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Classical music opinionator Fran Hoepfner says the energy of the 1990s piece matches the mood of this possibly post-pandemic summer.

Daniel talks to Dan Lungren, attorney general of the state of California, about a new telephone initiative his office has put into place. The MOLESTOR HOTLINE is a number citizens can call to see if someone they want to employ who will come into contact with children is listed in a data bank of convicted child molestors. The hotline has only been up and running for a month but so far, the attorney general's office reports, nearly 9 percent of the callers have found a match for their inquiry.

Alix Spiegel reports on a phenomenon happening in the backyards of teenage boys around the country -- wrestling. They are re-enacting the wrestling they see on TV, that strange mix of violence and theatre and sport. Spiegel visits Littleferry, N.J., where a group of high school students have put together a backyard stage with rope and plywood and mattresses. They videotape the event, where they kick, slam and bruise each other; occasionally they draw blood. The boys say most matches are choreographed so no one gets seriously hurt, but they say the pain they inflict actually bonds them to one another.

At age 12, Edward Llanos contracted a potentially fatal blood disorder called aplastic anemia. Fortunately, one of his brothers was a match for a bone marrow transplant. Now, a healthy 18-year-old, Edward interviews his family about his illness and discovers that it affected them in ways he couldn't recognize at the time.

The World Cup finals feature soccer that is elegant, powerful and artistic. But the quadrennial tourney holds no guarantees for providing music that matches the magic conducted on the pitch. In fact, some of it could only be filed under "A" for awful.

Growing budget deficits are forcing states across the nation to drastically cut or even eliminate funding for state arts councils. States pondering such measures include California, Oregon, New Jersey and Colorado. But the cost-cutting moves could jeopardize grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, which require states to match federal funds. NPR's Elizabeth Blair reports.

Shadowmancer, an allegorical novel for teens about the battle between good and evil, has become a British bestseller, been translated into 20 languages and optioned for the movies. In the United States, the book's publisher is declaring it 'hotter than Potter,' but some critics say first-time author G.P. Taylor's writing is no match for J.K. Rowling. Jeff Lunden reports.

The Bush administration castigated Congress on Friday for not passing comprehensive immigration legislation and proposed rules that would require employers to fire people whose Social Security numbers don't match that agency's records.

John Kerry has already begun looking beyond the primaries to a possible race against President Bush in the fall. Commentator Jay Bryant is a Republican political consultant, and he says that - if Kerry is the Democrat's choice - this could be two firsts for the 2004 campaign: the first time both parties' candidates have opted not to take Federal matching funds - and the first time it's been clear so early who the candidates will be.

David Greenberger reviews the latest CD from the surf guitar band "Los Straitjackets". The band is from Nashville, and when they perform they like to wear Mexican wrestling masks, medallions, and matching black turtlenecks. But their music is distinctively surf music — with many original tunes, and some eclectic covers, like Louis Prima and the love theme from the film Titanic. The music is all about surprise, invention, and good taste. (3:30) Los Straitjackets latest disc is on the YepRoc Records label.