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NPR's Mike Shuster concludes a 4-part series on national missile defenses with a report on the political considerations in deciding whether to develop such a system. In 1996, President Clinton dropped his opposition to proceeding with development. He agreed to continue research on missile defenses but didn't commit to a specific deployment date. That has enabled the Republican Congress to keep missile defenses alive. The research and development is very expensive, and forging ahead with it has damaged U.S. relations with Russia and China.

Host Madeleine Brand talks to NPR's Ted Clark about President Clinton's role in the Middle East peace negotiations being held at Camp David which also involve Israel's President Barak and Palestinian leader Arafat and their aides. President Clinton had dinner with the two leaders last night, but Barak and Arafat have not held direct discussions.

Host Madeleine Brand talks to NPR's Rob Gifford about today's meeting between U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen and China's President, Jiang Zemin. The issues they will be discussing include Taiwan, U.S. plans for a missile defense system, and arms proliferation.

NPR's Richard Harris reports on the future of the international space station. Russia launched a new module for the station yesterday after two years of delays. This move brings the space station closer to being a permanent outpost, though it will probably be another six years before the station is finally complete.

Janet Heimlich reports from Austin, on the way public defenders in capital murder cases are chosen in Texas. County judges appoint private attorneys to represent indigent murder defendants. Critics say the system is flawed because there's no guarantee that a defendant will get a competent lawyer, or that the judge will approve funds to properly investigate the defendant's case.

Martha Barnett the incoming president of the American Bar Association urged the nation's lawyers to support a death penalty moratorium, saying there is widespread unfairness and even gross injustice in the way it is applied.

Trish Anderton of New Hampshire Public Radio reports on the impeachment of a state judge in New Hampshire for the first time since 1790. David Brock was the Chief Justice of the State Supreme court; now he faces a trial in the state senate that could last more than a month.

NPR's Debbie Elliott reports a Florida jury will soon decide how much in punitive damages the tobacco industry should pay to some half-million Florida smokers. The same jury has already found that the tobacco companies made a dangerous and defective product. It awarded nearly thirteen-million dollars in compensatory damages to three plaintiffs. Now, the attorney for the smokers is asking for a judgement of as much as 196-billion dollars to punish the industry for its past conduct. But lawyers for the cigarette companies say that kind of an award would put the companies out of business.

Host Madeleine Brand talks to reporter Phil Mercer who is in Suva about the latest developments in Fiji. Deposed Fiji Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and 17 other political hostages were freed today after being held for 56 days by nationalists demanding an end to ethnic Indian political power.

NPR's Tom Goldman reports on the economics of small-market baseball. Unlike major league football, professional baseball revenues aren't widely shared among franchises. Teams like the New York Yankees and the Atlanta Braves earn significant money from TV contracts, and that allows them to afford the sport's top talent. But smaller-market teams must rely on fan loyalty to fill the ballpark. And while they may nurture young, rising stars, these teams know that talented players are likely to go where the money takes them.