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The death of a young black man in southern Mississippi has police and community trying to determine if the teen took his own life, or was lynched. 17-year-old Raynard Johnson was found hanging from a tree in his family's front yard last month. But two autopsies showed no signs of struggle or harm prior to his death. Jacki talks to John DeSantis of the Biloxi Sun Herald about why authorities believe it was a suicide, and why many in the community think investigators haven't taken the case seriously enough.

Police in Kentucky are reluctantly preparing to auction off all firearms they've confiscated, in accordance with a new law that goes into effect this week. Proceeds from the sales will be used to buy bullet-proof vests for police officers. Many police believe guns used in crimes should be destroyed, not recirculated. NPR's Adam Hochberg reports.

In the first of two reports on the current Supreme Court, NPR's Nina Totenberg reports on the Justices' increased propensity to strike down federal laws. This past term, the Supreme Court issued numerous rulings that affected the other two branches of the federal government. It struck down several major federal laws and invalidated the FDA's attempt to regulate tobacco as a drug. Some legal scholars see this as a return to earlier periods in the Court's history, when it more aggressively scrutinized federal laws and policies.

NPR's White House Correspondent Mara Liasson reports that a defining issue for voters is leadership. In two different polls, researchers found that voters rated George W. Bush as having stronger leadership qualities than Vice President Gore.

Scott Horsley of member station KPBS reports on an attempt to make fast food even faster. Companies such as McDonalds, Burger King and Wendy's are turning to technology to increase the efficiency of their drive-thru windows, which now account for two-thirds of their business.

Liane talks live with NPR's Julie McCarthy from Northern Ireland, where Protestants will attempt to march through the Catholic neighborhood of Portadown today.

Liane reads letters from listeners, and calls on an expert to clarify a question about last week's story on Cole Porter's classic song, Night and Day.

NPR's Brenda Wilson reports from Durban, South Africa, where the 13th International AIDS Conference opened today. In his opening address South African President Thabo Mbeki defended his government's controversial AIDS policies and said that poverty in Africa calls for different solutions to the epidemic.

Liane talks with NPR's Joe Neel from the opening today of the thirteenth annual AIDS conference, in Durban, South Africa. This is the first time the conference has been held in Africa, a continent that is fighting a desperate battle against the disease.

NPR's Ted Clark reports on the second day of the summit at Camp David where President Clinton continues talks with the Israeli and Palestinian leaders, seeking a final peace agreement.