November 2, 1998 All Things Considered (entire program) Requires the RealAudio Player

An index of the day's stories:

NICARAGUA LANDSLIDES -- Linda talks with Peter Greste, a correspondent for the BBC working in Managua, Nicaragua. They talk about the mudslides that were triggered by the rain from Hurricane Mitch. The slides may have killed up to 1500 people leaving in the shadow of the Casitas volcano in the northwestern part of the country. (4:30)

IRAQ HALTS ARMS INSPECTIONS -- NPR's Mike Shuster reports that a UN team as well as officials from the International Atomic Energy Agency visited an Iraqi weapons site today, despite Iraq's defiant statement Saturday that it would allow no more UN weapons inspections. The United States has reacted cautiously to Iraq's latest stand, which seems to be a violation of the agreement Iraq reached last february with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. At that time, Iraq ledged to cooperate with weapons inspectors, thereby defusing a crisis that could have resulted in military action against Iraq. (4:00)

DAN SEZ -- NPR senior news analyst Daniel Schorr says that, during this busy season for President Clinton, Saddam Hussein has found another opportunity to test American resolve. (3:00)

MENTHOL SUIT -- NPR's Adam Hochberg reports a group of African-American smokers and former smokers has filed a lawsuit against the tobacco industry, claiming it violated the civil rights of blacks by specifically trying to sell them menthol cigarettes. Some studies have indicated that menthol cigarettes are more dangerous than other types. The lawsuit is the first brought against the cigarette makers under federal civil rights law. (5:00)

MENTHOL & BLACKS -- Robert talks with Michael Cummings, a senior research scientist at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York. They discuss the marketing of menthol cigarettes to African-Americans. (3:00)

MEDICAL NECESSITY -- NPR's Julie Rovner reports on a health-care issue that is being hotly debated in several congressional campaigns -- whether to increase regulation of HMOs and managed care plans. One of the main complaints consumers and doctors have is over who makes the decision about what care is medically necessary -- HMOs or health-care providers themselves. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that would have added some new regulations, but the bill failed to pass the Senate. But the issue isn't going away. (6:00)

YOUNG VOTERS -- Lauren Sandler reports that while everyone is predicting a low turn-out for tomorrow's elections, young voters are the group that is least likely to vote. Only 20 percent of those under 32 are expected to cast a ballot tomorrow. Many say they don't vote because they don't feel their vote matters, politicians don't deal with issues of concern to them, or they have become disillusioned with the political process. (5:00)

A LIFE FOR A LIFE -- Alan Cheuse has a review of the most recent novel by Louisiana writer Ernest Hill. It's called A Life for a Life, and follows a young black teenager through his coming-of-age, after committing a murder on behalf of his brother. Cheuse says Hill's command of the language is reminiscent of Richard Wright...and that the story is a compelling mix of redemption and regret. A Life for a Life by Ernest Hill is published by Simon and Schuster. (2:00)

JOHNNY ADAMS -- Nick Spitzer remembers singer Johnny Adams, who died in September. Adams, a native of New Orleans, sang gospel music as a child, then he moved into blues, country and pop as his career developed. His amazingly versatile and wide-ranging voice earned him the nickname "The Tan Canary". Adams was 66 years old, and had just completed a new CD called Man of My Word when he died. (8:00)

TO VOTE OR NOT TO VOTE -- NPR's Elizabeth Arnold reports that there is no overarching theme in this year's elections that is driving voters to the polls. Expectations that the scandal involving President Clinton would have in impact have not materialized. We talk to voters about what's on their minds as they prepare to go to the polls. (4:45)

UNIONS & THE VOTE -- NPR's Peter Overby reports that apathy is expected to keep a majority of voters away from the polls on election day tomorrow. The independent Committee for the Study of the American Electorate projects that only between 36 and 38 percent of eligible voters will actually vote. Republican and Democratic supporters have poured money and energy into making sure their voters go to the polls. One of the biggest get-out-the-vote efforts is being run by organized labor. (4:00)

IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY -- NPR's Chitra Ragavan talks with Linda about the impeachment hearings the House is due to hold later this month. Congressional leaders are watching the outcome of tomorrow's elections before deciding how much time to devote and how deep to dig. A slight Republican gain in the House could encourage Democrats to push harder to dispose of the matter with a censure. (3:15)

NOVGOROD ECONOMY -- NPR's Michele Kelemen reports that officials in Russia's northwest Novgorod region have offered special tax deferments to attract foreign investment. A number of Western firms have nibbled at the bait and poured money into the region, and a few Russian business people have benefited. But the wealth has not really trickled down. Many workers around the city of Novgorod find themselves strapped, particularly since the latest financial crisis began. (7:45)

GATES VIDEOTAPE -- Robert talks with NPR's Dan Charles about portions of Bill Gates' videotaped testimony that were shown in court today, as the government tried to bolster its antitrust case against the software giant, Microsoft. Microsoft selected other portions of the 20 hour deposition to support its contention that it hasn't done anything wrong and that it has acted in the interest of consumers. (5:00)

TECH WITHDRAWAL ANXIETY -- Commentator Andrei Codrescu talks about being in a foreign country with no networking technology. (3:00)

LANDLORD-TENANT BATTLE -- Rick Pluta of Michigan Public Radio reports that the Michigan Supreme Court is hearing a case in which an unmarried couple was denied housing by a landlord who objects to their living arrangement. The case is being watched carefully by a number of activist groups, since the landlord is taking the position that his refusal to rent to the couple is allowable because of property rights. The couple is arguing that their privacy rights are being violated by the landlord. As it turns out, cases like this are covered on a state-by-state basis; no federal law currently covers this sort of dispute. (4:15)

CLEOPATRA DISCOVERIES -- Linda talks with Dr. Franck Goddio, an underwater explorer and president of the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology. They discuss Dr. Goddio's recent discovery at the bottom of the harbor off Alexandria, Egypt. It's a sphinx from the palace of Cleopatra, which bears the likeness of her father. (4:30)

GUINEA GUITAR -- Banning Eyre reviews a rare and lovely new CD called "Guitare Seche," featuring five guitarists from Guinea, in West Africa. ("Guitare Seche" is on the import label "Popular African Music," catalog number PAM AG 701. The CD is distributed in the US by Stern's Africa, 212-964-5455) (3:15)