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Medical labs and drive-in banks are still using the pneumatic tube, whose heyday was back in the 19th century when the device was a means of sending messages from building to building. The tube made a comeback in the 1970's when engineers figured out how to make it gentle enough for hospitals to transport blood samples. Joel Obermayer reports from Danville, Pennsylvania.

NPR's David Welna reports from Orange, Texas, where a dozen residents took part in a role-playing exercise as a congressional committee trying to divvy up the federal budget. The group concluded that the $1.6 trillion tax cut proposed by President George Bush wasn't a prudent idea until the national debt is paid off.

A New Jersey state supreme court justice will not face impeachment proceedings. Justice Peter Verniero is accused of misleading the public about the use of racial profiling by state police, but a top lawmaker has said he will block any attempt at impeachment. Eugene Sonn reports from member station WHYY in Philadelphia.

NPR's Eric Westervelt reports on President Bush's appearance at the Democratic legislative retreat in Pennsylvania yesterday. Mr. Bush continued his attempt to charm the opposition. Though some members seemed charmed, he faced tough questions from Democrats, many of whom remain skeptical of finding common legislative ground with the new president.

The Senate is expected to begin debate next week on the latest version of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill. This year, the sponsors think they have enough votes to choke off a filibuster. But some of the Democratic-leaning interest groups, such as labor unions, are having second thoughts about new provisions in the legislation this time around. NPR's Peter Overby reports.

NPR's Jim Zarroli reports that U.S. stock prices tumbled yesterday amid investor concerns about technology earnings. The NASDAQ composite index has now declined by 60-percent since its high last March. There's concern that confidence has fallen to the point where prices may not rebound as quickly as in the past.

NPR's Larry Abramson reports that Russian scientists are meticulously planning Mir's return to Earth, to prevent any harm. They're using computer models to anticipate where the 140-ton space station will splash down in the South Pacific, and warning away planes and boats from the area.

NPR's Mara Liasson reports that the Washington reaction to last week's school shooting was muted. Gun control advocates are worried that their allies in Congress are afraid to speak up, for fear of losing re-election. Political analysts say Al Gore's strong support of gun control cost him several crucial states, including West Virginia.

Conservative author David Horowitz sought to place ads in college newspapers across the country denouncing calls for reparations to African-Americans for slavery. Most papers declined to run the ads. Many of those that did sparked protests on their campuses. Av Harris reports from Providence -- Brown University was one of the schools whose paper ran the ad.

NPR's Andy Bowers reports on the potential California gubernatorial candidacy of actor Arnold Schwarzenegger. With the state's power crisis ebbing away at Gov. Gray Davis' (D) popularity, many Republicans feel The Terminator is the man who can rescue their party. After all, they note, Ronald Reagan, George Murphy, Sonny Bono and Clint Eastwood parlayed entertainment careers to political office in California.