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Judy Jordan is the second poet to read her work as part of All Things Considered's series for National Poetry month. Jordan was born to a family of sharecroppers in North Carolina and her poetry comes from that experience. Her first book won the Walt Whitman prize (4:00) Jordan's book, Carolina Ghost Woods, is published by Louisiana State University Press, ISBN # 0807125563. You can also visit our feature page about Jordan, which provides the text for her poem, as well as extra information about her.

Andrea Dukakis of Colorado Public Radio reports on the effect of an economic downturn on people trying to get off of welfare. Although the number of people on welfare has decreased since the passage of a federal welfare reform law, a recession could cause caseloads to rise.

NPR's Tom Goldman reports on the autopsy records of the late NASCAR great, Dale Earnhardt. An independent medical expert says Earnhardt died when his head whipped forward violently after his car crashed into a wall during a race in February . The medical report found no evidence that his death may have been caused by a broken seat belt buckle, as a NASCAR doctor contended.

Commentator Paul Raeburn examines an Exxon-Mobil project to drill oil in the Central African country of Chad. Proceeds are set to go to help the people of the struggling nation, and Raeburn says if the plan works, it could start a new trend for business endeavors with developing countries.

Steve Hirschberg of member station WVXU reports on violent clashes between police and residents in Cincinnati after officers killed an unarmed young black man. Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas into crowds of demonstrators.

From Minnesota Public Radio, Dan Gunderson reports on the community effort in Moorhead, Minnesota, to protect homes and buildings from flooding rivers. With memories of the 1997 floods fresh in their minds, residents are quickly erecting emergency levees in the hopes of avoiding the billions of dollars in damage they saw four years ago.

Geraldine Coughlan reports that a bill voted up in the Dutch Senate today has made euthanasia legal in the Netherlands -- the first country in the world to legalize this complex issue. A system of rules and regulations is being set up, and legal euthanizations will begin in the summer.

Scott Horsley of member station KPBS reports on the stock market rally that sent the Dow Jones industrial average 2.5 percent higher and the NASDAQ Composite Index six percent higher yesterday. It was the first time in nearly a month that the Dow has closed above 10,000. Analysts are reluctant to read too much into yesterday's rally but wonder if it's a sign that the downturn in stock prices may be over.

Host Bob Edwards talks with NPR's China Correspondent Rob Gifford about the agreement announced this morning between the U.S. and China. The news was first announced by the Chinese foreign minister.

Host Bob Edwards talks with NPR White House Correspondent Don Gonyea about the U.S. view of this morning's agreement with the Chinese government to release the 24 U.S. Navy personnel held in southern China for 11 days. The White House has confirmed that an agreement has been reached.