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NPR's Jack Speer a joint agreement between the US Postal Service and the delivery service, Federal Express. FedEx will take over express mail service and the handling of many packages.

Host Bob Edwards talks with NPR's Technology Correspondent John McChesney on the Consumer Electronic Show, now being held in Las Vegas. The show used to be about the latest stereos, televisions, and compact disc players, but now digital technology is taking over. Microsoft is introducing the "X-box", its answer to Sony's Play Station 2, and "Ultimate TV", a competitor to Tivo and Replay, hard disc television recorders that let the user pause and replay live television. Satellite Radio is also making itself known in the form of two new companies, Sirius and XM, which will feature 100 channels that will be available to subscribers throughout the country.

NPR's Tom Gjelten reports on findings of a Pentagon commission that was set up after last year's bombing of a U.S. Navy destroyer in Yemen. The commission says a failure of intelligence left the U.S.S. Cole exposed to attack. U.S. officials say they are nearing completion of their investigation of who was responsible for the attack and said they would not hesitate to act against those responsible once they are identified.

Southern California Edison, one of California's cash-strapped electric utilities, defaulted to some of its creditors today. It failed to repay, at least temporarily, a 596-million-dollar wholesale electricity bill. The move brings the company a step closer to bankruptcy. The utility said the action was necessary to allow it to continue operations while state and federal officials seek a regulatory solution to California's power crisis. The state, meanwhile, declared another top level power emergency today, citing a shortage of natural gas needed to generate electricity. Scott Horsley reports.

Noah talks with Peter Navarro, Professor of Economics and Public Policy at the University of California at Irvine, about deregulation of the electricity business in California, how it is designed to work, and why it does not appear to be working.

NPR's Kathleen Schalch reports the Clinton Administration has announced new measures aimed at combating child labor and sweatshops around the world. The administration made several new grants totaling 3-point-9-million dollars to five non-governmental and international organizations. The new grants are small compared to overall federal spending to combat child labor.

NPR's Jon Hamilton reports on a new study, which shows no differences along racial lines in the outcome of medical or surgical treatments among veterans. Other studies have shown wide disparities in health care between African-Americans and Caucasians, in particular. These studies often suggest that socioeconomic differences and access to health care are the main causes for higher disease and death rates among the black population as a whole. The new study suggests that when all things are equal, African-American men actually have a lower rate of disease and death, relative to whites.

One year ago, Judge Jeremiah S. Jeremiah Junior, a Rhode Island juvenile court judge, and Matthew, a 16-year-old repeat offender, were given tape recorders. During that time, Judge Jeremiah released Matthew early, for good behavior. Two weeks later, Matthew was arrested again for selling drugs. Through their diaries, Matthew and the judge tell the same story from two different sides of the bench.

NPR's Brian Naylor reports that while Attorney General-designate John Ashcroft was the subject of a relatively civil confirmation hearing inside the Dirksen Senate Office Building, special-interest groups from the right and left held noisy rallies outside the capitol regarding the nomination.

Former Senator John Ashcroft received big campaign donations from some companies that will have big cases pending before the Justice Department in the months to come. But if that bothers some people, it probably won't be an issue in Ashcroft's confirmation hearings. NPR's Steve Inskeep reports.