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NPR's Edward Lifson reports from Germany on a ground-breaking ceremony that brings a little closer the government move from Bonn to Berlin. Despite opposition, the German government is plowing ahead. It has persuaded some ministries to move into existing buildings, but is also proceeding with new construction. Today, Chancellor Kohl broke ground for a new chancellory building. The target date for the government move is the end of 1999.

NPR's Ann Cooper reports that the United Nations is taking short-term security measures to more carefully screen mail and trying to make long-term security plans. But specialists in terrorism say bombs sent through the mail are hard to stop. Letter bombs addressed to an Arabic-language newspaper were disarmed at U-N headquarters in New York yesterday.

Federal officials have determined that poverty isn't the only reason why many public housing projects in the United States have deteriorated into virtual war zones where drugs and crime plague residents. They believe that the architectural structure of the complexes may have something to do with it. NPR's Barbara Bradley reports that government architects are exploring new designs for public housing to make them safer places to live.

Noah talks with Kathy McCoubrey, from the Virginia Dalmatian Assistance League, about dalmatians as pets. Disney is releasing a new version of the movie, "101 Dalmatians" this Christmas season. There are reports of a surge in dalmatian breeding because many children will want them after seeing the movie. McCoubrey says dalmatians should be chosen carefully. They are very high-strung, and they need frequent exercise and plenty of space.

NPR's Eric Weiner reports that King Hussein of Jordan and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat toured the West Bank today in a show of solidarity. The king's visit to the West Bank was his first since Israel captured the territory during the Six-Day War twenty-nine years ago.

The victims of the Oklahoma bombing last year are eager to attend the trials of the two men accused of the crime. But the judge, citing federal rules of evidence, has barred them from attending because they may be witnesses in the sentencing phase of the trial. The victims and their families have filed suit to overturn the judge's ruling. NPR's Mark Roberts reports.

The Department of Energy is announcing a two-step plan to get rid of the nation's stockpile of plutonium waste. About 50 tons of the highly radioactive material have accumulated during the making of atomic bombs, weapons that are now being dismantled. NPR's Richard Harris reports on the government's plan to bury part of the waste and to combine the rest of it in fuel used by commercial nuclear plants.

The federal government is looking at a new generation of safety technologies for the airline industry. The effort follows a year in which scores of people died in two highly publicized crashes of TWA and Valuejet planes. NPR's Steve Inskeep reports the new safety measures could save lives, but the cost will be high and industry executives are worried about having to bear the burden.

NPR's Jim Zarroli reports that AT&T announced an aggressive expansion of its wireless telephone services today. The company plans to make a package of wireless services -- including data, paging and e-mail -- available in forty of the nation's largest markets. Several other companies are racing to provide similar services on a national basis.

The Canadian Auto Workers went on strike against General Motors early this morning. The C.A.W. says a strike is necessary because G.M. farms out a lot of its work to outside, non-union suppliers. NPR's Don Gonyea reports that the strike should have little effect on General Motors in the United States unless it continues for more than a week.