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The US women's softball team won a gold medal at the Sydney Olympics Tuesday in the hardest possible fashion. As NPR's Tom Goldman reports, the team was considered unbeatable after a two-year winning streak of 112 games. But it lost three straight games in the early round of competition, nearly putting it out of medal contention. The US then fought back and swept the three teams -- China, Australia and Japan -- it lost to earlier in the tournament.

NPR's Larry Abramson reports the Supreme Court will NOT hear a direct appeal of the Microsoft case. Instead, the landmark anti-trust suit will go the a federal appeals court first. The decision is a setback for the Justice Department, which wanted the Supreme Court to hear the case without first going through the Court of Appeals.

NPR's Julie McCarthy reports from Prague that demonstrators rioted in the streets of the Czech capital today as the International Monetary Fund and World Bank formally opened their annual summit. The protesters -- who see the IMF and World Bank as evil forces of "globalization" -- threw gasoline bombs, rocks and bottles at police. Inside the convention center, the meetings got under way without interruption.

NPR's Kathleen Schalch reports that lawmakers on Capitol Hill are holding another hearing today on violence in TV and video games. Earlier this month the Federal Trade Commission, issued a report stating that the entertainment industry was peddling inappropriate materials to children. The FTC also said it was encouraged to see the industry was paying attention to the call for improved self-regulation.

Two stories on the Presidential campaign: NPR's Anthony Brooks reports on Democratic nominee Al Gore's appearance last night on MTV's Choose or Lose program, where he answered questions from college students. NPR's Andy Bowers reports on Republican nominee George W. Bush's appearance on CNN with Larry King. Host Larry King interviewed Governor Bush and his wife, Laura.

Osnos' new book focuses on coal country in West Virginia; hedge fund culture in Greenwich, Conn.; institutional racism in Chicago and why Democrat Joe Manchin holds remarkable sway in the Senate.

Despite the eruption on the Canary island that has sent thousands fleeing, including some 500 tourists, Spain's tourism minister said visitors should stay and "enjoy what nature has brought us."

Commentator Joe Wright went to an experimental school when he was a child. At first, they had no rules, but as time went on, the instructors needed to add rules so that things didn't get out of hand. When he was older, he moved to San Francisco, where there were lots of adults who were trying to get rid of rules. But Joe found that sometimes you need rules -- not a lot, just a few. (4:00)

Banning Eyre has a review of Un Gran Dia en el Barrio, or A Great Day in the Neighborhood, by the Spanish Harlem Orchestra. The band is made up of veteran New York musicians, but they play together for the first time on this new CD. (Atlantic Records ASIN: B00006IZNW ) (4:00)

The Colombian indie rock band performs a colorful and funky four-song set from their home country's capital, Bogotá.