April 1, 1998 All Things Considered (entire program) Requires the RealAudio Player

An index of the day's stories:

Paula Jones Suit Dismissed -- Federal Judge Susan Webber Wright dismissed the sexual harassment lawsuit brought by Paula Jones against President Clinton today. We'll hear an excerpt of a statement by President Clinton's lawyer, Robert Bennett. Chitra Ragavan has an overview of the day's events and a history of the case, and All Things Considered host Linda Wertheimer talks with NPR's Nina Totenberg about the implications of Judge Wright's decision. (12:00)

Israel and Lebanon -- NPR's Linda Gradstein reports that Israel's security cabinet has unanimously accepted a longstanding U.N. resolution that calls for Israel to withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon. The U.N. resolution mandates an unconditional withdrawal, but Israel still says a pullout will not take place until Lebanon agrees to ensure the security of the border between the two countries. Both Lebanon and Syria have rejected previous Israeli offers for a conditional withdrawal. The Israeli government is under increasing domestic pressure to end its occupation of Lebanese territory. (3:30)

Papon Trial -- NPR's Sarah Chayes reports from Bordeaux that lawyers have wrapped up concluding arguments in the trial of accused Nazi collaborator Maurice Papon. Jurors are now deliberating the case, which has raised broader questions about France's complicity in Nazi war crimes. (3:30)

Case Dropped -- Noah has the latest information on today's dismissal of the Paula Jones sexual harassment case against President Clinton. (1:00)

Transportation -- The House will vote this evening on a huge transportation spending bill. The bill, typically packed with pork in the form of special projects for members' home districts, is more than 40 percent bigger than the previous transportation bill, and would violate spending limits set in the balanced budget agreement by about $26 billion. In addition, Democrats are angry because they won't be able to offer a drunk driving amendment that was included in the bill already passed by the Senate. NPR's Brian Naylor reports. (4:00)

Boston Celtics -- All Things Considered host Noah Adams reports that the Boston Celtics have signed on a new player from Dublin, Ireland. His name is Seamus O'Caelohn, and he is a 7'2" center from Trinity College in Dublin -- the best player ever from Trinity. O'Caelohn gave a press conference earlier today, where he spelled out the terms of his new contract. To bring O'Caelohn on board, the Celtics have agreed to change the pronuncation of their name to KEL-tics (a hard "K"), in accordance with Irish cultural tradition. We talked to people around Boston to get their reaction to the name change. (7:15)

Ballet Tech -- Two years ago, Elliot Feld disbanded his respected, well established company. Now he's putting all his energy into his "other" company of inner city kids called "Ballet Tech." Jean Battey Lewis visits the public school where Feld teaches a new snappy, colorful, American style of ballet that critics across the country are paying attention to. Ballet Tech has just opened its season in New York City. (7:45)

Case Thrown Out -- Federal Judge Susan Webber Wright has dismissed the Paula Jones sexual harassment lawsuit against President Clinton. Linda and Noah talk with NPR's Nina Totenberg and Mara Liasson about the day's events. They're joined by John Whitehead, president of the Virginia-based Rutherford Institute, a conservative group which has supported Paula Jones and arranged for her legal representation. They discuss today's surprising developments and what's expected to happen following this ruling. (12:00)

Olestra -- The fat substitute Olestra is now being marketed nationwide -- but as NPR's Joe Palca reports, its negative image persists. That's because federal regulators insisted that food made with Olestra carry a warning label about its adverse effects on the digestive system -- even though the regulators agreed that Olestra was safe for mass consumption. Now the company is trying to overcome that negative image -- but doubts about Olestra persist. (7:45)

Asylum and Torture -- The new immigration bill, which went into effect a year ago today, provides for expedited procedures for immigrants seeking asylum in the United States. Linda talks with advocates for asylum-seekers, who are concerned that the speeded-up process may result in victims of torture being turned away. (12:30)

Irvine Welsh -- Irvine Welsh -- the author of Trainspotting, The Acid House, and other not-so-cheery tales of urban Scottish and English youth -- has just premiered his first play in Leeds, England. It's an equally not-so-cheery tale about kidnapping and torture. The middle-aged British critics have blasted it -- but it's drawing crowds of young people who might otherwise not go to the theatre. Matt Cowan reports. (7:45)