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Last week, writer Dawn Langley Simmons died. She was the author of over 20 books, including novels, biographies, and children's books. But perhaps her most remarkable creation was her identity. Simmons was born in England as Gordon Langley Hall. She was born with a sexual abnormality, and though raised as a boy, considered herself female. She later had a sex change operation, and changed her name to Dawn. Writer Jack Hitt talks to Robert about Dawn Langley's tempestous life.

Texas writer Kim Lane thinks she has seen an apparition of the Virgin Mary in her coffee cup. She wishes she had gotten a clear message about what exactly this vision means.

The Australian press is heralding Aboriginal athlete Cathy Freeman as a symbol of reconciliation between blacks and whites in that country. She won the Gold Medal in the 400 meters. Noah talks with Australian Senator Aden Ridgeway -- the only aboriginal member of federal parliament -- about racial tension in Australia and why he feels the government needs to apologize for the treatment of Aborigines.

C.J. Hunter, the world champion in the shot put and the husband of sprinter Marion Jones, has tested positive for steroids. As NPR's Tom Goldman reports, US track officials were aware of Hunter's test result in mid-August but kept it confidential. Now that it has been disclosed in the middle of the Olympics, the news could become a major distraction to Jones in her pursuit of five gold medals.

Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore addressed a group of senior citizens in St. Petersburg, Florida today. Billed as a major policy address, today's speech was designed to draw a sharp contrast between Gore's prescription drug plan and that of his Republican rival George W. Bush. The Bush campaign quickly accused his opponent of making up facts about the Texas Governor's Medicare plan, as the presidential race enters its final two weeks. NPR's Anthony Brooks is with the Gore campaign today.

William Wilcoxen of Minnesota Public Radio reports on the expected guilty plea today of Jan Ganglehoff, a former office manager for the University of Minnesota's men's basketball team. As part of an expected plea bargain, Ganglehoff will testify against former coach Clem Haskins, who she says knew about the cheating.

Formula One Grand Prix auto racing is back in the United States for the first time in ten years. The race was held in Indianapolis Sunday and drew an enormous television audience worldwide. Jason Paur reports.

For insight about how Serbs are reacting to the election, Robert talks to Bratislav Grubacic, an independent analyst whose VIP News Services publishes English-language newsletters in Belgrade. Grubacic says it's apparent to him that though few people expected Milosevic to lose the election, they now seem to accept that he's lost.

NPR's Guy Raz reports Germany is marks ten years since reunification today. Most observers agree the benefits for the formerly communist East outweigh the drawbacks. There's much talk of high unemployment in the East. But residents of former East Germany are enjoying higher standards of living. German and foreign leaders alike hailed the achievements of reunification at a ceremony in Dresden today. The architect of German unity, ex-chancellor Helmut Kohl, was notably absent from today's festivities. His reputation has been tainted by a political funding scandal.

NPR's Anthony Brooks reports on what both Vice President Al Gore and Texas Governor George W. Bush need to do in their debate tonight. With polls showing the two presidential candidates running in a dead heat, and indications that the broadcast might reach an audience of 75-million Americans, what happens tonight could go a long way in determining who will be the 43rd president of the United States.