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State officials across the country heard talk of welfare reform two years ago, and realized how poorly equipped their states were to accept new welfare responsibilities. NPR's John Nielsen reports that governors and legislators instituted new programs to trim costs and now say they are ready to handle the burdens of reform. But some analysts warn that because a strong national economy is fueling much of the improvement, a recession could ruin the states' progress.

Scientists at the Massachussetts Institute of Technology say they've proved that a chemical found in the brains of mice is responsible for turning long-term memories off and on. Some researchers say that the findings, which appear in tomorrow's issue of the journal Cell, could provide new insights into human memory disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. NPR's David Baron reports.

LETTERS: Liane reads mail from listeners and presents comments from our listener hotline.

at the University of Pittsburgh about the future of third parties in challenging Democrats and Republicans.

NPR's Tovia Smith reports on a new law requiring ALL Massachusetts businesses to post information about reporting sexual harassment in the workplace. Small businesses say the new law is too expensive for them to comply with...it requires the printing of information for posting, for brochures, and in some cases the employers may even be obligated to pay for awareness classes...and that they are essentially required to post information on how employees can sue them.

Linda speaks with Barbara Berger Opatowsky, the president of the Better Business Bureau of metropolitan New York about the variety of store policies regarding the return of merchandise. Ms. Opotowsky recommends bringing as much documentation about the source of a gift as one can find when returning something to the store of its origin.

" >Cloud Chamber." Rayona Taylor, a character Dorris introduced in his first novel, " >A Yellow Raft in Blue Water," resumes her genealogical search, this time focusing on her father's side of the family.

to deregulate its financial markets.

Noah talks with Lois Stiverson, manager of Bostwick's True Value Hardware in Chardon, Ohio, about the 33 inches of snowfall they've had since Saturday. Stiverson says they've been selling lots of shovels, snowblowers and batteries.

in Peru's hostage crisis. Last night a bomb exploded in the Japanese Ambassador's residence last night. Nobody appears to be hurt.