July 20, 1998 All Things Considered (entire program) Requires the RealAudio Player

An index of the day's stories:

SCIENCE OF SHS -- NPR's Richard Harris examines the evidence on passive smoking. While a federal judge struck down part of the Environmental Protection Agency's assessment that passive smoking can cause cancer, there is scientific agreement that living with a smoker can cause a range of health problems. (4:00)

SECONDHAND SMOKE -- Linda talks with Andrew Kohut, the director of the Pew Research Center for People and the Press, about the Environmental Protection Agency's report on secondhand smoking and a ruling made on those findings by a North Carolina judge. While the judge found that the report used faulty methodology and its findings are questionable, Kohut says that the bans on indoor smoking, such as those for the workplace, in restaurants, and on airplanes, are likely to stand. They discuss public attitudes toward secondhand smoke and the change in those attitudes in the last decade. (3:45)

SLOPPY BANKS -- NPR's Jim Zarroli reports that federal bank regulators are concerned that bankers are getting too liberal in passing out loans. The Federal Reserve says too many banks are chasing business by offering loan terms that won't make sense when our economic boom ends. Bank industry officials counter that the industry is very healthy right now and is not taking undue risks. (4:15)

SATURN STRIKE AUTHORIZATION -- Noah talks with Bob Davis, a line worker at the Saturn auto plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee. Davis tells us why he voted to authorize a strike in the latest dispute between General Motors (of which Saturn is a subsidiary), and members of the United Auto Workers union. Noah also speaks with Greg Martin, the manager of Corporate Communications for Saturn. Mr. Martin tells us the Saturn Corporation's response to the vote authorizing a strike at the auto plant. Martin says that the company and its workers are working on the issues over which there is disagreement between the parties, and that the vote itself is not a strike action. He says that a strike at the Spring Hill plant is not imminent. (7:15)

FBI & CELL PHONES -- NPR's Larry Abramson reports from Washington that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is trying to gain extended authority to precisely track cellular phones and where their users are. The FBI says it needs to be able to pinpoint criminal use of cell phones, but industry officials and privacy advocates oppose the FBI's plans, citing how much the new measures to track cellular phones would cost, and that it would violate the privacy of cell phone users. (5:00)

NYPD SCANDAL -- NPR's Melissa Block reports on the latest scandal enveloping the New York City Police Department. There are current allegations that, for more than a decade, officers in one precinct routinely visited a local brothel, in uniform and while on duty. So far, 20 officers have been removed from active duty while an investigation by the District Attorney is underway. (4:00)

SWING STREET I -- West 52nd Street in Manhattan between Sixth and Fifth Avenue was home to many famous jazz clubs in the 30's and 40's, and fifty years ago photographer William Gottlieb took a color photograph that captured the marquees of many of the clubs and the spirit of the time. Noah talks to Gottlieb, jazz historian Phil Schaap, pianist Marian McPartland and bassist Ray Brown about playing and listening to music on the street. You can see William Gottlieb's photo on our website at www.npr.org. His other jazz photos are featured in shows right now at the Govinda Gallery in Washington, DC and the Putnam Museum in Davenport, Iowa. (12:00)

PAPUA NEW GUINEA -- Linda talks with Bob Allen, the emergency director of the nonprofit organization CARE in Australia. He's working with the Papua New Guinea National Disaster and Emergency Service. They talk about the relief efforts that are underway for the victims of a tsunami that struck the island on Friday. A 23-foot high wave crashed into the coast, obliterating both ports and villages. It is believed that thousands of people died. (4:00)

TSUNAMI SCIENCE -- NPR's John Nielsen looks at why this weekend's tsunami took so many lives, and what scientists are doing to improve tsunami prediction and warning systems. (4:00)

ABUBAKAR ADDRESS -- Linda talks with Karl Vick, a reporter for the Washington Post, about developments today in Nigeria, where General Abdulsalam Abubakar pardoned ten political prisoners, while the nation awaited his announcement of a plan to bring democracy to Nigeria. The prisoners included three journalists and a human rights activist. Abubakar's televised address gave the details of his plan for moving Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, toward democracy. Abubakar said that a new, democratically-elected leader will be sworn into office on May 29, 1999. (5:00)

BLACK REPUBLICANS -- NPR's Kathy Lohr reports that Georgia has more black Republicans running for state and congressional office this year than any other state in the country. This is partly due to efforts by both the Georgia and national Republican parties to woo black politicians and to overcome their image of being unresponsive to African-Americans. Analysts say it's also a reflection of the growing Republican influence in the South. Tomorrow's primary results will be watched closely to see how many of these black candidates are nominated by Republican voters. (8:00)

NIXING CAR TAXES -- NPR's Adam Hochberg reports that getting rid of car taxes is the latest trend in tax-cutting among this year's political candidates. Gubernatorial hopefuls in at least 3 states are running campaigns based on a call to eliminate the property taxes their states collect on the value of personal cars and trucks. Jim Gilmore started the trend last year, when he ran a successful campaign for Virginia governor based on his vow to get rid of that state's car tax. (4:45)

WIN/WIN SITUATION IN CONGRESS -- NPR senior news analyst Daniel Schorr says that Republicans lately have been playing politics with many bills...by saying things sure to get good press for their appeal to conservatives, while knowing that a political price will never have to be paid for the stance. He says that ultimately, the voters will pay the price for valuing rhetoric over action. (3:00)

BEETLE INVASION -- Noah talks with Ken Kruse, the United States Department of Agriculture Plant Health Director for the state of Illinois. They discuss the steps being taken to eradicate the Asian longhorn beetle, which was spotted by a Chicago resident on July 13th. The state is now surveying the extent of the infestation. There are currently plans to quarantine the area where the beetles are known to be living, and in November, affected trees will be cut and burned. They also talk about why the beetles pose such a risk to trees. (4:00)

OCCANEECHI -- The Occaneechi Indians of North Carolina want state recognition as a tribe. At stake: power and money. Other Native American tribes are objecting because it means they'll get a proportionately smaller part of the money annually allocated to tribes. But there's another reason why the Occaneechi are having trouble getting recognition. The tribe has been effectively "hidden in the cloak" of the dominant culture for centuries. Now, the issue is how to define "Native American-ness," and whether a group of people can choose specifically to define themselves as a tribe. There are no easy answers to these questions...so the Occaneechi are going to court. From member station WUNC, Leda Hartman reports. (8:00)