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NPR's Mary Ann Akers reports on what has become the most controversial party scheduled before next month's Democratic National Convention -- a fundraiser for a Hispanic vote political action committee to be held at the Playboy Mansion. Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, a California Democrat, defends the event as a way of obtaining money for her cause. The money will go to her PAC, not the Democratic National Committee. Vice President Al Gore insists he will not attend. But some Democrats are still grumbling at what the fundraiser may say about their party.

NPR's Peter Kenyon reports on the final day of the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia. Last night, Texas Governor George W. Bush accepted the GOP nomination. In his acceptance speech, Bush told delegates that he'll work for better education, stronger Social Security and Medicare, lower tax rates, a stronger military. He accused the Clinton-Gore administration of squandering the opportunities presented by the good economic times and the huge government surpluses.

NPR's Mike Shuster reports the Russian navy has begun a rescue operation to save the 116 men trapped in the nuclear-powered submarine "Kursk" at the bottom of the Barents Sea. The Russians are trying to send a rescue capsule down to the stranded sub. The first try to do this failed. It's a difficult, time-consuming operation, particularly since the sub is buffeted by strong currents. The capsule can bring up only 20 men at a time and must ascend very slowly, to avoid the risk of decompression sickness.

Host Madeleine Brand talks to Roger Dumars, a reporter with the South China Morning Post, about a series of historic family reunions happening in North and South Korea. Dozens of families from both countries will travel across their boarders to see relatives for the first time in fifty years. The reunions are part of number of conciliatory gestures between North and South Korea, agreed to a summit of their leaders last June.

NPR's Ina Jaffe reports on the Environmental Protection Agency's experimental attempt to cover an undersea deposit of toxic DDT off the coast of California, with a fresh layer of sediment. An estimated 110 Tons of the poisonous pesticide is located on 17 square miles of ocean floor. Between 1947 and 1971, Montrose Chemical dumped the DDT into the sewer system, which discharged it into the ocean.

NPR's Elaine Korry reports on the record high prices for natural gas and how they're expected to raise heating bills this winter. Supplies of natural gas are the tightest they've been in years. High natural gas prices also drive electricity bills higher, in states such as California, where natural gas is used to generate electricity during periods of peak demand.

NPR's Anne Sutton reports from McGrath, Alaska, on the dispute over how to deal with the thriving wolf population in the state. Wolves compete with Native Alaskans and other hunters for moose and caribou meat. There's a stalemate over how much, if any, wolf hunting should be allowed, and whether hunters should be allowed to use airplanes to track wolves from the air before landing to shoot them. Preservationists are worried that too much hunting will wipe out the wolf population.

NPR's Guy Raz reports Germany is marks ten years since reunification today. Most observers agree the benefits for the formerly communist East outweigh the drawbacks. There's much talk of high unemployment in the East. But residents of former East Germany are enjoying higher standards of living. German and foreign leaders alike hailed the achievements of reunification at a ceremony in Dresden today. The architect of German unity, ex-chancellor Helmut Kohl, was notably absent from today's festivities. His reputation has been tainted by a political funding scandal.

Jean Battey Lewis reports on the Kennedy Center tribute to the great ballet choreographer George Balanchine, one of the 20th Century's most significant contributors to the art form. Six companies are performing during the celebration in Washington. They include members of the Bolshoi Ballet, the San Francisco Ballet, the Miami City Ballet, and Suzanne Farrell's Company. Conspiculously absent is the New York City Ballet, the company Balanchine created and made famous during his lifetime.

NPR's Eric Westervelt reports on allegations of police misconduct in the Washington, DC suburb of Prince George's County, Maryland. PG County police officers have shot 12 suspects in just over a year, killing five of them. The FBI is conducting a criminal investigation into the latest case, in which an undercover PG County detective killed an unarmed suspect after following him through the District of Columbia and into Fairfax County, Virginia. The Justice Department is considering whether to open a broader civil rights investigation into the various allegations.