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Jinny Savolainen was looking for a sense of purpose when the pandemic hit Leverett, Mass. "Just when things seemed so dark, I found some light in the words of the people all around me," she said.

Host Lisa Simeone talks with Rob Bamberger about the life and music of Mildred Bailey (1903-1951). Bailey was a popular singer of the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. She sang with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, and was married to bandleader and xylophone player, Red Norvo. Rob Bamberger is the host of the radio program, Hot Jazz Saturday Night, on member station WAMU,Washington DC (www.wamu.org) and on NPR Worldwide, NPR's international service. Listeners can reach Rob by e-mail at "hotjazz@wamu.org". A new re-mastered collection of Mildred Bailey's Columbia 78s is on Mosaic Records (www.mosaicrecords.com).

Kayla Rosenfeld from Hawaii Public Radio reports on a science program in which middle-school students to do field research. This year it's based in Hawaii, where they're doing everything from tracking endangered species to chasing hot lava from volcanoes.

Dan Olsen of Minnesota Public Radio reports from St. Paul on the life and political career of Harold Stassen. The former Republican Governor, who died Sunday, ran for president nine times but never won national office. Although Stassen was considered one of the country's most promising politicians when he was first elected Governor of Minnesota, his name gradually became associated with electoral futility.

Amita Sharma of member station KPBS reports on a new database at the San Diego County public defenders office. The program will help track complaints against police officers ranging from civil offenses to family court charges. Public defenders say such information could be used to identify "problem officers" or to question their credibility in court. But police unions warn it could be abused and might deter people from joining the force.

Host Bob Edwards describes fighting that broke out over the release of Nike's new athletic shoe -- the gray Retro Air Jordan Eleven.

Sam Eaton of member station KUOW reports on a new kind of pawn shop. In suburban Seattle, the upscale 'Yuppie Pawn Shop' stocks Rolex watches, fine art and even a Mercedes.

Host Bob Edwards talks with NPR's Rob Gifford. In Beijing, Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji has begun talks with the nation's Congress about the future of China's economy.

Listener Comments. There were so many comments about Renee Montagne's interview about the Cajun country Mardi Gras, that Renee talked again with folklorist Barry Ancelet, Professor at the University of Louisiana at Lafeyette. Check out the Mardi Gras Gumbo recipe.

NPR's Tom Gjelten reports on today's opening of a military inquiry into the sinking of a Japanese fishing boat by a U.S. Navy submarine. Nine people died in the accident. The outcome of the proceedings could change the way individual responsibility is defined in the modern military.