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NPR's Ann Cooper reports from Moscow on the Russian presidential campaign. Russian President Boris Yeltsin today used the power of his incumbency to fire some hard-line generals, sign a decree to pull Russian troops out of Chechnya and sent money to some miners so they'll get paid before the run-off election. Communist candidate Gennady Zyuganov has been nearly invisible, but appears to be positioning himself for a role in the government if he loses to Yeltsin. Russian voters go to the polls a week from tomorrow to choose between Yeltsin and Zyuganov for the presidency of that nation.

NPR's David Welna reports on the recent firings of more than seven hundred officers of Mexico's federal police force. Some applaud the move as a sign that the government is serious about cleaning up Mexico's notorious law enforcement agencies. But critics say the way the purge was carried out undermines any real reform effort. The government failed to build criminal cases against most of the officers before they were fired, so many of them may end up back on the force.

Today is the 80th anniversary of the first recording of jazz. It was issued on Victor Records, and featured five New Orleans musicians - The Original Dixieland Jazz Band. John McDonough reports on how the raucous music was received at the time, and on the significance of the historic event for the future of recorded jazz. (7:30) (STEREO) Note: To locate Original Dixieland Jazz Band recordings. "ODJB: 75th Anniversary" RCA Bluebird catalog #61098-2. "Complete ODJB" on French RCA (Part of the Jazz Tribune series) catalog #66608-2.

Phyllis Joffe reports on the Fund for New American Plays, as it celebrates its 10th anniversary season. The Fund was established by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington and American Express, to encourage the creation of new American plays. At a time when alternatives to federal funding for the arts are increasingly in demand, the Fund was instrumental in getting such works off the ground as "The Kentucky Cycle," "The Heidi Chronicles," "Angels in America," and David Henry Hwang's "Golden Child," now at the Kennedy Center.

NPR's Pam Fessler reports on a bid by minority groups for the Census Bureau to release both the official 2000 census and the figures that include estimates of people the census takers missed. The bureau intends to release both numbers, but the incoming Bush administration could block release of the data compiled with statistical sampling techniques. Positions on the issue have typically broken along partisan lines, with Democrats supporting the enhanced figures. Republicans tend to say "sampling" adds population to Democratic-leaning areas. GOP members also say the basic headcount is more in keeping with the founders' intent for the census.

In the 1960s, the nation became accustomed to getting its White House news not just from Washington, but from a ranch in Texas owned by President Lyndon Baines Johnson. The LBJ Ranch was succeeded by President Richard Nixon's seaside residence at San Clemente California. Now, Americans will again have a "Western White House," this time in Crawford County, Texas, between Dallas and Austin: the home of President-elect George W. Bush. NPR's John Burnett paid a visit and gave us this report.

NPR's Barbara Bradley reports on Attorney General Janet Reno's order to release a Palestinian, who had been jailed for three years. His case is one of several in which the evidence was kept secret for national security reasons. Lawyers protested that the defendants didn't have enough information to defend themselves. In this case, Mazen Al-Najjar, was held in a Florida jail but not charged with any crime. The government has claimed he has links to Middle Eastern terrorists. He is in the country illegally. His student visa expired years ago.

The man accused of killing seven co-workers at a Wakefield, Massachusetts software company was arraigned in state court today. Michael McDermott pleaded not guilty and was ordered held without bail on seven counts of first degree murder. His lawyer said he had been undergoing psychiatric treatment before yesterday's shootings. Police say McDermott hid ammunition and a semi-automatic rifle in his office and he had bomb making material at home. Rachel Gotbaum of member station WBUR reports.

NPR's Julie Rovner reports the presidency is not the only thing Washington is waiting on. The other big question is what is going to happen on Capitol Hill. The unprecedented 50-50 senate is debating how much control each party will have and the house is turning over a large number of chairmen who have completed their terms. Normally, these positions would go to members of the party in power, but that has yet to be decided. For staffers this means it won't be time to unpack the boxes for a while and for Americans it means it will be a while before their Congress gets to work.

James Murray reports from Toronto that a local church is leading a campaign to perform marriages of gay couples that would be recognized under civil law. The church has begun the process of posting marriage banns for two homosexual couples before the congregation on three consecutive Sundays. Because of a loophole in provincial law in Ontario, the old Christian rite of posting marriage banns is the equivalent of obtaining a marriage license. Legal experts say this case and others like it eventually will force a ruling by Canada's Supreme Court.