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NPR's Ina Jaffe reports a study published this week shows the success of an effort by the state of Georgia to make sure children of welfare families are immunized against diseases like polio and diptheria. But some have criticized the program -- which imposes sanctions against welfare families if kids don't get their shots. The study can be found in week's issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Alan Cheuse reviews the book that won Italy's 1998 Elsa Morante Prize for a first novel: What We Don't Know about Children, by thirty-year-old Simona Vinci. It has been translated by Minna Procter and is just now published in English. (2:30) (What We Don't Know About Children is published by K

Leda Hartman reports on the 32nd annual Hollerin'Contest that was held recently in Spivey's Corner, North Carolina. The contest started as a fund-raiser for the volunteer fire department but has taken on life of its own. Before beepers and cell phones, hollerin' was an important way for rural folks to stay in touch.

Charlie Schlenker of member station WGLT in Normal, Illinois reports on how the descendants of a runaway slave who fought in the Civil War finally managed to get him the official recognition he deserves. Andrew Jackson Smith will be awarded the Congressional medal of honor later this year for bravery in battle.

NPR's Ted Clark reports that President Clinton has announced a new Middle East summit with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barka and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. The leaders will come to Washington to try to advance the stalled Middle East peace process. The announcement prompted another of Barak's coalition partners, Natan Shransky, to declare that he will resign from the government and take his small party out of the government.

NPR's Gerry Hadden reports from Mexico City on the future of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI. In wake of Sunday's defeat at the polls, many PRI supporters are trying to re-establish their party as a player in the new realm of Mexican politics. But others say the victory of the National Action Party's presidential candidate, Vicente Fox, could be the end of the PRI.

Apart from its better-known roles in bluegrass and Dixieland, the banjo was once a sought-after status symbol in late 19th-century America. Young ladies learned to play parlor music on the banjo; there were banjo societies and banjo virtuosi; and manufacturers fought wars over who could make the fanciest banjos. On top of that, this was primarily a northern phenomenon. It's chronicled in a new book, America's Instrument: The Banjo in the 19th Century, by Philip Gura and James Bollman. Paul Brown reports. (7:45) (America's Instrument: The Banjo in the 19th Century is published by University of North Carolina P

The Washington Monument, which has been closed for renovations for the last three years, is ready to open to the public again. Yesterday the park service held a ceremony to announce the opening and explain what changes were made.

Celeste Headlee of member station KNAU reports on a new classical work that incorporates Native American musicians, singers, and dancers. Guardians of the Grand Canyon, composed by Brent Michael Davis, honors the Havasupai tribe which owns a large part of the canyon.

Host Bob Edwards talks with Clair Orr, chairman of the Colorado State Board of Education, about a resolution encouraging public schools to display the national motto, In God We Trust. The State Board is expected to pass this non-binding resolution tomorrow.