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Commentator Merrill Matthews says don't blame the drug companies for not giving away their products. He argues that drug companies are not the most profitable companies and that they function like any other company marking up their products to cover the costs of produciton and distribution. If drug companies just give away their products, they won't have the funds to do the kind of research that leads to innovations and cures.

Ed Sanders, a former Yippie; member of the Fugs; and author of the bestseller about Charles Manson called, The Family, has embarked on a multi-volume history of North America in verse. Volume Two, which has just been published covers 1940 to 1961. Sanders envisions eight volumes. He's starting in the 20th century and working backwards. From New York, Tom Vitale reports.

Jill McGivering of the BBC reports from Delhi, that thousands of wild rhesus monkeys are wreaking havoc there. Despite authorities' attempts to control the animals, the monkeys are multiplying.

NPR's Tom Gjelten reports from Washington that the Bush administration formally announced today it has expelled four Russian diplomats reported to have had links to the alleged American spy, Robert Hanssen. In addition, the United States is asking more than 40 other Russian diplomats to leave. U.S. officials say they've been concerned for a long time about Russia maintaining a large contingent of intelligence officers in the United States, working under diplomatic cover.

In the final story in Morning Edition's series on literacy, NPR's Claudio Sanchez reports from Knoxville, Tennessee, on the inability of many college students to write college-level essays. Many four-year colleges are raising admissions standards or scaling back on remedial classes, so a good deal of remedial education now takes place at community colleges. Sanchez examines why American high schools graduate so many students who are ill-prepared for the rigors of college work.

NPR's Wendy Kaufman reports that aerospace company Boeing will move its main offices from Seattle, where they've been for 85 years, to either Chicago, Denver, or Dallas-Fort Worth.

NPR's Vicky O'Hara reports on the U.S. visit of China's Vice Premier, Qian Qichen , the highest ranking Chinese diplomat to visit the new administration. Speaking publicly at the State Department last night, Qian expressed hope that China-U.S. relations would improve. Tuesday night in New York, he was highly critical of American plans to sell Aegis destroyers to Taiwan.

NPR's Susan Stamberg reports on how the plentiful, pliable metal aluminum inspired art and industry in the 1900s. An exhibition now in New York City explores aluminum's use in aerospace, fashion and household goods.

Host Bob Edwards talks to NPR's Tom Gjelten in Washington, D.C. and Michelle Kelemen in Moscow about the expulsion of some 50 Russian diplomats from the United States, in response to the Robert Hanssen spy case. Several of the diplomats are suspected of having ties to the former FBI agent, who is accused of spying for Moscow over a 15-year period.

NPR's David Molpus reports on yesterday's Supreme Court decision allowing employers to force their employees to forego a court trial, and head straight for binding arbitration in cases of job disputes. The idea is to reduce the caseload of an already clogged legal system, but employee advocates say arbitration usually gives the employer an unfair advantage.