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NPR's Claudio Sanchez reports on a Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup poll that finds more Americans than ever support public education, and reforming rather than changing the system. The annual poll finds for the first time that low funding for schools is listed as the number one problem. Poll respondents of both parties say that the federal government should give schools more money without no strings attached. They see Democrats as more friendly to public schools than Republicans in general, but they see Al Gore and George W. Bush as equally good for public schools.

Some researchers have been advising parents to reduce the fat in their children's diets to reduce the kids' risk of developing heart disease. But young children -- especially infants -- need some fat in their diets for normal growth. Now, NPR's Jon Hamilton reports a study of a group of children indicates that low fat diets may NOT have a negative effect on their growth.

NPR's Sarah Chayes reports from Basque country of northwest Spain on the recent wave of terrorist attacks by the ETA separatist movement. Thousands of Spaniards turned out today to the two latest victims -- two police officers killed by a bomb yesterday. Militants say ETA broke an 18-month cease-fire, because the government failed to make any overtures to the guerrillas during the truce. But moderate Basque politicians, including some who initially supported the ETA movement years ago, say extremists hijacked the separatist cause.

An Indian immigrant allegedly murdered her children to spare them the shame of divorce. The court is weighing whether holding different cultural beliefs mitigates the crime. Commentator Lis Wiehl feels she deserves compassion, but that excusing the murder could open the floodgates for other immigrants to use a similar defense.

Neurosurgeon FRANK VERTOSICK continued.T.B.A.12:58:30 NEXT SHOW PROMO (:29) PROMO COPY On the next fresh air managing chronic pain. . . a talk with neurosurgeon FRANK VERTOSICK (verh-TAH-sick). He's the author of the new book "Why We Hurt." Join us for the next fresh air.

The Pain Relief Promotion Act would establish that the alleviation of suffering is a "legitimate medical purpose" for potent drugs. The bill also would reassert a federal ban on dispensing drugs for doctor-assisted suicide. Commentator Joe Loconte likes the bill, and tells us why.

NPR's Melissa Block reports from Hannibal, Missouri on the Gore-Lieberman campaign. The Democratic candidates have been making stops, giving speeches, and fielding questions along the Mississippi River since their convention ended last week.

NPR's Linda Gradstein reports that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has proposed a civil reform plan that would eliminate many of the privileges granted to ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel.

Commentator Bill Lessard -- an experienced dot-com employee himself -- says that all those perks you hear about at technology companies don't really add up to as much as workers think they're getting.

NPR's Martin Kaste reports on the growing political clout of Chile's native Mapuche Indians. Although timber companies hold the title to much of the country's valuable forest land, the Mapuche claim it belongs to them. They've occupied and set fire to some of the land. The timber companies remain unsympathetic, but other parts of Chilean society are beginning to consider the Mapuche's views.