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For the third time since last fall, much of the federal government faces a shut-down on Friday. Legislation to appropriate funding for the rest of the year is on the Senate floor today, and the House has already passed its own bill. But President Clinton, who wants more spending for social programs, is threatening a veto. Senate Republicans say they will probably extend funding for two weeks while both sides work out a compromise. NPR's Peter Kenyon reports.

A sound montage of a few prominent voices in this past eek's news, including Sen. Robert Dole (R-KS), Speaker of the U.S. House of epresentatives, Newt Gingrich (R-GA), Acting U.S. Trade Representative Charlene arshefsky (shar-leen bar-SHEFS-kee), Secretary of State Warren Christopher, illis Conover (CON-over) of the Voice of America, President Bill Clinton and en. John McCain (R-AZ).

The House has voted to punish Speaker Newt Gingrich with a reprimand and a penalty of 300-thousand dollars. The action was recommended by a special counsel who investigated charges that Gingrich gave false statements to the ethics committee, and failed to seek legal advice on the use of tax-free contributions for partisan political activities. NPR's Brian Naylor reports that Congresswoman Nancy Johnson, who chairs the Standards of Official Conduct Committee, calls the punishment "tough" but "appropriate."

A sound montage of a few prominent voices in this past eek's news, including Former White House travel office director Billy Dale and en. Joseph Biden (D-Del), Sen Alfonse D'Amato (R-NY), Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), orth Carolina Governor James Hunt, ValuJet President Lewis Jordan and Chairman f the Olympic Organizing Committee, Billy Pane.

NPR's Debbie Elliot reports that, despite the attention that's been focused on black churches, arson is a major problem for houses of worship, regardless of the race of the congregation. Attorney General Janet Reno said today that preventing church fires and arresting the culprits remains at the top of the Justice Department priority list and federal officials recently met with church leaders in Mobile, Alabama to talk about arson prevention.

While the House is trying to emerge from the bitter fight over Speaker Newt Gingrich's ethics violations, Republicans and Democrats in the Senate are actually beginning the year with a bipartisan spirit. Besides the Senate's swift approval of President Clinton choices for Secretaries of State and Defence, Senators on both sides of the aisle are working on legislation dealing with the capital gains tax, crime, and education. But NPR's Elizabeth Arnold reports that there are still plenty of partisan battles ahead, particularly over the balanced budget amendment and late-term abortions.

NPR's Peter Overby reports that President Clinton's legal defense fund has been having problems raising money, and documents released this week in the campaign finance investigation show the White House considered trying to come up with a new fund with looser restrictions. Such defense funds are often places where political supporters can make donations without being subject to many of the limits and disclosure rules governing campaign contributions.

- When the new Congress convenes on Tuesday, the familiar faces of 15 senators will be missing because they've retired. Daniel interviews two of the retirees, Arkansas Democrat David Pryor and Wyoming Republican Alan Simpson. Simpson blasts House Speaker Newt Gingrich, saying he is "tarnished" by his ethical troubles. Pryor, referring to the controversy surrounding President Clinton and the Democratic Party over foreign campaign contributions, issues a call for campaign finance reform.

Robert traveled to the 6th Congressional District in Southern Ohio ...site of a hotly contested race between an incumbent Freshman Republican, Frank Cremeans, and Ted Strickland, who held the seat from 1992 to 1994. The balance of the House of Representatives could be at stake in next Tuesday's election. This race is widely regarded as a bellwether race in a bellwether state for determining which party will control the next Congress.

President Clinton met with Congressional leaders at the White House today to talk about the budget, taxes and other issues. Before that meeting, Clinton said he continued to think that a Constitutional amendment that would require the government to balance the budget is unnecessary, but indicated he might embrace it...a reflection of the fact that Republican gains in the Senate may leave him no choice on the issue. NPR's Elizabeth Arnold reports.