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NPR's Mara Liasson reports on today's congressional hearing on the continuing Clinton pardon dispute. The House Government Reform Committee called Democratic donor Beth Dozoretz to testify about her knowledge of lobbying on behalf of a pardon for fugitive Marc Rich. Dozoretz invoked her fifth amendment right against self-incrimination and answered no questions. The panel also questioned former top Clinton aides. Clinton had waived his right to executive privilege, allowing them to testify.

Robert Siegel and Linda Wertheimer read some of our listner's comments sent to us.

The earthquake that hit Seattle wasn't that much of a surprise -- the area is seismically active and geologists expect this kind of thing. But as NPR's David Kestenbaum reports, it does provide some lessons on what breaks and how to build better.

Eight-hundred and forty pounds of cocaine were uncovered in a tunnel on Monday by U.S. Customs Special Agents. The handmade tunnel runs about 25 feet from a sewer to a house. This is the sixth tunnel found in Nogales since 1995. Robert Siegel talks with Matthew Allen, group supervisor for the Office of Investigative Services for U.S. Customs, about the tunnel.

This year, for the first time, all California eighth graders are required to take algebra. As NPR's Mandalit Del Barco reports, the move is part of a national trend toward having younger students study the subject, which is considered a "gatekeeper" course for access to higher education.

Robert Siegel talks with Robert P. Moses about Radical Equations, his new book that translates algebra into common English. Moses is using this method with African American children in the South as part of a contemporary civil rights movement based on education.

Banning Eyre reviews A Lo Cubano by the Cuban hip-hop quartet called Orishas. While spin-off releases related to the Buena Vista Social Club are captivating music fans outside Cuba, on the island of Cuba, the Orishas are big. This band is now based in France, though they insist they are not in political exile.

Linda Wertheimer talks with Steve Saltzburg, professor of law at George Washington University School of Law. He specializes in criminal law and procedure and was a Department of Justice official from 1988-89. Saltzburg talks about what Congress can do as a result of the hearings on the Rich pardon. He says, despite the fact that Congress has no power to overturn the pardon, Congress can turn over any evidence of laws broken during the pardon process to the Attorney General for possible prosecution, and may consider introducing a constitutional ammendment. Saltzburg believes that Congress is more likely to suggest that future presidents should follow the normal procedures for review of pardon requests by the Department of Justice.

NPR's Sarah Chayes reports French voters will cast ballots this month for mayors and city councilors under a new law requiring political parties to field equal numbers of male and female candidates. The idea of mandating gender parity on party lists originally met resistance. The French public, however, has now embraced the idea enthusiastically. Until now, France has had the lowest rate of participation in politics of any European Union nation.

NPR's David Welna reports on the alternative budget being proposed by congressional Democrats. Objecting to President Bush's $1.6 trillion tax cut, Democrats on Capitol Hill call for $900 billion in tax cuts, with more relief to those on the bottom rung of the economic ladder. The action comes as the House Ways and Means Committee took up the Bush proposal.