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NPR's Eric Westervelt reports scores of abandoned houses in Philadelphia have crumbled in recent weeks, and engineers say many more are near collapse. The problem has sparked a spate of emergency demolition. Some residents fear their neighborhoods will never be the same.

Vice President Gore, stumping in Cincinnati yesterday, outlined his position on many issues. We hear an extended excerpt, in which he talks about improving education with better teachers and creating a more qualified work force.

Libertarian Candidate Harry Browne speaking in Iowa City, Iowa last night explained he is running for President because he wants to get government out of people's lives. Browne says there should be no income tax, no government oversight of education or wages. He believes individuals should decide for themselves.

One member of Congress has apparently lost his bid for re-nomination in yesterday's primary. New York's Michael Forbes, who was elected in the Republican sweep of 1994 and who voted to impeach President Clinton, switched to the Democratic Party last year following an ongoing feud with GOP leaders in Washington. Now it looks as if Forbes has been voted out of office by members of his new party. If the count does not change, Forbes was defeated by Regina Seltzer, a 71-year-old former librarian who raised just 40-thousand-dollars to Forbes' one-point-four million. Beth Fertig from member station WNYC reports on the result, which no one saw coming.

Fired nuclear scientist Wen Ho Lee is free after pleading guilty to one count of mishandling national defense information at Los Alamos nuclear laboratory. He has also agreed to tell the federal government in detail what he did with the data. Lee was sentenced to time served and released. NPR's Guy Raz reports.

NPR's Julie McCarthy reports from London that British prime minister Tony Blair remained defiant today, vowing not to give in to protests against high fuel prices. But Blair said the blockades of refineries are posing a "real danger" to the nation's health services. The government says doctors and nurses can't get to work, and operations are being cancelled. Supermarkets are starting to ration food, for fear deliveries will soon be cut because of the gas shortages.

NPR's Jon Hamilton reports on a new treatment for advanced kidney cancer. The treatment involves replacing the patient's own immune cells with cells from a healthy person. So far, it's been used on 19 patients, and more than half have improved. Researchers say the technique may offer hope for people with other forms of cancer as well.

Commentator Marion Roach recalls the first year she rode on a float in Troy, New York's annual Uncle Sam Parade. Sam Wilson is the local man who became known as Uncle Sam for his role in providing provisions to troops in the war of 1812. Roach found herself tossing candy to ungrateful people along the parade route, who simply tossed it back.

NPR's Tom Goldman reports from Sydney, Australia that drug use by athletes is overshadowing the Olympics. Today three positive drugs tests were announced just two days before the opening ceremony of the millennium Olympics.

Commentator Frank Deford says the perception of drug use among Olympic athletes is so strong that almost every winner and every record is suspect.