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NPR's Derek Reveron reports from Miami that Brothers to the Rescue, the group that lost two private planes when Cuban MiG's shot the down last Saturday, are gearing up to launch a flotilla of boats to the site of last week's downing. This next excursion, scheduled for this Saturday, will involve a fleet of boats as well as planes from the Brothers group, which has flown numerous missions intended to aid refugees fleeing Cuba by water.

NPR's Dan Charles reports that the National Park Service wants to make sure that the it benefits financially if a biotech company ever finds something in a park from which it can make money. Many developing countries have taken similar steps to protect their interests when drug companies go looking for new medicines in the rain forest.

NPR'S Derek Reveron reports that the downing of two planes flown by Brothers to the Rescue with the death of four pilots, has strengthened the hand of hard-line Cuban exile groups in Miami. Recently, more moderate voices, advocating negotiation with Fidel Castro, have been assuming a more prominant role in Cuban-exile politics, but since the shoot-down, they are on the defensive, and the hard-liners again enjoy the upper hand.

NPR's Don Gonyea reports on the beginning of another trial against Dr. Jack Kevorkian. Kevorkian is accused under common law for aiding two people in their effort to commit suicide. Kevorkian was recently acquitted in a similar trial, and has never been convicted for a crime in his efforts to provide help to those who wish to end their lives because of serious illnesses.

Joanne Silberner reports that today, the House Ways and Means Committee began consideration of a health insurance bill that would guarantee that millions of Americans would not lose coverage because of a pre-existing condition when they become unemployed or switch jobs. The legislation has broad bipartisan support, but House Republicans have tacked on a lot of amendments that are opposed by the Senate. How Senator Dole handles the Republican mavericks in the House has implications for his presidential candidacy.

In the wake of the suicide bombings in Israel, the House is once again taking up a controversial anti-crime bill. The bill would give federal law enforcement officials new rights in their investigations of terrorist crimes. But NPR's Peter Kenyon reports that opponents from across the political spectrum say these measures would infringe on privacy rights and would inevitably lead to the conviction and imprisonment of innocent people.

Scott Bard reports from London on the fear raging through Europe over a possible link between "mad cow disease" and a deadly human brain disease. Yesterday the British Health Minister said a group of scientists had found the bovine disease the most likely explanation for the human fatalities -- spurring several European countries to ban or consider banning British beef.

NPR's John Burnett reports on the controversy over whether a convicted sex offender in Texas should be surgically castrated. Larry Don McQuay, who's about to be released from prison, says he'll molest more children unless he's castrated... and there's been controversy over whether the state should sanction this kind of operation, and whether it will stop him from offending again.

NPR's Linda Gradstein reports that Israelis are divided over how effective tomorrow's terrorism summit in Egypt will be. Supporters say that intelligence sharing will help Israel protect itself against acts of terrorism, while critics say the conference will do little except play into Prime Minister Shimon Peres' hands.

Buzz Conover of Florida Public Radio reports that the tobacco industry is trying to repeal law under which Florida is trying recover Medicaid costs paid out by state for smoking related illnesses. Tobacco industry has mounted expensive media campaign urging repeal, while Florida Governor Lawton Chiles is countering with his own, more modest, media campaign.