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What makes for a good laugh? To find out, Liane talks with Dr. Robert Provine, neurobiologist from the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, who has done extensive research on laughter. (10:00) (NOTE: His book "Laughter: A Scientific Investigation" is published by Vi

Commentator Stephen Lynch is the pop culture critic at the Orange County Register. He says after actor Robert Downey Jr.'s latest arrest, attempts to portray him as a tragic Shakespearean hero don't make sense. He's not that great an actor.

Rescue crews pull four bodies out of the large mudslide in the coastal town of La Conchita, California. A Ventura County spokeswoman says crews have found nine people alive using specialized listening gear. From member station KCRW, Eric Roy reports.

A former prosecutor in DuPage County, Illinois, who is now a circuit court judge, is among a number of officials who face criminal charges in connection with allegations that they investigated and prosecuted the wrong man for murder. From member station WBEZ, David Schaper reports.

The Supreme Court ruled today that the government cannot fire independent contractors for political reasons. The cases involved the owner of an Illinois towing company who lost a city contract after supporting the mayor's opponent for re-election, and a Kansas garbage collector who was fired after being critical of the county government. NPR's Chitra Ragavan reports.

NPR's Janet Heimlich reports John Paul Penry is slated for execution tonight in Polk County Texas for a rape and murder he committed in 1979. Many experts attest Penry is mentally retarded and his lawyer, Bob Smith, is appealing Penry's execution to the Supreme Court.

Linda Wertheimer recounts the announcement by the Florida Supreme Court that it has made a unanimous decision in favor of allowing the hand-counting of ballots in several Florida counties to be included in the state vote tally. We hear the announcement as made by Craig Waters, spokesman for the Florida Supreme Court.

Hand-counting of the presidential ballots continues in Broward and Palm Beach counties, and began Sunday in Miami-Dade. There is still widespread disagreement over how Florida's election rules define a vote for either candidate. Partially-punched ballots are again in the spotlight. NPR's Peter Kenyon reports.

The Supreme Court of Florida met today to hear arguments about the hand-recount of votes taking place in several counties. The justices quizzed attorneys for Vice President Gore, Texas Governor Bush and others about their positions on whether hand recounts of the ballots should count.

The issue of manual recounts went before the seven justices of Florida's State Supreme Court yesterday. Lawyers for both George W. Bush and Al Gore made their arguments on whether manual recounts in three counties can be added to the state's certified vote tally. NPR's Melissa Block reports.