May 26, 1998 All Things Considered (entire program) Requires the RealAudio Player

An index of the day's stories:

Ellis Island -- NPR's Melissa Block reports on today's U.S. Supreme Court ruling that most of Ellis Island belongs not to New York, but to New Jersey. The decision means little in the way of money or ownership, but it alters a powerful symbol for New Yorkers. (4:30)

Police Chases -- The Supreme Court ruled today that police can't be sued for most high speed chases that leave someone dead or injured. The Justices ruled that police can be sued only if their actions are so extreme that they would "shock the conscience." The case involved a California teenager who was a passenger on a motorcycle that a deputy sheriff was chasing. When the motorcycle stopped suddenly, the deputy's car hit the teenager and killed him. NPR's Nina Totenberg reports. (4:00)

Fetal Abuse -- NPR's Brenda Wilson reports that the U.S. Supreme Court today let stand a South Carolina law that allows a pregnant woman to be prosecuted for child abuse for endangering her fetus. The case involves two women who were sent to prison for using crack cocaine while they were pregnant. (2:30)

Euro-Islamicists -- Sarah Chayes reports from Paris on a French-coordinated anti-terrorist operation in five European countries. Police rounded up suspected Islamic militants in order to head off terrorist attacks against the upcoming World Cup games in France. (3:30)

Indonesia -- All Things Considered host Linda Wertheimer talks with NPR's Mary Kay Magistad in Jakarta. They talk about recently appointed President Habibie's release of political prisoners and how Habibie's policies are taking shape. President Habibie met today with opposition leaders and renewed his commitment to the establishment of a free press. They also talk about the arrival of representatives from the International Monetary Fund, who are trying to settle on terms for the continued disbursement of money to the cash-strapped nation. (4:00)

Childhood Depression -- NPR's Michelle Trudeau reports that an estimated three million young people suffer from severe clinical depression. For the most part, though, these children and teenagers are not receiving treatment for the illness. This is partly because childhood depression often looks very different from adult depression, but also because few children know how to articulate their problems. But now, growing numbers of psychologists and psychiatrists are recognizing the problems inherent to childhood depression, and are learning how to treat them more effectively. (12:30)

Mr. Shawn's New Yorker -- Noah talks with Ved Mehta, the author of Remembering Mr. Shawn's New Yorker: The Invisible Art of Editing. Mehta talks about his years as a writer working with the former editor-in-chief of the New Yorker, William Shawn. The book is a tribute to Shawn and the relationship between writers and editors. They also talk about the inside workings of the magazine between 1952 and 1987. (Note: Remembering Mr. Shawn's New Yorker: The Invisible Art of Editing is published by the Overlook Press.) (5:00)

Springfield, Oregon -- NPR's John Biewen reports that students from Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon, returned to class today. It's the first day of school following the shootings Thursday that left two students dead. (3:00)

Church Bombing Task Force -- NPR's Cheryl Corley reports from Chicago on the ongoing investigation into this Sunday's church bombing in Danville, Illinois, which injured 33 people. Law enforcement officials say they don't have any evidence suggesting the bombing is related to other church bombings around the country, including one in December that killed one person at a church in nearby Oakwood, Illinois. (4:00)

Japanese Germ Warfare -- Linda talks with William Broad, a science writer for the New York Times. He's one of the three reporters who worked on the story "How Japan Germ Terror Alerted the World," which appeared in today's paper. They discuss the Japanese investigation of the cult known as "Aum Supreme Truth," and how it uncovered previously undetected germ attacks in the early 1990s. (5:00)

Pakistan -- All Things Considered host Noah Adams talks with NPR's Martha Raddatz about reports that the nation of Pakistan has completed preparations for its own nuclear test, following India's series of nuclear tests held between May 11 and 13. There has been much concern about nuclear proliferation in this region of South Asia, and analysts still hold out hope that Pakistan will refrain from provoking more conflict in the area concerning nuclear weapons. However, tensions between Pakistan and India have been running high, with clashes between Indian and Pakistani forces on the disputed border in the region of Kashmir. (4:00)

Environmental Minister -- NPR's Edward Lifson reports from Berlin on a political crisis over shipments of nuclear waste material. The nuclear industry has acknowledged it failed to inform Environment Minister Angela Merkel about leaks in containers holding nuclear waste. Merkel has announced a ten-point plan to improve safety, but some opposition politicians are calling for her resignation. (3:30)

Colombian Death Squads -- Quil Lawrence reports from Bogota that the Colombian army is suspected of being involved in a rising tide of political killings. Barely a week goes by without another massacre or assassination, and with each one come charges that elements of the army participated in the crime, or at least permitted it to happen. Last week, after intense U.S. pressure, Colombia disbanded an army brigade notorious for its alleged involvement in killings of suspected leftists. (5:00)

Akron Campaign Finance -- NPR's Steven Rosenfeld reports on a incident in Akron, Ohio, that illustrates the slim difference between an illegal bribe and a campaign contribution. A city councilman says a local gas company tried to buy his vote on a permit application to build a natural gas well, but the company counters that they were simply contributing to the councilman's campaign warchest. (6:30)

I-95 -- NPR's Eric Westervelt reports on the aftermath of Saturday's collision that heavily damaged a stretch of I-95 south of Philadelphia. Officials say that re-rerouting traffic helped to drastically cut delays during this morning's rush hour. They're hoping to have the damage repaired by the July 4 holiday. (3:00)

Rachel's Chips -- Noah talks with Jim Garlie, the president of RLD Enterprises, which makes Rachel's Gourmet Potato Chips in Bloomington, Minnesota. They discuss Garlie's good fortune -- and business acumen -- in deciding to sponsor a team of drivers at the Indianapolis 500. The sponsorship was announced on May 11 -- approximately two weeks before the running of the world-famous motor race. One of the drivers on that racing team -- Eddie Cheever -- won the race. Cheever had been a long shot, having only one other win in his 20-year career. But Cheever, in winning, had television cameras trained on his car throughout the race, providing a tremendous amount of exposure for Rachel's Chips. (5:00)