended for use with the MIR space station. The X-38, which is a wingless craft, is set for a test flight tomorrow at the Edwards Air Force Base in California. (3:45)

Miami Mayor -- Robert talks with NPR's Cheryl Devall about a Florida appeals court decision this afternoon which threw out the results of Miami's runoff mayoral election last November. The court declared Joe Carollo mayor, meaning that there will be no new election, as had been previously declared by a lower court. Carollo, who had been mayor before losing the runoff election last year, had brought the case before the courts, claiming that absentee ballot fraud occurred. The lower court agreed that the runoff election had been tainted, and ordered a new election. Today's ruling strips Mayor Xavier Suarez of his victory entirely, and Carollo will now serve out the remainder of the mayor's four-year term. (3:00)

California Race -- Democrat Lois Capps won a special election to fill her late husband Walter's House seat last night in Santa Barbara, California. Democrats are claiming the victory represents the beginning of a trend that will help them retake the House in November. Republicans point out that widows almost always win races for their husband's seats. But some other analysts say an important factor was massive spending by outside interest groups on issues like abortion, which may have alienated local voters. NPR's Elizabeth Arnold reports. (4:30)

Hard Freeze -- Reporter Melanie Peeples of member station WUAL in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, reports that fruit growers throughout the southern United States worked through the night to keep their precious -- and fragile -- plants from freezing as a late season cold snap dropped temperatures into the low-20s. (3:30)

Crop Insurance -- Noah talks with Paul Horel, the president of the Crop Insurance Research Bureau, Inc. It's a national association of crop insurers and other organizations within the crop insurance industry. They talk about what crop insurance covers, who buys it, when it's purchased, and how much insurance the average farmer needs. (4:00)

Saturn Contract -- NPR's Don Gonyea reports that GM's Saturn division workers have voted to keep their existing contract intact. Workers at the Spring Hill, Tennessee plant were considering a proposal to junk their "team-oriented" approach to car-building in favor of the standard UAW contract. (2:00)

Gas Prices -- NPR's Elaine Korry reports the price of gasoline has dropped below 90 cents a gallon in some parts of the country. When adjusted for inflation, gas hasn't been cheaper since the 1960s. Consumers wonder how long the low prices will last. (3:00)

Mr. Subway -- NPR's Melissa Block takes a ride on the rails of the NYC subway system with Stan Fischler, a subway buff and amateur historian who hears strains of Benny Goodman in the rhythm of wheel over rail. His first subway ride was when he was four; now, at the age of 65, he says he's never met a subway car he didn't like. His new book is The Subway: A Trip Through Time on New York's Rapid Transit. (Available from: H & M Productions II Inc, 193-07 45 Avenue, Flushing, NY 11358.) (8:00)