May 27, 1998 All Things Considered (entire program) Requires the RealAudio Player

An index of the day's stories:

Clinton on Welfare-to-Work -- We'll hear an excerpt of President Clinton's speech at the White House, commemorating the first anniversary of his welfare-to-work initiative. (1:00)

Reality Check -- All Things Considered host Linda Wertheimer talks with Pamela Holcomb, a senior associate at the Urban Institute, a group which monitors welfare and health policy reforms. They discuss the issue of job retention for employees who have been hired off the nation's welfare rolls. Companies with training and counseling programs, who help employees with issues concerning child care and transportation tend to have high job-retention rates -- but those that don't have a high turnover rate. (6:00)

States -- NPR's Steve Inskeep reports from Washington that states are reporting large budget surpluses again -- and this year, the cumulative total could exceed $20 billion. The windfalls are sparking debates in state capitals across the country over how to spend it all -- cutting taxes, funding schools, building roads or bolstering emergency "rainy day" funds for those years when revenues may not be so robust. (4:00)

Jailed Activists -- NPR's Mary Kay Magistad reports that two activists and two students arrested during recent demonstrations against Indonesia's former president Suharto were brought to trial today. Despite the new government's steps toward political reform, the court refused to dismiss the charges. Indonesia's judicial system is trying to come to terms with last week's abrupt change of government and that means determining whether the old laws still should be enforced. (4:00)

India Nukes -- India's decision to explode five nuclear bombs between the 11th and 13th of May took the rest of the world by surprise and has sparked condemnation by the other nuclear powers. Commentator Sarita Servate explains why India's actions could be a cause for celebration for Indian citizens. (3:30)

You've Got Mail -- A visit to the set in New York City where the upcoming film You've Got Mail is being photographed. The movie was written by sisters Nora and Delia Ephron and Nora directs the film. The feature will reunited stars Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. It's a romance about two people who fall in love through e-mail. He's a big book chain owner; she's a small independent owner. The movie pooh-poohs those who lament the fact that the New York bookstore scene is being taken over by chain stores like Barnes and Noble. NPR's Susan Stamberg filed this report. (12:30)

Persian Gulf Drawdown -- NPR's Martha Raddatz reports on what's behind the U.S. decision to begin withdrawing some forces from the Persian Gulf and what message the pullout sends to Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. The U.S. sent additional troops and air power into the region in February when Iraq refused to cooperate with United Nations weapons inspectors. President Clinton, on the advice of the Pentagon, has decided to reduce the number of U.S. military personnel in the Gulf by about 50 percent. (4:00)

Anatomy of a Jump Shot -- Reggie Miller of the Indiana Pacers currently is the buzz of the NBA playoffs -- an athlete who calmly hits the big shot. NPR's Tom Goldman examines how athletes manage to focus on their game while under extreme pressure and fan scrutiny. The Pacers will play the Chicago Bulls tonight in game 5 of their playoff series. (3:30)

Fortier Sentenced -- NPR's Wade Goodwyn reports from Oklahoma City that Michael Fortier, a key witness in the investigations of Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, was sentenced Wednesday to 12 years in prison and ordered to pay $200,000 in fines for failing to stop the Oklahoma City bombing. Fortier could have gone to jail for as long as 17 and a half years, but U.S. District Judge Thomas Van Bebber gave him less time because -- as prosecutors argued -- Fortier's testimony helped convict Timothy McVeigh in a trial last June. Fortier was convicted for failing to warn anybody about the blast even though he said knew of Timothy McVeigh's plans to blow up a federal building. Victims' families asked for a lengthy prison term for Fortier. (3:30)

Freemen Trial -- NPR's Mark Roberts reports from Billings, Montana, on the latest developments in the trial of the Montana Freemen. Two defendants have entered guilty pleas, but others have refused to enter the courtroom for today's jury selection. (2:00)

Lobbying -- Linda talks with Jonathan Groner, the managing editor of the Legal Times. They discuss how lobbyists in Washington are reporting more fees than ever, despite the ongoing scandals involving campaign finance and the role of lobbyists. (5:30)

Radcliffe -- NPR's Anthony Brooks reports that any day now, we may see the virtual end of Radcliffe College, which served for many years as the sister school of Harvard University before Harvard admitted women. Even though Harvard absorbed much of Radcliffe in 1977, some women are objecting to the final blow. (5:00)

The Seville Communion -- Alan Cheuse reviews the latest book by popular Spanish author Arturo Perez-Reverte. It's called The Seville Communion, and it's a mystery novel concerning computer hackers, the Vatican, and the atmosphere of the old Andalusian capital, Seville. Cheuse says it's a gripping read. (Note: The Seville Communion by Arturo Perez-Reverte is published by Harcourt-Brace.) (2:30)

National Guardsmen in U.S. -- NPR's Tom Gjelten reports that the murder of four American churchwomen in El Salvador nearly 20 years ago continues to reverberate today. There is renewed interest in the case because the Salvadoran soldiers jailed for the 1980 killings said for the first time a few weeks ago that they were acting on the orders of higher ups. Now a human rights group in New York is demanding the Clinton administration release a series of documents concerning the killings. The group also wants to know why two retired Salvadoran generals implicated in a coverup of the crime were granted U.S. visas and are now living in Florida. (4:00)

Asylum & Genital Mutilation -- A Nigerian woman is fighting deportation, saying she needs to stay because of her 10 year-old daughter, who is an American citizen. The mother has overstayed her visa by more than a decade. She says she can't leave her daughter in the U.S., but she says in Nigeria, the girl would be subject to a painful procedure known as female genital mutilation. NPR's Barbara Bradley reports. (5:00)

No Ice Cream -- Commentator Andrei Codrescu thinks that it is cold-hearted of the ice cream executive Ben Cohen of Ben and Jerry's ice cream to oppose the integration of Eastern Europe into NATO. Phyllis Schlafly and former Senator Nunn get a mention too. (3:15)

Russian Finance -- Linda talks with Chrystia Freeland, the Moscow Bureau Chief for the Financial Times. They discuss how Russia's financial markets are in a freefall, causing the central bank to raise interest rates by 150 percent in order to protect the value of the ruble. (4:00)

Corpus Christi -- The Manhattan Theatre Club has cancelled its upcoming production of Corpus Christi, the latest from playwright Terrence McNally. The play apparently refers to a Christ character having sex with his apostles. The theatre has reportedly received threats against both the building and the playwright if the production goes forward. Theatre Club officials say they cancelled the play out of concern for the safety of McNally and patrons and staff. Others are crying "censorship." South African playwright Athol Fugard has decided to withdraw an upcoming production of his newest work from the Theatre Club in protest. NPR's Melissa Block reports. (3:30)