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Tess Vigeland of member station WBUR reports that the Boston Latin School has settled out of court with a family that sued the school to protest a special entrance provision for minority students. As part of the settlement, the city's school board will drop special racial admissions categories for the city's prestigious Boston Latin School, and for two other top schools. The student and her family sued after she was denied admission despite receiving higher test scores than some minority students who were admitted.

NPR's Martha Raddatz reports that a number of former military officials are waging a high-profile campaign to pressure the United States to seek the elimination of all nuclear weapons. Retired Air Force General George Lee Butler today called for such a policy and said that nuclear weapons are costly, dangerous and indefensible. He had been the commander of the U.S. nuclear arsenal before retiring. Sixty generals and admirals from around the world are expected to release a statement tomorrow also calling for the reduction of nuclear arms.

NPR's Martha Raddatz reports that President Clinton today announced his choices for a new national security team, nominating Republican Senator William Cohen of Maine as defense secretary and U.N. ambassador Madeleine Albright as the nation's first female secretary of state. He also named his national security advisor, Anthony Lake, to head the CIA and has asked Lake's deputy, Samuel "Sandy" Berger, to fill Lake's job. They were the first of several announced cabinet changes expected for the second Clinton administration.

NPR's Sunni Khalid reports on changes in the economy of Syria. The country has been governed by President Hafez al-Assad since 1970, and for most of that time the economy has been under his tight controls as well. But five years ago, the government enacted Public Law Number 10, which relaxed the government's control of production and trade. Since that time, Syrian consumers have had access to more foreign goods, and more Syrian-made products are for sale in the rest of the world.

NPR's Ted Clark reports that the United States and other nations are rethinking the scope and mandate of a proposed multinational military force for Zaire. The sudden return of about half-a-million Rwandan refugees over the weekend dramatically altered the humanitarian situation along the Rwanda/Zaire border. Rwanda says there is no longer a need for a force, but the US and others point out that there are still an estimated half-million refugees stranded elsewhere in Zaire, cut off from food and water by fighting between Zairean rebels and exiled Rwandan militias.

NPR's Elizabeth Arnold reports that Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole and running mate Jack Kemp went to Capitol Hill today for what amounted to a pep rally with congresional Republicans, many of whom are discouraged by Dole's lagging numbers in the public opinion polls. Dole told his colleagues that he would win the presidential race and that they should not be discouraged. He said he would try to help other Republican candidates where he could, but would also stay away from some races, if that would help too.

NPR's Melissa Block reports that with the New York Yankees in the World Series for the first time since 1981, Yankee fans are thrilled. Some optimistic ticket-seekers were still waiting in line today outside Yankee Stadium. Scalped tickets, many of them counterfeit, are being sold for hundreds of dollars; ticket brokers are getting as much as $1800 for box seats. Souvenir stands are doing landmark business on Derek Jeter t-shirts and Yankees caps. And most fans say owner George Steinbrenner should quit talking about moving the team, and leave the Bronx Bombers in the Bronx, in the House That Ruth Built.

- N-P-R's Jennifer Ludden reports on the delayed efforts of Zaire to hold democratic elections. In 1990, President Mobutu Sese Seko (moh-boo-TOO say-SEE say-KOH) mandated that Zaire hold democratic elections in 1995. Elections were never held and, one year later, reform groups are calling on Mobutu to follow his 1990 mandate. In calling for elections, reformers are identifying Mobutu and his corrupt government as the primary reason for the delay in Zaire's transition to democracy. But Zaire's troubles are not limited to governmental corruption; logistical and organizational problems abound.

The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty signed today at the United Nations bans nuclear tests in the atmosphere and underground, and it sets up a monitoring system to spot violations. There are flaws, however. A provision in the treaty requires legislative ratification in 44 potential nuclear states. India has refused to sign until all countries with nuclear weapons devise a timetable for destroying all their weapons. NPR's Ted Clark reports that despite those flaws, the treaty is a political consensus that will apply pressure for all countries to comply.

NPR's Brooke Gladstone offers a progress report on television industry efforts to come up with a ratings system for its programming. The giant telecommunications law passed last year gave television a year to devise a plan of its own or face one imposed by the federal government. Although a final announcement on the ratings system isn't scheduled until later this month, details are filtering out. And some lawmakers and parents' advocates don't like what they're hearing.