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NPR's Wendy Kaufman reports that farmers throughout the Pacific Northwest are bracing for a hot, dry summer. Rainfall is half of normal and many fear they could suffer devastating losses.

NPR's Mike Shuster reports on Bush administration plans to propose changes to the UN embargo against Iraq. Washington's plan -- dubbed "smart sanctions" -- is intended to tighten controls on military exports to Baghdad while loosening restrictions on all other goods that benefit the Iraqi people.

As Europe fights the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, American farmers are concerned about a possible spread of the disease to their livestock. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is working with states to develop a uniform, national response if the disease enters the U.S. NPR's Mary Ann Akers reports from Minnesota that many Midwest farmers are already wary.

Commentator Brad Klein tells the story of a treetop mimic in New York City's Central Park. For several years, careful birdwatchers noticed that they heard the Black-Throated Green Warbler weeks before they saw it. This puzzled them -- until someone noticed that the Warbler's song was alternating with that of the White-Throated Sparrow.

When Peter Brook was 7 years old, he staged his own production of Hamlet -- using little cardboard figures. Even then, he says, he felt Hamlet could be a little long. Now a legendary director, Brook is staging a shorter version of the play in a minor league hockey arena. Marcie Sillman of member station KUOW reports.

The Pittsburgh Pirates opened their home season today in a new baseball park. The day was marked by tributes to Hall of Fame player Willie Stargell, who died early this morning at the age of 61. Linda Wertheimer talks with Robert Dvorchak, a sports writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

NPR's Tom Gjelten reports on China's demand that the United States end all reconnaissance flights over its waters -- even those in international airspace. Experts say the Chinese have been growing increasingly aggressive in their attempts to interfere with U.S. surveillance flights, culminating in the current detaining of the crew of the Navy spy plane that was forced to make an emergency landing after colliding with a Chinese fighter jet.

President Bush today released the details of his budget for fiscal year 2002, which keeps the total spending target a fraction under $2 trillion and makes the case for a long-range, permanent tax cut. NPR's Steve Inskeep reports.

Commentator Kevin Kling has his own, lighter, baseball remembrance, of his childhood days at the plate.

The White House has named Wisconsin Republican Scott Evertz director of its Office of National AIDS Policy. Evertz is openly gay and activists are praising the appointment, but still express caution about the Bush administration's commitment to fighting AIDS. NPR's Emily Harris has the story.