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NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports from Abidjan on the saga of an overloaded freighter carrying nearly four thousand people who fled the recent fighting in Liberia. The leaky vessel set out from Liberia nine days ago, but has been sailing up and down the west African coast, as Ivory Coast and Ghana have refused to accept the refugees. Today Ghana allowed the ship to dock, but many of whom are suffering from dysentery. The reluctance of west African nations to accept more refugees follows warnings from diplomats that the international community may abandon Liberia if its warring factions fail to make peace. (3:00) CUTAWAY 1A 0:59 1B 4. JURY REFORM - In Los Angeles, Virginia Biggar reports on a soon-to-be-released report on how to reform the California jury system. Reform has been on the legal agenda for years, but the OJ Simpson trial highlighted many flaws in the system, say critics. Recommendations for change vary from paying jurors more to punishing potential jurors for avoiding jury duty.

NPR's John Neilsen reports that Marion Barry, mayor of the District of Columbia, returned after a two week sabbatical for spiritual and physical rejuvenation. While the mayor was away, rumours swept the city that Barry had had a relapse into drug or alcohol abuse. Today, Barry says he may not have explained his absence in the clearests terms, and blamed the media for overplaying the story.

on the British government's decision to allow a Saudi Arabian dissident to remain in their country, and the possible fall out for Britain's defense industry.

the new labor initiative with a well-coordinated counterattack. They plan to label the campaign as an attempt by Washington union bosses to tell rank and file members what to do in an effort to enhance the union leadership's power. The GOP has filed complaints about union spending with the Federal Election Commission, but the law governing such independent expenditures is murky. Peter Overby reports.

Commentator Steven Madden trekked around Mt. Everest last year, narrowly missing an encounter with an avalanche which swept down the mountain and wiped out their base camp. Madden says he never expected to be rescued, nor should any climber. This is the first rule of wilderness travel. But the rule was written before cellular phones and helicopters.

This month's issue of Spy magazine features a survey of the orst places to live in the U-S. Liane and Spy editor Lance Gould (goold) iscuss why the magazine put Texas at the top of the list.

On the eve of Saturday's "Stand For Children" march in Washington DC, NPR's Margot Adler looks at some of the issues underlying the discussion about how to best address children's issues in this country. While the march has been billed as a non-partisan event based on an issue everyone would seem to support--children's welfare--in fact, our country has always been deeply conflicted about our attitudes toward children. Children's issues usually end up being intertwined with our attitudes toward their parents, and thus our disagreements over race, class and government have a lot to do with the way children are raised in this country.

Commentator David Brooks says he won't be attending the Stand For Children rally because he thinks that the event is not really for children, but more an opportunity for emotional manipulation.

health care provider, now wants to change its status and move into for-profit care -- a move that has alarmed many.

Puzzle master Will Shortz quizzes one of our listeners, and has a hallenge for everyone at home. (This week's winner is Esther Russell, who istens to member station W-U-T-C in Chattanooga, Tennessee.)