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with top grade academic qualifications were denied college eligibility last year by the NCAA. These rejections so angered parents, educators and governors that the NCAA has had to respond with new information to schools around the nation.

NPR's Debbie Elliot reports that, despite the attention that's been focused on black churches, arson is a major problem for houses of worship, regardless of the race of the congregation. Attorney General Janet Reno said today that preventing church fires and arresting the culprits remains at the top of the Justice Department priority list and federal officials recently met with church leaders in Mobile, Alabama to talk about arson prevention.

Liane speaks with NPR's Mark Schramm about the 31st Super Bowl contest, to be held tonight in New Orleans. The New England Patriots and the Green Bay Packers are vying for football's top honor. Liane and Mark discuss team strategy, the news about Patriot's coach Bill Parcells (who may jump to another team after the game) and the hoopla surrounding the game and the television broadcast.

The Senate Armed Services committee questioned Army officials today about allegations that senior members of the service have sexually harassed women under their command. Before the hearing, the New York Times published charges by a retired sergeant major that her then-boss, the top enlisted man in the Army, had harassed her and other officials took no action on her complaints. NPR's Barbara Bradley has a report.

in deciding whether to recertify Mexico's cooperation in the war against drugs. Mexico's top drug enforcement official was fired last week for possibly accepting bribes from a drug cartel. Despite the detention and dismissal of General Jesus Gutierrez Rebollo, the U.S. is expected to approve Mexico's recertification.

in Japan related to the Aum religious cult. A senior police officer did not report a junior officer, who was a member of the Aum cult, after he confessed to having tried to kill the country's top-ranking policeman.

Host Liane Hansen is joined by David Corn of The Nation agazine and Kate O'Beirne (O-BURN) of The National Review magazine in a iscussion of the week's top news events, including, the American cruise issile attacks in Iraq, the public admission by Russian President Boris eltsin that he will undergo heart surgery, and how Bob Dole and President linton will incorporate good news on the economy into their campaigns for the hite House.

While the main focus of this week's Republican convention is the nominations of Bob Dole and Jack Kemp to head the GOP presidential ticket, several others in San Diego have at least one eye on the year 2000 and their prospects for topping the GOP ticket then. One of the best ways potential candidates can increase their stock in the party is to be a big booster for this year's candidate. NPR's Mara Liasson reports.

Robert talks with David Frei (FRY), who has provided color commentary for the USA Network's coverage of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show since 1990. He is also one of the world's top breeders of Afghan Hounds. They discuss the technical aspects of judging dog shows, and why this year's winner of the coveted "Best In Show" award...a Standard Schnauzer named Champion Parsifal di Casa Netzer...won the prize.

Bluesy Blind Pig Records has now been around 25 years -- a long life span for an independent. It grew from a basement operation in Michigan to one of music's top specialty labels. Hear from NPR's John Ydstie, Blind Pig co-founder Edward Chmelewski and singer Deborah Coleman.

Pianist and Singer Hadda Brooks, known as "Queen of the Boogie," died last week at the age of 86. Brooks rose to fame in 1945 with the song, "Swingin' the Boogie." The song also helped launch the top West Coast rhythm and blues label, Modern Records. NPR's Bob Edwards has a remembrance.

NPR's Phillip Davis reports on an exhibition in Miami that is trying to take a fresh look at Christmas music. Sound artist Christian Marclay has challenged some of the city's top DJ's to take his collection of Christmas music and remix the material into sonic and artistic collages. The exhibit is called "The Sounds of Christmas" at Miami's Museum of Contemporary Art.

Mechanical engineer Don Gilmore has the key to a persistent musical problem: how to keep a piano perpetually in tune. The top-selling line of Story-Clark grand pianos will soon be outfitted with Gilmore's self-tuning device. Hear from Gilmore and NPR's John Ydstie.

South Koreans are voting in presidential elections, and an unexpected issue surfaces to dominate election campaigning: South Korea's relationship with the United States. Both top contenders have tapped into growing anti-American sentiment. NPR's Eric Weiner reports.

Linda talks with Paul Burka, Executive Editor of the Texas Monthly, about people from President-elect Bush's inner circle in Austin who will be joining him in Washington. Burka talks about Bush's top White House adviser, Karen Hughes; senior White House adviser Karl Rove; and Bush's choice for Federal Emergency Management Agency director, Joe Allbaugh.

NPR's Ted Clark reports the State Department has recommended disciplinary action against six employees because of a missing laptop that contained highly classified information. In a related development, one of the nation's top diplomats, Ambassador Stapleton Roy, has decided to retire early. His deputy, Donald Keyser, is among the six employees targeted for disciplinary action designed to address concerns about security procedures at the State Department.

The top U.S. commander in northern Iraq says that this week's deadly attack on a U.S. base near the city of Mosul may have been the work of a suicide bomber wearing an Iraqi military uniform. Brig. Gen. Carter Ham says he is concerned the attack's success may encourage similar attempts. NPR's Vicky O'Hara reports.

The 62nd annual Golden Globe Awards were held in Beverly Hills last night. Acting winners included Leonardo DiCaprio, Hilary Swank, Jamie Foxx and Annette Bening. Sideways and The Aviator won the top film awards. Clint Eastwood was named best director for Million Dollar Baby.

Two new reports extend blame for abuses at Abu Ghraib to the Pentagon's top leaders. But neither calls for the punishment of anyone more senior than brigade commanders at the prison -- infuriating critics who say Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld should resign.

Seven candidates are vying to replace retiring Louisiana Democratic Sen. John Breaux in Tuesday's election. In Louisiana, if one candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote, he automatically wins the Senate seat. But if he doesn't, the top two vote-getters advance to a run-off in December. Hear NPR's Andrea Seabrook.