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NPR's Richard Gonzales reports that California is having its first "Stage 3" power alert since January. Blackouts took place throughout the state.

Noah Adams talks with NPR's Nina Totenberg about the Bush administration's reported decision not to submit judicial nominations to the American Bar Association for screening. The president of the ABA, Martha Barnett, met with White House Counsel Al Gonzalez and Attorney General John Ashcroft today. She says she was not told the ABA would be losing its traditional role. Barnett says Gonzalez and Ashcroft said the administration is still considering what to do.

NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr notes some of the foreign concerns on President Bush's mind as he tries to deal with the economy.

NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports that Vatican officials have been ordered by Italy's environment minister to reduce the power of the radio transmitters that broadcast the Pope's speeches.

NPR's Nina Totenberg reports that the Supreme Court has ruled that it's unconstitutional for public hospitals to test pregnant women for illegal drugs and, without their permission, give the results to police for possible prosecution. The arrangement between doctors at a public hospital in South Carolina and local police was designed to identify pregnant women using crack, and protect their fetuses. The 6-to-3 decision concludes that such an arrangement between doctors and police violates the Constitution.

NPR's Michelle Kelemen reports that with the descent of the Russian Space Station Mir, Russian space officials and cosmonauts wonder where their next job will be.

NPR's Elizabeth Arnold reports that the Bush administration is rescinding environmental regulations that were approved in the last days of Bill Clinton's presidency. The latest rules to be reversed include one that requires the mining industry to post clean-up bonds and another that would reduce arsenic content in drinking water.Earlier, the Bush administration cancelled a rule that would have required lower carbon dioxide emissions from power plants.

Host Bob Edwards talks with Sen. John McCain, Republican from Arizona, about the campaign finance reform debates. Supporters of proposed McCain-Feingold bill are trying to restrict the amount of money that can be used for national campaigns. McCain says this would make incumbents to vote against something that keeps them in office.

Ed Sanders, a former Yippie; member of the Fugs; and author of the bestseller about Charles Manson called, The Family, has embarked on a multi-volume history of North America in verse. Volume Two, which has just been published covers 1940 to 1961. Sanders envisions eight volumes. He's starting in the 20th century and working backwards. From New York, Tom Vitale reports.

Commentator Merrill Matthews says don't blame the drug companies for not giving away their products. He argues that drug companies are not the most profitable companies and that they function like any other company marking up their products to cover the costs of produciton and distribution. If drug companies just give away their products, they won't have the funds to do the kind of research that leads to innovations and cures.