July 28, 1998 All Things Considered (entire program) Requires the RealAudio Player

An index of the day's stories:

STRIKE SETTLEMENT -- Robert talks with NPR's Don Gonyea about reports that General Motors and the United Auto Workers have reportedly reached agreement to settle the strike at two plants in Flint, Michigan. They've also resolved threatened strikes at two other plants, but differences over a fifth plant have stalled an announcement of a general settlement. Over 5,800 employees at the Flint Metal stamping center struck on June 5th, leading to a shutdown of GM's North American operations, idling over 190-thousand workers. (LIVE) (4:30)

FROM THE PICKET LINE -- Linda talks with NPR's Eric Westervelt about reaction from the picket line at the Flint Metal stamping center. Workers there are optimistic that a full settlement will be announced today. They say they are proud they stood up to GM and issued a statement about preserving American jobs for American workers. (LIVE) (4:00)

MORE MERGERS -- NPR's Jim Zarroli reports Bell Atlantic has agreed to buy GTE Corporation in a stock deal valued at more than 53 billion dollars. If the merger is approved by shareholders and regulators, Bell Atlantic will become the nation's largest phone company, controlling a third of the local service market. The deal faces many hurdles because the two companies compete and overlap in many areas, including wireless and internet services. (3:30)

OTHER NEWS -- A review of upcoming news in today's program. (:30)

SERVICE ON THE HILL -- Tape and copy on the memorial service in the Capitol Rotunda for Jacob Chestnut and John Gibson, the two police officers gunned down last week in the Capitol building. Their caskets are draped in flags and were brought by motorcade earlier today. (3:00)

POLYGAMY FLAP -- Linda talks with NPR's Howard Berkes about the new focus on polygamy in Utah. A group of women who were formerly polygamous wives have put pressure on the governor, as has publicity about crimes committed by men in polygamous families. The governor has promised to prosecute the crimes of polygamists, but not the practice of polygamy. (4:30)

JASPER, TEXAS UPDATE -- NPR's Wade Goodwyn reports on the investigation into the murder of James Byrd near Jasper, Texas. Last month, Byrd was beaten and dragged to his death behind a pickup truck. Three white men have been indicted for capital murder in Byrd's death. New evidence indicates that one of the suspects, who claimed to have run away during the attack on Byrd, may have been more of a participant in the crime than he claims. (2:00)

RACE IN TEXAS PRISONS -- NPR's John Burnett reports on racist gangs in Texas prisons. Two of the three men indicted for the murder of James Byrd allegedly belonged to secret white supremacist groups while in prison. Prison observers say the existence of racist gangs is a disturbing reality, and that prison conditions can breed hatred. (10:30)

FUTURE OF D.C. GOVERNMENT -- Virginia Biggar reports the candidates for mayor of Washington, D.C. don't know how much power they will hold if elected to office. The next mayor may or may not get back the powers that were stripped from Marion Barry. Members of Congress and the District of Columbia financial control board are considering several possible models for a new DC government, including changing it to a city manager/weak mayor arrangement. (4:45)

NEW JERSEY SLOGANS -- Commentator Ralph Schoenstein talks about new Jersey's numerous and frequently changing state slogans. (3:00)

LEWINSKY IMMUNITY DEAL -- NPR's Mara Liasson reports on Monica Lewinsky's immunity deal with Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr. Lewinsky's lawyers have been negotiating with Starr on the terms under which she will testify before a grand jury about her relationship with President Clinton. Lawyer Plato Cacheris says Starr has agreed to give Lewinsky full immunity from prosecution. Immunity would protect her from any perjury charges, even if she should tell the grand jury something contrary to what she has said in sworn statements. (3:30)

HILL HONORS OFFICERS -- NPR's Brian Naylor reports from Capitol Hill on today's memorial service for the two Capitol police offers killed last Friday. The bodies of Jacob Chestnut and John Gibson received the rare honor of laying in state in the Capitol rotunda. (5:00)

NASTY AND NICE -- NPR senior news analyst Daniel Schorr says that today's two big news events, the Lewinsky immmunity deal and the memorial ceremony for the Capitol guards, gives us a chance to rethink the meaning of our government. (2:30)

OTHER NEWS -- A review of upcoming news in today's program. (:45)

ERNST AND YOUNG WORKPLACE -- NPR's David Molpus reports that with unemployment low and labor markets tight, nearly all industries are scrambling to KEEP experienced workers. That's especially true among large accounting and consulting companies where business is booming. Molpus has this report on new retention strategies that focus on women and flexibility. (8:00)

CAMBODIA ELECTION RESULTS -- NPR's Mary Kay Magistad reports from Cambodia that the two main opposition leaders say last Sunday's elections and vote count were rigged. They say there were wide-spread irregularities and called for an investigation. Despite the complaints, international election monitors said the outcome of the elections was "credible and acceptable." (3:45)

EAST TIMOR -- Indonesia pulled out four-hundred of its soldiers from East Timor this morning. It is the first withdrawl since 1975 when Indonesia invaded the Portuguese colony of East Timor and annexed it the next year. The annexation is still not recognized by the UN. Indonesian President Habibie promised the pull-out in talks last month with Bishop Carlos Belo, the co-winner of the 1996 Nobel peace prize. Belo and Jose Ramos Hortas shared the prize for their role in making the world aware of East Timor's problems. President Habibie has offered the province autonomy but not independence. Patricia Nunan (NOO-nan) reports that many East Timorese remain sceptical about Indonesia's intentions since 11,000 Indonesian soldiers will stay in the area. (3:15)

AUNG SAN SUU KYI STANDOFF -- In Burma, the standoff between the military junta and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi (ahng sahn soo chee) has entered a fifth day. Last Friday, she left by car to meet with supporters, but was stopped at a road block and has remained inside her car since then. NPR's Ted Clark reports that U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is warning of an increasing possibility of a political "explosion" that could affect the entire region. Albright is at a meeting of Southeast Asian nations, where diplomats confronted the Burmese minister about the stand-off. (3:30)

POWERBALL! -- Copy about tomorrow's Powerball drawing with a jackpot worth 250 million dollars. Twenty states participate in the Powerball game. (2:00)

THE HAND -- Robert talks to Frank Wilson, author of "The Hand: How Its Use Shapes the Brain, Language, and Human Culture." (1998 Pantheon Books) Wilson says that the evolution of the brain and the hand run in parallel and that our ability to think is shaped by our ability to manipulate objects with our hands. (7:30)