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NPR's Nina Totenberg reports that the Supreme Court has ruled that it's unconstitutional for public hospitals to test pregnant women for illegal drugs and, without their permission, give the results to police for possible prosecution. The arrangement between doctors at a public hospital in South Carolina and local police was designed to identify pregnant women using crack, and protect their fetuses. The 6-to-3 decision concludes that such an arrangement between doctors and police violates the Constitution.

NPR's Michelle Kelemen reports that with the descent of the Russian Space Station Mir, Russian space officials and cosmonauts wonder where their next job will be.

NPR's Elizabeth Arnold reports that the Bush administration is rescinding environmental regulations that were approved in the last days of Bill Clinton's presidency. The latest rules to be reversed include one that requires the mining industry to post clean-up bonds and another that would reduce arsenic content in drinking water.Earlier, the Bush administration cancelled a rule that would have required lower carbon dioxide emissions from power plants.

NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports that Vatican officials have been ordered by Italy's environment minister to reduce the power of the radio transmitters that broadcast the Pope's speeches.

Host Bob Edwards talks with Sen. John McCain, Republican from Arizona, about the campaign finance reform debates. Supporters of proposed McCain-Feingold bill are trying to restrict the amount of money that can be used for national campaigns. McCain says this would make incumbents to vote against something that keeps them in office.

Ed Sanders, a former Yippie; member of the Fugs; and author of the bestseller about Charles Manson called, The Family, has embarked on a multi-volume history of North America in verse. Volume Two, which has just been published covers 1940 to 1961. Sanders envisions eight volumes. He's starting in the 20th century and working backwards. From New York, Tom Vitale reports.

Commentator Merrill Matthews says don't blame the drug companies for not giving away their products. He argues that drug companies are not the most profitable companies and that they function like any other company marking up their products to cover the costs of produciton and distribution. If drug companies just give away their products, they won't have the funds to do the kind of research that leads to innovations and cures.

Host Bob Edwards talks with singer-songwriter John Hiatt during his recent visit to NPR's Studio 4A. Hiatt performs songs from his new Vanguard CD, Crossing Muddy Waters.

Host Bob Edwards talks with plant expert Ketzel Levine about a camellia plant in his garden which is flowering in many colors. Levine says this quirk of the camellia is why the plant has so many varieties. Visit NPR's Talking Plants Web site for more on the camellia.

In the final story in Morning Edition's series on literacy, NPR's Claudio Sanchez reports from Knoxville, Tennessee, on the inability of many college students to write college-level essays. Many four-year colleges are raising admissions standards or scaling back on remedial classes, so a good deal of remedial education now takes place at community colleges. Sanchez examines why American high schools graduate so many students who are ill-prepared for the rigors of college work.