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The Florida Supreme Court sat in solemn session today to hear the arguments of both presidential campaigns regarding the counting of disputed ballots. Lawyers for Vice President Al Gore and Texas Governor George W. Bush took turns bearing the questions of the seven justices, who now must decide whether this presidential election contest comes to an end or goes on. NPR's Melissa Block reports from Tallahassee.

While political battles wind their way through the Florida courts, literal battles are taking place in the Middle East. NPR's Mike Shuster in Jerusalem reports on a day of deadly clashes between Israelis and Palestinians. At least 3 Israelis and 7 Palestinians died in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, where Palestinians rioted after Friday prayers. Among today's victims an Israeli mother of six and a Palestinian teenager.

NPR's Adam Hochberg reports from Democratic party headquarters in Palm Beach County, Florida, where voters are coming in to sign affidavits calling for an inquiry into the voting process in the County. Many voters say the ballot was so confusing that they believe that they may have mistakenly cast votes for Patrick Buchanan instead of Al Gore. They say the returns from Palm Beach County should be considered erroneous.

Trish Anderton of New Hampshire Public Radio reports on a controversy over giving disabled people access to the nation's wilderness areas. After forcing construction of a wheelchair ramp on a remote mountain hut in New Hampshire, a group of hikers in wheelchairs recently made the climb. But the climb was difficult, and some wilderness managers say making it easier for disabled people to get into the wild could ultimately change the character of the wilderness itself.

Childcare is a necessity for millions of American families, but the system has gotten little national attention. In part one of a week-long series, Jason Beaubien of WBUR in Boston reports on what it's like for two families struggling with childcare. The Shapiroes spend more than two-thousand dollars a month on the care of their two kids, while Sherene McKensie works nights to save the money she would have to spend on babysitters.

NPR's Joanne Silberner reports on a new study showing that some people just can't lower their high cholesterol through diet and exercise alone. The research, published in today's Journal of the American Medical Association, shows that one in five people who change their diet to reduce cholesterol fail. Researchers say doctors should use this new knowledge in deciding when patients should take cholesterol-lowering drugs.

David D'Arcy reports on Tawainese filmmaker Edward Yang and his latest movie, Yi Yi , which is the first of his works to be distributed in the United States. The movie's title is literally "one one" in Chinese, and the drama centers on a family in Taipei. Yang says his movies haven't been "Chinese" enough for American audiences...they deal with contemporary Chinese life rather than the exotica these audiences expect.

In part two of our series on the Changing Face of America, NPR's Lynn Neary reports on religion and spirituality. The new spirituality is changing the way many people 'practice' their faith. Many are turning or returning to the contemplative and monastic practices of Eastern and Western traditions. To connect with spirit, seekers are making meditation, prayer, visualization, and monastic silence part of their daily lives- sometimes with the help of a 'spiritual director'.

The Northampton State Hospital in Western Massachusetts has been scheduled to be demolished after years of treating the mentally ill. Charlene Scott of WFCR reports that the institution won't go without some recognition. A German artist is using the abandoned building to feature her paintings and the works of former patients accompanied by the music of Bach. But some former patients think the project doesn't go far enough to address their experiences at the institution.

NPR's Ted Clark reports the State Department has recommended disciplinary action against six employees because of a missing laptop that contained highly classified information. In a related development, one of the nation's top diplomats, Ambassador Stapleton Roy, has decided to retire early. His deputy, Donald Keyser, is among the six employees targeted for disciplinary action designed to address concerns about security procedures at the State Department.