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

An index of the day's stories:

Other U.S. Storms -- NPR's Cheryl Corley reports from Chicago on the damage done by storms moving from the northern Plains through the upper Midwest and finally New England. In total, more than a dozen deaths are blamed on the storms, which also knocked out power to 1.3 million utility costumers in various states. (3:00)

Afghanistan Earthquake -- All Things Considered host Linda Wertheimer talks to Juan Martinez of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Martinez is in Faizabad, in northern Afghanistan, where thousands of people were killed or injured in an earthquake this weekend. (3:00)

India and Pakistan -- NPR senior news analyst Daniel Schorr says there is ample reason to be worried about the latest developments in the nuclear showdown in South Asia. He says that the situation there is much less stable than similar conflicts between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. (3:00)

Aesop's Fables -- All Things Considered host Robert Siegel talks to Olivia and Robert Temple, who have translated Aesop's Fables - all 358 of them - in their "unsanitized" versions. They describe how the fables offer a look at life in sixth century B.C., including the lack of empathy in those days. The fables in their original form are surprisingly coarse. Note Aesop: The Complete Fables is published by Penguin Books. (7:45)

Philadelphia Transit Strike -- NPR's Eric Westervelt reports that thousands of Philadelphia transit workers walked off their jobs today. Philadelphia's public-transit system is the nation's fifth-largest. (4:00)

Food Stamps for Immigrants -- Congress returns to Washington this week. One of the issues they face is whether to restore food stamp benefits to some legal immigrants. A measure to give back the benefits was attached in the Senate to a bill funding crop insurance and agricultural research. But the Republican leadership blocked the House from considering the bill because of the food stamp provisions. NPR's Brian Naylor reports that advocates for immigrants say taking away those benefits caused hunger, while opponents of restoring the benefits say the immigrants' legal sponsors should take care of those in need. (4:30)

Ginger Quits the Spice Girls -- Linda talks with Katie Wharton, a student at the Tiffin Grammar School in London, England. Wharton says she's sad that Geri Halliwell, a member of the all-girl pop group Spice Girls, has announced that she is leaving the band. Wharton says that Halliwell, who's known as "Ginger Spice," is the one with all the ideas. (3:45)

The Graduate -- Commentator Charlie Mayer reflects on his college days and looks toward the future as he prepares to graduate from Swarthmore College today. Music contained in the original pieces was edited out for online use.

Executive Privilege -- President Clinton and his lawyers decided to tell the Supreme Court they will drop an executive privilege claim in the Monica Lewinsky case. Instead, they'll try to block a top aide's testimony solely on attorney-client privilege grounds. Starr meanwhile today suggested government lawyers don't have such a privilege in criminal cases involving public officials. NPR's Nina Totenberg talks with Robert about today's developments. (4:00)

California Proposition 227 -- California voters will vote on a ballot initiative tomorrow that would dismantle bilingual education in the state's schools. Supporters of the initiative say bilingual ed has been a failure. Polls show the referendum is supported by a majority of likely voters, including those in the Latino community. However, the initiative has many strong opponents, including the state teacher's association and all four major candidates for governor. NPR's Mandalit Del Barco reports. (4:00)

Chinese Immigrants Detained -- Laura Sydell of member station WNYC reports on the 22 illegal Chinese immigrants who were arrested after a smuggler's powerboat ran aground on the New Jersey shore this weekend. Expe rts say the confluence of U.S. policy and China's reluctance to take back those who flee its shores means the men could be jailed for months -- possibly years -- in "indefinite detention" by the Immigration and Naturalization Service -- just like the 300 smuggled Chinese on the steamer Golden Venture. (4:00)

Botha Trial -- NPR's Charlayne Hunter-Gault reports from George, South Africa on the resumption today of the trial of former apartheid President P.W. Botha. Botha is on trial for defying subpoenas to testify before South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The commission wants to question the hard-line ex-president about his role in political killings carried out while he was head of state in the 1980's. Botha, who says he did nothing wrong, has refused to appear before the Truth Commission because he considers it a "circus." (3:45)

France Political Scandal -- Sarah Chayes reports from Paris on a long-simmering corruption scandal in Paris. With six separate investigations under way, evidence of bribery and padded payrolls is mounting. New revelations are tainting the reputation of Paris mayor Jean Tiberi -- as well as his predecessor, now the French president, Jacques Chirac. (3:45)

Alabama Allegations -- NPR's Debbie Elliott reports civil rights groups are claiming an investigation by the Alabama attorney general's office and the federal government into vote fraud in rural Alabama is intended to intimidate black voters. They say investigators purporting to look into church burnings are questioning blacks about their use of absentee ballots. But many others doubt the allegations. They say absentee ballot fraud is taking place and both the perpetrators and the victims are black. (6:00)

Pregnant Candidate -- NPR's Tovia Smith reports on the spirited debate around Jane Swift, who is running for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor of Massachusetts. Swift, who is 33, is pregnant. as a result, some voters -- including some women -- say Swift should get off the campaign trail and stay at home. (6:30)

'Goodnight, Nebraska' -- Linda talks with Tom McNeal, the author of Goodnight, Nebraska. It's McNeal's first novel, and it's about a small town which embraces a 17-year-old misfit, who moved there alone in order to escape his tragic family history. Note: Goodnight, Nebraska is published by Random House. (8:00)