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NPR's Brian Naylor reports that the House has failed to override a presidential veto of a bill ending the marriage penalty. The President justified his veto by saying the bill did little to help middle income families.

Commentator Diana Nyad highlights the struggles of the unsung Olympic athletes...the alternates. These world-class competitors will sit on the sidelines for the next two weeks, waiting for their chance to compete.

NPR's Rob Gifford talks to ATC host Robert Siegel about today's execution of a high-level Chinese government official on charges of accepting bribes. Cheng Kejie, a vice chairman of the legislature, is the most senior official to be put to death in a widening anti-corruption campaign that now involves trials in five southeastern cities. Increasing public anger over official corruption is considered a major threat to domestic security and the government pledges to do something about it. But it's unclear whether the government is willing to take action against any and all officials, no matter their rank or connections.

It has not been an easy campaign so-far for Dick Cheney, the Republican nominee for vice president. Cheney has been White House Chief of Staff and Secretary of Defense, as well as a member of Congress. But this is his first exposure to the special scrutiny and pressure of a national campaign. NPR's Nina Totenberg traveled with Cheney and filed this report.

The day after a federal judge blasted the executive branch for its treatment of fired Los Alamos scientist Wen Ho Lee, the president and attorney general talked about Lee's treatment. Clinton says keeping Lee imprisoned without bail was unjustifiable, especially as negotiations were underway to let him go on a plea agreement. Earlier in the day, Reno had said she stood by the government's handling of the case. She said Lee had the opportunity from the beginning to talk frankly with investigators and get out of jail. NPR's Barbara Bradley reports.

NPR's Tovia Smith reports on the case of Rebecca Corneau, the Massachusetts cult member who was jailed last month in an effort to make sure her baby is born safely. Corneau has declined to appeal. Another pregnant woman, known as Barbara F., tried to challenge the ruling, saying it would have a chilling effect on *all* pregnant women. Yesterday, Massachusetts' highest court denied that effort.

NPR's Mandalit Del Barco reports on an ordinance before the West Hollywood City Council allowing landlords to ban smoking in their rental properties.

NPR's Michele Kelemen reports from Moscow on concerns about freedom of speech in Russia. Following last month's submarine crisis, President Vladimir Putin's advisors have drawn up a 46 page document insisting that Russians and the international community have a right to "truthful" information about state policy. But some newspapers suggest that the document's language is too vague to be of any use. Meanwhile, other legal developments have solidified protection for environmental whistle-blowers.

Signs marking California Historic Route 66 were being stolen almost as fast as they could be posted. Now the California Route 66 Association has a solution - stenciling the route number onto the pavement with paint. Robert talks with Maria Mutschler, treasurer of the California Route 66 Association.

Host Bob Edwards talks to Martin Goldsmith former host of NPR's Performance Today, about his book Inextinguishable Symphony: A True Story of Music and Love in Nazi Germany. The book tells the extraordinary story of his parents, two musicians who met while playing in the all-Jewish Kulturbund Orchestra in Nazi Germany. (7:33) Martin Goldsmith's book Inextinguishable Symphony: A True Story of Music and Love in Nazi Germany, published by Wiley.