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In the first of a two-part series, NPR's Peter Overby reports on the relationship between the oil industry and federal government. The two have a history that stretches back to the early 1900's. Tomorrow, Overby explores what the industry hopes to gain from a new president who got his start drilling oil in Texas.

Will he or won't he? South African President Mbeki is scheduled to speak to parliament tomorrow, where he may make a historic pronouncement regarding the AIDS health crisis. During the question time, he will be asked why the government hasn't yet declared a state of emergency, which would allow it to bypass international trade agreements and allow the importation and manufacture of cheaper, generic AIDS drugs. NPR's Brenda Wilson reports from Johannesburg.

NPR's Jim Zarroli reports that U.S. stock prices tumbled yesterday amid investor concerns about technology earnings. The NASDAQ composite index has now declined by 60-percent since its high last March. There's concern that confidence has fallen to the point where prices may not rebound as quickly as in the past.

Linda Wertheimer talks with sports commentator Stefan Fatsis about March madness and the NCAA men's basketball tournament that is underway. TV viewership over the past four years has declined, and yet CBS is paying $250 million to broadcast this year's tournament. While not a bad deal, Stefan says one of the reasons for the declining ratings is the lack of big name familiar players on the teams. And that is connected to the increasing number of student athletes who leave for professional careers before their senior year. Stefan Fatsis writes about sports and the business of sports for the Wall Street Journal; he joins All Things Considered on Fridays.

NPR's Guy Raz reports from the Macedonian city of Tetovo that fighting escalated today between ethnic Albanian rebels and Macedonian security forces. The two sides exchanged fierce gunfire just outside the city -- Macedonia's second largest. Occasional shells and bullets landed in the central square. Most activity has come to a halt. The government says it's preparing for all-out war. Although Macedonia was the one republic to secede from Yugoslavia without bloodshed and an ethnic Albanian party is included in the ruling coalition, the rebels say they're fighting for greater rights for the Albanian community.

NPR's Jennifer Ludden in Jerusalem reports that after nearly six months of violence, some Palestinians are beginning to question the aim and the tactics of the uprising in the West Bank and Gaza.

The Senate next week will begin a historic 10 days of debate on limiting the sources of cash in political campaigns. Senate Republican leaders have been looking for a compromise bill with the help of President Bush, who wants to restrict money from unions and corporations but allow more leeway for individual contributors. Senate Democrats generally oppose that distinction, and their leader, Tom Daschle of South Dakota, has called the president's approach an attempt to destroy campaign finance reform. NPR's David Welna reports on the pre-debate positioning of the parties.

Linda Wertheimer traveled to New York City to look into the viability of Web sites run by three news organizations; ABC News, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. All three sites have not reached profitability but all of them have made a firm commitment to remain online. The Wall Street Journal site is the only one that requires subscribers to pay. Recently, advertising revenue has diminished which is making it even harder for these sites to make a profit. ABC News and the New York Times have recently had significant layoffs in their digital divisions.

Noah Adams talks with Mott Linn, coordinator of Archives and Special Collections at Clark University, about the 75th anniversary of the first rocket launch. Robert Goddard pioneered the way for space flight when on this day three-quarters of a century ago he launched a 10-1/2 pound rocket from his aunt's farm in Auburn, Mass.

Europe's concerns about foot-and-mouth disease, like its concerns about mad cow disease, are not shared in South America, which has some of the largest cattle herds in the world. The free-range herds do not eat imported animal products. So they are not likely to catch mad cow disease. Foot-and-mouth disease is prevalent in parts of South America but it is controlled by vaccination programs. Brazil cannot export its beef to regions free of foot-and-mouth, but people in Brazil enjoy their steak dinners more than ever.