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Spending by outside groups likely to keep Republican challenger competitive in Kentucky governor’s race.

NPR's Mary Ann Akers reports that the Bridgestone/Firestone company is blaming a faulty tire design and manufacturing processes at an Illinois factory for defective tires linked to 148 traffic deaths. After a four-month investigation, the tire maker cited the design of the 15-inch ATX tires and the unique way the rubber was processed at its Decatur, Illinois, plant. But the report also puts some blame on the Ford Explorer. Many of the accidents involved Explorers fitted with the Firestone tires. The report says Ford's recommended pressure for the tires was too low.

Reports today indicate there's a ceasefire in place for Chechnya. Interfax News in Moscow is reporting that the head of Russian security, Alexander Lebed, and the Chechen chief of staff have signed an agreement to stop all military action at 3 AM Eastern Daylight Time tomorrow. Earlier in the day, before the ceasefire was announced, Russian President Boris Yeltsin took a swipe at his security chief. He criticized Lebed in a television interview saying he is not completely satisfied with Lebed and his work in Chechnya. NPR's Anne Garrels reports from Moscow.

The Treasury Department today released its report on the participation of dozens of its agents in the Good Ol' Boys Roundup, an annual gathering of law enforcement officials that allegedly included racist activities. Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin said 31 officers will be investigated, some for witnessing racist behavior or taking government cars to the Roundup, and others for participatung for a number of years. The report also recommends that the Department issue new regulations forbidding officers to express any racist, sexist, or otherwise biased sentiments, even when they are off-duty. NPR's Peter Kenyon reports.

On Tuesday, reporters, editors, advertising, and circulation staff went on strike at Seattle's two daily newspapers: the Times and the Post-Intelligencer. Within an hour, they'd set up a website under the old (the name dates back to 1919) Union Record name and reporters who'd been competing for scoops just hours before were working together on an online alternative to the two dailies. The Times and Intelligencer are still being published, but in pared down form, by management. From member station KUOW FM, Marcie Sillman reports.

The U.N. warns that without a major de-escalation in violence, Afghanistan is on course to have the highest ever number of documented civilian casualties in a single year since record-keeping began.

The report says 17-year-old Cedric Lofton's heart and breathing stopped after he was handcuffed while lying on his stomach following a physical struggle with staff at a juvenile center.

The Pentagon is investigating reports that U.S. Marines massacred Iraqi civilians in the Iraqi town of Haditha last November. The unit involved initially reported that 14 civilians and a Marine died in an explosion. Later reports said the Marine died in an explosion, but as many as 24 Iraqi civilians were shot.

The watchdog's reporting comes in the wake of several high-profile deaths in federal lockups in recent years, most notably the murder James "Whitey" Bulger and the suicide of Jeffrey Epstein.

The United Nations is reporting that perhaps as many as four thousand Rwandans have been killed at a refugee camp. Daniel talks with New York Times reporter Donatella Lorch who was at the Kibeho refugee camp when the Rwandan Army started shooting into a crowd of stampeding refugees.