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NPR's Jackie Northam reports a declining population has caused the state of Iowa to try to lure new workers. Many of the newcomers are from other countries, and the state has started to plan programs to deal with their needs. The immigrants are bringing new cultures to Iowa. Some people are unhappy about the changes.

The city council in Charlottesville, Va., has approved the installation of a giant blackboard downtown for anyone to write on. It will be a monument to free speech. Noah Adams talks with Joshua Wheeler, associate director for the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression.

Storyteller Kevin Kling rides the rails. He meets "Ed", a hobo with great recipes, information on the best dumpsters around the country, and knowledge of all things. He can even predict recessions.

NPR's Kate Seelye in Amman reports Arab leaders denounced Israel at the conclusion of a two-day summit conference in the Jordanian capital. The summit approved $240 million in new aid for the Palestinians. But the meeting failed to reach consensus on a demand by Iraq for an end to the United Nations economic sanctions that were imposed after the 1990 invasion of Kuwait.

ABC television is starting a new sitcom tonight about a black middle class family -- the only black sitcom currently on the three major networks. It's called My Wife and Kids and stars Damon Wayans. Robert Siegel talks with Paul Farhi, Style writer for The Washington Post, about the show.

Sarah Bardeen reviews the CD Inspiration Information by Shuggie Otis (Shuggie as in sugar). It was first released in 1974 and was recently re-released. Bardeen says that it was an album ahead of its time, incorporating jazz, funk, rock and R+B elements. It's available from Luaka Bop, catalog number 72348-50473-2-9.

Host Renee Montagne talks with NPR's Eric Weiner in Jerusalem. They discuss the aftermath of yesterday's bombings in the West Bank and Gaza, as tensions climb higher in the region.

NPR's Peter Overby reports on negotiations in the Senate over the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill. Today the focus was on raising the bill's limits on the amount of money individuals may contribute directly to candidates. There are still some landmines ahead for the bill before final passage is assured.

In the last few months two groups of researchers have publicly declared they are ready to attempt cloning human beings. Today, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a public hearing to examine the issue of human cloning. NPR's Joe Palca went to Capitol Hill where scientists, ethicists and politicians debated some of life's most fundamental questions.

Commentator Brian Egerston and his wife are having trouble getting pregnant. After seeing a doctor and undergoing surgery -- still no baby. He says they've started to see babies everywhere. And relatives ask them when they will have kids.