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NPR's Mike Shuster reports on the latest squabble over NATO membership. This time the criticism is not coming from Russia, but from NATO members themselves.

Robert talks with Jon Miller in Lima, Peru, about the latest developments in the hostage situation at the residence of the Japanese ambassador. Negotiations are underway with leftist rebels who are holding as many as 490 captives, including senior Peruvian officials and numerous foreign diplomats. The guerrillas are demanding the release of imprisoned comrades, a ransom, and safe passage to Peru's jungles.

NPR's David Welna reports on Cuba's effort to increase food production by breaking its huge Soviet-style farm collectives into smaller farmer-run cooperatives. So far the project has had only limited success, largely because the co-ops are required to sell eighty percent of what they grow to the government, at artificially low official prices. In addition, the state controls what the co-ops produce. Critics say Fidel Castro doesn't want the co-ops to do too well because economic success would make them less dependent on the government.

Danny talks with Jaems Fox, Dean of the College of Criminal Justice at Northeastern University in Boston, about his reaction to recent statistics showing a national decrease in violent crime. Fox says while overall crime stats have gone down, the rate of juvenile crime is on the rise, and is likely to get worse unless cities establish more youth programs.

three run-off House races in Texas.

: Artistic Director MAURICE LEVINE. For 26 years he has been director of the 92nd Y's "Lyrics & Lyricist" series. It spotlights American lyricists and composers like Alan Jay lerner, Stephen Sondheim, and Dorothy Fields. The series has consistantly been a sell-out. LEVINE has also served as musical director/conductor/vocal arranger for Broadway shows and produced for television. Many of the "Lyrics & Lyricists" programs are available on CD, including "An Evening with Johnny Mercer" also Sheldon Harnick, Alan Jay Lerner, Sammy Kahn, and Kander and Ebb. (On the DRG label).

The Democratic National Committee today agreed to begin releasing information on its campaign finances during the first two weeks of October. Previously, the DNC had refused to file a pre-election report with the Federal Election Commission. The Republican National Committee today said it would seek an injunction to prevent the Democrats from spending any campaign money until the FEC report is properly filed. The DNC's record has come under scrutiny in recent weeks because of allegations that it had accepted illegal campaign contributions from foreign individuals and corporations. A former DNC fundraiser, who has been accused of facilitating such contributions, was deposed today in a case involving his work at the Commerce Department. NPR's Peter Overby reports.

Noah talks with NPR's Sylvia Poggioli in Belgrade where tens of thousands of demonstrators were in the streets for the tenth consecutive day. The protestors are angry because the government of President Slobodan Milosevic annuled the results of an election November 17th. Milosevic's party lost to the opposition. Re-run elections were held yesterday. Preliminary results indicate Milosevic's party won.

NPR's Nina Totenberg reports that the Supreme Court today heard arguments on whether Paula Jones' sexual harrassment suit against President Clinton can go forward while he is still in office. The court has ruled in the past that civil suits cannot be brought against a sitting president if they involve his official actions, but Jones' says that Clinton harrassed her while he was still governor of Arkansas. The president's attornies argued today that any suit against the president could interfere with his official duties and should be delayed. Jones' attornies said the president had same responsibilities as other citizens.

Federal researchers are reporting that the rate of sudden infant death syndrome has fallen by one-third over the past two years. They're giving credit to a national public awareness campaign that is teaching mothers to position infants on their backs when they sleep. NPR's Michelle Trudeau reports.