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One of President Clinton's top goals for his second term is to improve the nation's education system. NPR's Mara Liasson reports that in the coming year, the president will push for the passage of a college tuition tax credit and for federal funding of a national literacy program, in an effort to stop the slide of America's elementary and secondary schools.

NPR'S MaryKay Magistad reports that Secretary Warren Christopher met today with China's top leaders to forge a better relationship between the United States and China. Though there was no official statement made, progress was made on several issues, including nuclear non-proliferation.

John Dillon reports Vermonters are worried the results of last week's election might be felt in the Green Mountain State. Vermont enjoyed significant power while Democrats controlled the United States Senate. Now the GOP's on top, and Sens. Jim Jeffords and Patrick Leahy may be out in the cold.

NPR's John Ydstie reports from Washington, where the World Bank and International Monetary Fund are holding their spring meetings this weekend. Global growth tops their agenda, and ministers say prospects for the future are good.

Robert Siegel talks to Margo Wallstrom, the European Commission's top environmental official, about her visit to Washington today, and her discussion with EPA Administrator Christie Whitman. Wallstrom conveyed strong European concerns about the decision by the Bush administration not to ratify the Kyoto treaty on greenhouse gas emissions.

NPR's David Welna reports on today's action in the House of Representatives on the proposed repeal of estate taxes. The plan would reduce the top rate of 55 percent to 39 percent by 2010, and then phase it out altogether in 2011. It's a move that is expected to cost $193 billion over the next 10 years.

Top officials of the 9/11 Commission, Thomas Kean and Lee Hamilton, push Congress to pass an intelligence reform bill. NPR's David Welna reports.

A new collection of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers DVDs from Warner Home Video is out, called the Astaire and Rogers Collection, Vol. 1. It includes "Top Hat" and "Swing Time."

The top of 14,000-foot Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano on the big island of Hawaii, is one of the last best places to do astronomy. But astronomers now have devised a way to make "the seeing," as they call it, even better. Join NPR's Christopher Joyce for a visit to Mauna Kea.

Baghdad's nearly 5 million residents prepare for a war that seems inevitable. The streets of Baghdad are surprisingly calm, and a top aide to Saddam Hussein appears in public to refute rumors he had defected. NPR's Anne Garrels reports.