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Janet Heimlich reports from Austin that in last month's escape, seven inmates systematically overpowered their guards and staff at a Texas high security prison over two-and-a-half hours before escaping out the rear exit in a prison vehicle. That's according to a report released today by state prison officials. The seven are still at large, and appear to be well organized. They're now wanted in connection with killing a police officer in Irving, Texas. The report also cited at least two security lapses at the prison, which contributed to the escape.

Robert talks with NPR's Larry Abramson about the Federal Communications Commission's decision to grant conditional approval to America Online's acquisition of Time Warner. The 106-billion-dollar merger will create the largest media company in U.S. history.

NPR's Michele Keleman reports on the Pentagon report and White House statement admitting that American soldiers killed an unknown number of Korean refugees near No Gun Ri, at the beginning of the Korean War. President Clinton expressed regret at the loss of civilian lives but did not actually apologize on behalf of the United States.

Every workplace in China has a propaganda unit. The central government now calls them "publicity" departments. NPR's Rob Gifford reports that Chinese President Jiang Zemin addressed provincial chiefs of these propaganda units last night. The speech seemed remarkably out of step with today's China, a country in which people generally are far more interested in making money than in politics. The President said Marxism still is his guiding philosophy and that he would work to educate the Chinese people about Marxism, Leninism and Mao Zedong. Yet, couched in the language of Communist ideology was an acknowledgement that what both China and the Communist Party need is economic development.

Robert talks with Tania Branigan -- a reporter for the British daily newspaper The Guardian -- about the case of the naked defendant Vincent Bethell. Bethell had been held in jail for more than five months on charges of creating a public nuisance. Mr. Bethell refused to wear clothing to court. Remarkably, the judge allowed the trial to proceed.

President Bill Clinton has presided over one of the strongest economies in US history. But experts disagree on whether Clinton should receive credit for the boom. As part of NPR's series looking at the Clinton legacy, John Ydstie reports on the Clinton administration's period of prosperity.

NPR's Brian Naylor reports on Bush's newest nominee for Secretary of Labor, Elaine Chao .

NPR's Kathleen Schalch reports on President-elect Bush's naming of Robert Zoellick as United States Trade Representative. Bush also announced he intends to keep the post a Cabinet-level position.

Host Bob Edwards talks to Sue Bostrom of Cisco Systems about the firm's annual survey on Internet use. The study concludes the Internet is being used mostly by older businesses, not the newer ones.

Host Bob Edwards talks to NPR's Peter Overby about the Justice Department announcement last night that Indonesian financier James Riady will plead guilty to making illegal contributions to the Democratic Party and pay an eight-point-six million dollar fine. Riady will admit to a felony charge that he used corporate funds from his foreign company to reimburse contributors to the 1992 Clinton presidential campaign. Foreign campaign contributions are illegal under US law.