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As part of our occasional series Paying the Piper, NPR's Rick Karr reports why some musicians are distributing their music on the Internet. Many musicians never see any royalties from their record labels, due to advances and other expenses. Sometimes musicians can earn more money by distributing the music directly.

Ten years ago this week, Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA. The law prohibits employers from discriminating against workers based on their physical or mental disabilities. Stephen Smith of American Radio Works reports on how well the law has worked for people who faced discrimination at work because of their mental disorders.

NPR's Rob Gifford reports from China where film director Ang Lee has been working on a new movie, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. It is a kung fu film, a first for Lee. He is best known for his adaptatation of novels such as Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility and Rick Moody's The Ice Storm, as well as movies like The Wedding Banquet and Pushing Hands.

NPR's Jim Zarroli reports that due to the cost of producing television shows, some networks are considering charging their affiliate stations for the use of their signal. Local stations, who used to be paid by the networks for access to their audiences, are fighting the move. They say if they are forced to pay to access the programming they rely on, many stations may go out of business.

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.

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.

Many people feared violence and protests would tarnish the Thirteenth International AIDS Conference in Africa, which ends tomorrow in Durban, South Africa. Some participants even withdrew because of concerns about their safety. But as NPR's Richard Knox reports, the meeting has taken place virtually without incident.

In addition to the Republican National Convention, Philadelphia also hosted the 2000 National Youth convention this week. Youth Radio reporters Amit Paley and Megan Williams attended. Green Party candidate Ralph Nader addressed the gathering of young people. But delegates were disappointed that the Republican nominee did not. Issues at the convention included funding for education and drug rehabilitation.

As more than 70 fires burn across the west, fire managers are scrambling to deploy enough personnel to contain and fight the blazes. In Central Idaho, 500 army troops from Ft. Hood Texas are receiving some basic fire training as they prepare to join the 17,000 civilian firefighters in the west. NPR's Mark Roberts reports from McCall, Idaho.

Host Alex Chadwick talks to NPR's Cokie Roberts and Charlie Cook, editor of the Cook Political Report about this week's Republican National Convention in Philadelphia. Last night, Texas governor George W. Bush accepted his party's presidential nomination in a speech that warned of a tough fight ahead against Vice President Al Gore.