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Reporter Chad Swiatecki, of Michigan's Flint Journal uses a wheelchair. He was assigned last weekend to cover the Al Gore visit to his area. But the auto plant Gore was visiting was not wheelchair accessible, and neither was the bus used by the campaign. The Secret Service would not let Chad follow in his own car. Swiatecki comments on the event.

NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports on the decision by the European Union to lift diplomatic sanction against Austria. Austria's 14 EU partners imposed the sanctions seven months ago, after conservative Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel formed a coalition with the far-right Freedom Party then led by Joerg Haider.

NPR's Peter Kenyon reports on the status of permanent trade relations for China. Some Senators are wary of passing the bill, which they say would allow China to escape annual review of its human rights issues. Several lawmakers have proposed amendments to the bill, including Fred Thompson of Tennessee and Robert Torricelli of New Jersey.

NPR's Chris Arnold reports the Internet music company Napster has been hauled into court by the music industry for its popular system that allows people to download copyrighted music for free. But even if the recording industry prevails, its battle against web piracy may have just begun. There's a new breed of free music services that go beyond Napster's technology.

NPR's Richard Harris reports from Bangkok that Thailand is leading the world in testing AIDS vaccines. That's because the nation has a strong scientific tradition, a good medical infrastructure, a willing populace and the political backing to conduct studies involving thousands of volunteers. Many of these ingredients are missing elsewhere in the world, where AIDS vaccines are more desperately needed.

From West Virginia Public Radio, Jeff Young reports on the murder of a gay black man in the northeastern hill community of Grant Town. The death of 26 year old Arthur "JR" Warren Jr. is still under investigation, and two teenagers from a nearby town have been charged with murder.

On the final day of the International AIDS conference in Durban, South Africa, former president Nelson Mandela urged scientists and political leaders to set aside their differences about whether HIV causes AIDS. As NPR's Brenda Wilson reports, Mandela said the dispute was distracting from efforts to help people who have AIDS.

NPR's Kathleen Schalch reports on the newly signed trade agreement between the United States and Vietnam, which will open the two countries' markets to each other and encourage bilateral trade. It's the first diplomatic agreement signed by the countries since the end of the Vietnam War. Congressional approval of the trade pact is expected.

NPR's Kathleen Schalch reports that a U.S. government agency has promised one-billion-dollars a year in loans to help countries in Sub-Saharan Africa buy AIDS treatments from U.S. companies. But AIDS experts say the money represents only a small step toward addressing the huge problem of HIV infection in Africa.

NPR's Peter Kenyon reports on the death of Senator Paul Coverdell. The only Georgia Republican senator to ever win re-election, Coverdell is almost certain to be succeeded by a Democrat; Governor Roy Barnes (D) is expected to make his decision shortly. But many Republican House members may try to run in the November special election, which could result in major changes in the state's congressional delegation.