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Noah talks with sportswriter Stefan Fatsis about the US Olympic Track and Field trials in Sacramento, California. There will be eight days of competition over the next ten days. Track is gaining popularity as the Summer Games approach, and nearly 20-thousand spectators are expected for the trials. Stefan talks about some of the athletes that we'll be hearing about in the competitions.

Noah talks with Jerold A. Edmondson, Professor of Linguistics, and Chair of the Linguistics Department at the University of Texas. Edmondson has documented two languages in North Vietnam that had previously been unknown to linguistics experts. He recorded samples of the language directly on his laptop computer in the field. (4:30) More information is available at http://ling.uta.edu/~jerry/research/

NPR News Correspondent Howard Berkes visits with his father-in-law and tells the story of one family farmer who first plowed his fields with a team of horses and now is trying to start a co-op to turn corn into ethanol, an effort to get better prices for crops while producing a cleaner fuel. (7:38) NOTE: (Puzzlemaster Will Shortz is off this

IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 68TH ANNIVERSARY OF CHARLES LINDBERGH'S HISTORIC NON-STOP TRANS-ATLANTIC FLIGHT, SCOTT SIMON SPEAKS WITH ISABEL HAYNES, WHO WAS 12 YEARS OLD AND A SPECTATOR WHEN HE TOOK OFF FROM ROOSEVELT FIELD IN NEW YORK'S LONG ISLAND ON MAY 20, 1927.

NPR's Claudio Sanchez reports that President Clinton wants to send thousands of tutors out to help kids learn to read. Experts in the field say these tutors will help kids practice their reading, and that could make a big difference. But they say that kids with the most serious reading problems will still require trainined professionals to deal with their problems, and the President's proposal won't help them.

The Hawkeye State has fewer people than it did in the 1980 census. State Governor Tom Vilsack would like to turn the population tide by recruiting people from around the world. Yet the state with the slogan "Fields of Opportunities" is still 96% white, and isn't used to immigrants. From member station WOI in Ames, Joyce Russell reports.

Kayla Rosenfeld from Hawaii Public Radio reports on a science program in which middle-school students to do field research. This year it's based in Hawaii, where they're doing everything from tracking endangered species to chasing hot lava from volcanoes.

NPR's David Kestenbaum reports that a new study shows how shifts in the world's climates will affect outbreaks of infectious diseases such as malaria. But even the study's own researchers say that despite advanced technology, it's still very difficult to make detailed, accurate predictions in this field.

Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito fielded questions almost exclusively from Democrats during his final day of public testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Alito was pressed on right-to-die cases and other issues but avoided definite answers.

Precision-guided munitions, unmanned aircraft and Special Ops soldiers make headlines in Afghanistan -- but just as important to the war effort are those who airlift supplies and equipment to troops in the field. NPR's Tom Gjelten rides along on an Air Force C-17 for a first-hand report for Morning Edition.