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NPR's Richard Harris reports that astronomers have, for the first time, seen features on the surface of a nearby star, Betelgeuse (BAY-dull-juwz). Until now, all stars other than our sun have appeared simply as points of light, even through the best telescopes. Now the Hubble Space Telescope has shown that Betelgeuse, in the constellation of Orion, has a mysterious bright spot on its surface.

NPR's Joe Palca reports that astronomers have found evidence for the existence of two new planets outside our solar system. Both putative planets are about 35 light years from Earth, and are orbiting stars at a distance that would allow water to exist on them. One appears to be orbiting a sun in the constellation Virgo, while the other appears to be orbiting a sun in the Big Dipper.

NPR's Michael Goldfarb reports that the spat between Greece and Turkey over a disputed island in the Aegean Sea appears to be over. The U.S. intervened yesterday before the dispute exploded into war. President Clinton and top members of his Administration made phone calls to both Greek and Turkish leaders telling them of U.S. concern. The island is only 10-acres. The only inhabitants are goats.

NPR's Ina Jaffe reports on the debate in Los Angeles over how to prepare for the next big earthquake. In the two years since the Northridge quake, Los Angeles's biggest, scientists and engineers have discovered that while most buildings withstood the quake and loss of life was relatively low, the cost of repairing buildings so people could reoccupy them has been overwhelming.

In San Francisco, Mecca for skateboarders, Ancel Martinez of member station KQED reports on a battle over art. A two-mile-long concrete and glass sculpture has become the favorite spot for daredevil 'boarders. Trouble is, they're ruining the $1-million-dollar installation, to the chagrin of art-lovers.

President Clinton and Senate Majority Leader Dole addressed the National Governors' Association today. NPR's White House correspondent Mara Liasson reports both men praised the governors for coming up with a bipartisan compromise on Medicaid and welfare -- two of the biggest federal programs administered by the states and two of the biggest stumbling blocks in negotiations over a federal budget.

As China prepares to take over Hong Kong next year, many of Hong Kong's film directors are preparing to jump ship for more fertile and lucrative creative ground here in the U.S. Two films with Hong Kong connections are now on American movie screens...Broken Arrow and Rumble in the Bronx. Our critic, Bob Mondello, prepared this report.

NPR's Joe Palca reports that scientists have found new evidence that the human brain may be more flexible than previously believed. New research has found that when blind people read braille, they use a part of the brain that researchers had thought was only used for vision. That suggests the brain can rewire itself in ways never before understood.

NPR's Anne Garrels reports from Moscow that Russia and Britain are trying to settle a problem over charges of spying. Russia says it is considering kicking out nine British diplomats Russia says ran a spy ring. The British say Russia hasn't told them details of the allegations and threatened to retaliate.

A Federal Appeals Court ruled today that a class action lawsuit, brought against the tobacco industry by plaintiffs alleging that the industry concealed knowledge that nicotine is addictive and conspired to manipulate nicotine levels in cigarettes, may NOT proceed. Linda talks with NPR reporter Debbie Elliot about the implications of this ruling, which is viewed as a major victory for tobacco interests.