Search results for

Deborah Amos continues her series on the multi-billion-dollar illegal drug trade in America. Today's report focuses on controversial law enforcement practices, including the seizure of drug money and assets such as cars to help fund the war on drugs. In some cases undercover informers are paid with percentages of drug money that they help seize. Critics, including some law enforcement officers, say the procedures are ripe for corruption. There's more at http://www.npr.org/news/specials/drugwars/.

Linda and Robert read letters from All Things Considered listeners. (2:45) Send e-mail to: atc@npr.org or traditional mail to: Letters, All Things Considered, National Public Radio, 635 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20001.

NPR's Steve Inskeep at the Pentagon reports an explosion rocked a U.S. Navy destroyer in the Arabian port of Aden today, killing at least five sailors and wounding more than 30 others. Defense Department officials believe it was a terrorist attack.

Debbie Elliott reports that World Health Organization hosts two days of hearings, beginning today in Geneva, on first draft of international treaty on tobacco control. The goal is to get countries to do such things as ban cigarette advertising and limit sales to adults only.

In the past ten years, one third of the executions in the United States have been carried out in the state of Texas. Since 1924, executions in Texas have taken place in the Walls Unit in Huntsville. The Warden of that prison, Jim Willett, narrates a documentary titled Witness to an Execution. It includes first hand accounts from the men and women who participate in and witness executions as part of their jobs. Guards, chaplains and reporters talk about their work -- detailing what occurs in the minutes before, during and after the execution. The prison employees say they do the job because the vast majority of citizens want it done. Most are affected by the work. Some reach the breaking point and find they can no longer work in the system.

Scott recalls the 1993 pact between Yitzak Rabin and Yasser Arafat and wonders what can be done to rescue the peace process.

Voters in Oregon and Colorado, this November, will be able to vote on nearly identical ballot measures. The measures would close the so-called gun show loophole. Both states have been considered friendly to gun rights. Even so, the measures are getting nearly 80% support in the polls. Colorado Public Radio's Kelley Griffin reports.

Scott reads mail from listeners.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat have agreed to a summit meeting aimed at stopping the violence in the Mideast. Scott speaks with NPR's Mike Shuster about this latest development.

Scott talks to Christopher Guest about his new film, Best in Show. It's a mock documentary about show dogs and their eccentric owners. Guest directed the film, and co-wrote it with Eugene Levy, and the cast includes many of the stars from his previous film, Waiting for Guffman.