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As Memorial Day approaches, public health officials are optimistic about the state of the nation's battle against the pandemic, but caution the pandemic is far from over.

General Motors has reached a settlement in a lawsuit resulting from a 1997 car accident. In the crash, a Chevrolet Chevette was struck by another vehicle, and burst into flames, killing the driver. The motorist's widow sued GM. The number-one automaker was sharply criticized by the judge in the case for its efforts to keep two key documents out of the proceedings. The documents date back to 1973 and 1981 and both relate of the potential cost of lawsuits from collisions where a gas-tank fire erupted. Robert speaks with NPR's Don Gonyea about the case.

NPR's Linda Gradstein reports Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has authorized construction in Jewish settlements on the occupied West Bank at a pace that exceeds that of his predecessor, former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanayhu. Palestinians and peace groups had hoped that in his stated quest for peace, Barak would freeze settlement building. The US has called settlement building an impediment to peace. But in his first three months in office there has been no freeze.

Linda talks to Nadine Selden of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies from her office in Istanbul. Selden says relief efforts are still underway for people effected by the earthquake in Turkey six weeks ago. The most recent aftershock was this morning. Selden says that ten-thousand winterized tents are being prepared for people who have no permanent housing.

Linda speaks with former New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley, who is competing with Vice President Gore for the Democratic Party's nomination for President. He joins us from Los Angeles.

NPR's Anthony Brooks reports on the latest change to the presidential primary and caucus schedule. New Hampshire, historically the nation's first primary state, announced it was moving its date back one week, to February 1, 2000, because Louisiana had moved theirs back to February 8. Iowa, whose caucuses were scheduled for January 31, may now have to move back to January 24. All in all, another bizarre indication of how the presidential season is starting earlier than ever.

On the government's fiscal calendar the new year begins Friday, and NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr says that it's not going to be a holiday.

NPR's David Kestenbaum reports on the first known death in a study of gene implantation. An 18-year-old Arizona man with a rare metabolic disease died in mid-September after undergoing the experimental therapy at the University of Pennsylvania. Experts say the fatality could force changes in the way these experiments are performed and may slow down the advance of so-called "gene-therapy."

NPR's David Welna reports that barring last minute roadblocks, Illinois Governor George Ryan will become the first sitting US governor to visit Cuba under Castro's rule, even though many in his party are denouncing the trip.

The political identity of composer Dmitri Shostakovich has been a topic of debate for decades.