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Host Liane Hansen is joined by Carl Cannon, White House orrespondent for the Baltimore Sun newspaper, and Fred Barnes, reporter for the eekly Standard magazine, to discuss some of the major issues in this week's ews. Topics include sending U.S. ground troops to Bosnia, the budget debate etween Capitol Hill and the White House, and the mail-in election in Oregon

Daniel takes a look into the indigent defender system in New Orleans where for years, the problems were so grave that very often defendants weren't able to get a competent lawyer to represent them. Now, however, there have been some changes that could produce momentous changes in the way justice is dealt for the poor in Orleans Parish. Daniel Zwerdling reports.

NPR's Mike Shuster reports on today's resignation of Russian Foreign Minister, Andrei Kozyrev ((AHN'-dray KOH'-zuh-rev )). Although maligned in Moscow, Kozyrev presided over a tumultuous period in foreign relations while steering Russia on a pro-Western course. Experts believe his replacement will retain those policies.

NPR's Trevor Rowe reports that after the Gulf War, the United Nations was left with the task of maintaining sanctions against Iraq and eliminating its weapons of mass destruction. Five years later, Iraq's military power has been diminished but Saddam Hussein is still considered a threat to the region.

Hapa [HAH-puh] is the name of a band from Hawaii. It's made up of native Hawaiian who's part Chinese and a native New Yorker who's all Irish Catholic. Together they make music that ranges from traditional Hawaiian slack-key guitar to acoustic pop. Heidi Chang reports. There are two Hapa CD's available on the Coconut Grove label.

Illinois Governor Jim Edgar commuted the death sentence of Guinevere Garcia today. Garcia was scheduled to be executed on Wednesday for the 1991 murder of her husband, who allegedly abused her. NPR's Edward Lifson reports that more than 90 percent of women on death row are not executed. The Governor said the fact the Garcia is a woman did not influence his decision.

NPR's John McChesney reports that Visa and Mastercard have agreed on a single technical standard that they say will allow for secure purchases over the Internet. The two credit card giants had been pursuing different systems with conflicting security specifications. Today's announcement means banks and consumers will not have to worry about choosing one system over the other.

NPR's Cheryl Corley reports on the impending end a federal program that was started in the late-1960s to provide subsidized housing for the poor in middle class white neighborhoods. The program grew out of a 1966 discrimination lawsuit against the Chicago Housing Authority and the federal Deparatment of Housing and Urban Development. Advocates are lobbying Housing Secretary Henry Cisneros to continue the subsidies.

Some House Republicans are considering sending President Clinton a welfare reform bill he once endorsed, but now considers inadequate. Last year, Mr Clinton vetoed a measure formed from House and Senate bills, but he said he could sign the Senate version. Now, the president says the Senate bill is just a basis for reform. NPR's Peter Kenyon reports.

NPR's John Ydstie reports the Federal Reserve cut short-term interest rates by a quarter-point today. Policymakers at the Fed cut the Fed Funds rate -- the rate banks charge each other for overnight loans -- to 5.25 percent. It was the third time in the last six months the Fed has moved to lower rates over concern about weakness in the economy.