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Dan Olsen of Minnesota Public Radio reports from St. Paul on the life and political career of Harold Stassen. The former Republican Governor, who died Sunday, ran for president nine times but never won national office. Although Stassen was considered one of the country's most promising politicians when he was first elected Governor of Minnesota, his name gradually became associated with electoral futility.

Amita Sharma of member station KPBS reports on a new database at the San Diego County public defenders office. The program will help track complaints against police officers ranging from civil offenses to family court charges. Public defenders say such information could be used to identify "problem officers" or to question their credibility in court. But police unions warn it could be abused and might deter people from joining the force.

NPR's Brenda Wilson reports from Pretoria, South Africa on the opening day of a lawsuit that pits the global drug industry against the South African government. Over 36 drug companies are challenging a law that allows the government to import the cheapest medicine from the cheapest source. The companies say the law ignores their patent rights. The government says the law is necessary in order to afford desperately needed AIDS drugs.

NPR's Rob Gifford reports that China today announced the launch of an unmanned rocket it hopes eventually will carry astronauts into space. Currently, only Russia and the U.S. are capable of manned space flight. China says three or four more test flights will be needed before it attempts a manned flight. The Long March rocket blasted off from a launch center in the Gobi Desert and Chinese officials say it will be used to conduct experiments on the effects of space on life forms.

NPR's Jim Zarroli reports that American Airlines made it official today. It will acquire financially-troubled TWA. In a separate deal, American also announced that it is buying some of US Airways assets and will take a major stake in a startup airline, DC Air. American's parent corporation, AMR, gets TWA's 190 planes and 175 gates at airports around the country. American has also agreed to provide employment to almost all of TWA's 20,000 employees.

Scott Horsley of member station KPBS reports on the latest developments in California's electricity crisis. The US Department of Energy Department refuses to extend an emergency order that requires out-of-state power companies to supply electricity to California. The order expires at midnight tonight. California's electric system has been dangerously close to collapse, and some industrial customers have been asked to cut back in order to prevent rolling blackouts.

NPR's Pam Fessler reports on President-elect Bush's selection of a new Labor Secretary-designate and a US Trade Representative-designate. Elaine Chao is being tapped to follow Linda Chavez, who withdrew her name for the Labor Department. Robert Zoellick is in line for U.S. Trade Representative. At a news conference today, Bush also defended two other nominees, saying he will stand by John Ashcroft for Attorney General and Gayle Norton for Interior Secretary.

NPR's Jim Zarroli reports American Airlines is in talks to acquire Trans World Airlines, as part of a complex deal in which American would also agree to buy significant assets from US Airways. No deal is certain and the talks may still fall apart. TWA is the nation's eighth-largest airline. It has struggled for years and would have to file bankruptcy for a third time before any deal could go forward.

NPR's Brian Naylor reports on the withdrawal from consideration of George W. Bush's nominee for Labor Secretary. Linda Chavez's nomination ran into trouble after it was revealed that an illegal immigrant once lived in her home and did some chores. Chavez held a press conference this afternoon, announcing her decision to withdraw, but highlighting her intent to help people, and introducing several of the immigrants who she has helped establish themselves in the U.S.

NPR's Brenda Wilson reports on 11-year-old Nkosi Johnson, South Africa's youngest AIDS activist. At last summer's International AIDS conference, Nkosi made a moving speech, a plea really, for acceptance of people with AIDS. Now, he's in a coma, dying of the disease. But his courage and activism have left a mark on the country.