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NPR's Rob Gifford talks to ATC host Robert Siegel about today's execution of a high-level Chinese government official on charges of accepting bribes. Cheng Kejie, a vice chairman of the legislature, is the most senior official to be put to death in a widening anti-corruption campaign that now involves trials in five southeastern cities. Increasing public anger over official corruption is considered a major threat to domestic security and the government pledges to do something about it. But it's unclear whether the government is willing to take action against any and all officials, no matter their rank or connections.

NPR's Tovia Smith reports on the case of Rebecca Corneau, the Massachusetts cult member who was jailed last month in an effort to make sure her baby is born safely. Corneau has declined to appeal. Another pregnant woman, known as Barbara F., tried to challenge the ruling, saying it would have a chilling effect on *all* pregnant women. Yesterday, Massachusetts' highest court denied that effort.

NPR's Mandalit Del Barco reports on an ordinance before the West Hollywood City Council allowing landlords to ban smoking in their rental properties.

Renee Montagne talks with the pronunciation editor for American Heritage dictionary about the different ways people are pronouncing words these days.

Commentator Kevin Phillips talks about the similarities he finds between Republican Presidential nominee George W. Bush and President Bill Clinton. Phillips says it's ironic that Candidate Bush is trying to tie his opponent Al Gore, as closely to the President as possible, when it's actually Bush who seems to have more in common with the current occupant of the White House.

Linda reports on one of the big publishing events of the fall: the release of The Mark - the eighth novel in the Left Behind series, published by Tyndale press. It's a huge crossover success which began selling in Christian bookstores but can be found in airport bookstores and on the New York Times bestseller list. The story is the Biblical prophecy of the End Times, set in the near future.

Host Bob Edwards talks with NPR's Ted Clark wrapping up events at the UN's Millennium Summit.

Guatemalan and American scientists working in the jungles of northern Guatemala have rediscovered Cancuen, a city that was one of the most important commercial centers of the Mayan world from 400 BC to 800 AD.

NPR's Eric Westervelt reports from Philadelphia that newly unsealed police documents show that Pennsylvania State troopers posed as union carpenters to infiltrate groups of protesters at last month's Republican National Convention. During the convention, Philadelphia police repeatedly denied any such infiltration. But city and state police worked together to contain the protests, so it's improbable that city police didn't know what the state police were doing.

In the second part of a two-part series on images of the President in film, Pat Dowell reports on how show business and politics have become intertwined. The movies treat the president's role with a high degree of symbolism...from a wise, almost divine figure during the thirties and forties, to a mythical hero and tough guy in the movies of today. Meanwhile, the real executive office has learned how to use the tricks of Hollywood to its advantage.