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- NPR's Melissa Block reports on proposed changes to US Immigration law that would require immigration officers at the airport to decide whether or not a foreigner claiming political asylum has a legitimate case. Currently, anyone declaring political asylum at the airport or border is assigned a court date for their case. If the changes are approved, they could be put immediately on a plane and sent home.

NPR's Michael Shuster reports on the Clinton Administration decision to reorganize the State Department. The restructuring will bring the independent Arms and Disarmament Agency and the US Information Agency under the umbrella of the Secretary of State. The move, long sought by Senator Jesse Helms and other Congressional Republican conservatives, was made in hopes of encouraging the Senate to approve the Chemical Weapons ban when it comes to a vote on next week.

takes up the Ethics Committee's recommendations to reprimand Speaker Gingrich and require him to pay a 300,000 dollar fine for violating House rules. If the House approves those recommendations, as expected, Congressman Gingrich will be allowed to continue as Speaker.

share prices are up as the big cigarette companies negotiate a possible settlement to federal and state lawsuits. The proposal -- which would require Congressional approval -- would shield the tobacco industry from future lawsuits by creating a fund worth hundreds of billions of dollars to pay claims to smokers.

NPR's Margot Adler reports that the Planned Parenthood Federation of America today announced plans to begin offering a non-surgical alternative for abortions. The alternative involves using a combination of drugs that have already been approved for other purposes. A few doctors are already using the approach. But the move by Planned Parenthood would make the method much more widely available.

NPR's Brian Naylor reports that the House today approved the Safe Drinking Water Act. The bill...among other things...would require public water suppliers to inform consumers of impurities in their tap water. Republicans claim it shows their concern for the environment. But Democrats say Republicans are restricting the public's right-to-know on another issue...the Superfund law.

The state of Massachusetts has decided to appeal a federal court ruling that approved the antitrust settlement worked out between the U.S. Justice Department and Microsoft Corp. Jacki Lyden talks with Wall Street Journal reporter Nicholas Kulish. (3:00)

NPR's David Welna reports on the Senate's approval of Gale Norton's nomination for Secretary of the Interior. Environmental groups had complained that she was an "extremist" in the mold of James Watt, who stirred up controversy as President Reagan's Interior Secretary. But, despite protests and TV ads attacking Norton, her nomination sailed through the Senate with ease.

Last week the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved Gale Norton to head the Interior Department, and now her nomination is going before the full Senate for a vote. NPR's David Welna reports that the debate over the controversial nominee is still fierce, but that it's likely she will be confirmed.

NPR's Peter Kenyon reports on today's full Senate debate over the nomination of John Ashcroft to be Attorney General. Yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved the nomination on a 10-8 vote, with one Democrat joining all nine Republicans in favor of Ashcroft. Republicans, who apparently have the votes to assure confirmation, are pushing for a vote to be held on Thursday.