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NPR's Julie McCarthy reports on today's lavish celebrations of the 100th birthday of the Queen Mother. The Queen Mum is still adored by millions of Britons who remember her refusal to leave London during the blitz. But today's extravagant festivities have prompted more criticism of the royals and the institution of the monarchy.

Writer ALEC WILKINSON remembers his friend and mentor WILLIAM MAXWELL who died Monday at the age of 91. Wilkinson is a staff writer for the New Yorker, and has been there since 1980.His book, –Midnights: A Year With the Wellfleet Police— (Hungry Mind Press) was recently released in paperback. (Note: this is a new interview, not a repeat.)We listen to rebroadcast of a 1995 interview with WILLIAM MAXWELL. MAXWELL was fiction editor of the New Yorker from 1936-1976 and worked with such authors as J.D. Salinger, John Cheever, John Updike, Eudora Welty and scores of others. MAXWELL was the author of a number of novels, including "Time Will Darken It," and "So Long, See You Tomorrow," as well as several short story collections. In 1995 a collection of his stories was published in the book "All The Days and Nights." John Updike has said Maxwell's voice is "one of the wisest in American fiction. It is, as well, one of the kindest. " (REBROADCAST from 3/29/95) (THIS INTERVIEW CONTINUES INTO THE SECOND HALF OF THE SHOW)12:28:30 FORWARD PROMO (1:29)12:29:00 I.D. BREAK (:59)12:

More and more people are leaving the suburbs behind for the conveniences of urban life in America's cities. The middle class return is having a negative effect, some say an inevitable effect on some of the people who never left. NPR's Byron Henderson reports.

Host Jacki Lyden talks with journalist Jim Robbins about the latest developments in the wildfires in Montana. Evacuation orders were lifted south of Helena and as many as 270 families can return home. FEMA director James Lee Witt toured fire damage yesterday and promised federal money. However, danger still looms for many families just outside of Helena including that of Jim Robbins. Robbins , who has been reporting on the fires for the New York Times. New fires are just eight miles from his door.

Writer and essayist Beverly Donofrio made a pilgrimage to Mexico from Los Angeles last year and she found redemption in part by hearing a song by Aaron Neville on her car's cassette tape machine. Donofrio's latest book is Looking for Mary, or The Blessed Mother and Me.

NPR's Melissa Block reports on the opening day of the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles, California. President Clinton and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton will address the convention tonight on a huge custom-made stage inside the Staples Center.

NPR's Jack Speer reports on the silence that could be coming soon to San Francisco's city hall. A new measure proposes a ban on cell phones in the building.

NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports that many unsuspecting women from former Communist countries in Eastern Europe are being sold like slaves and forced into prostitution in Western Europe by organized crime rings. Albanian gangs run the highly lucrative and extremely brutal sex slave trade in Italy. Poggioli talks to some women who were rescued and freed by Italian police.

NPR's Ina Jaffe reports on who is footing the bill for the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. Even though the government gives more that 13 million dollars to each major party, most of the money comes from large corporations and wealthy individuals.

Co-Host Renee Montagne talks with Sandra Feloman, President of the American Federation of Teachers, and Dennis Doyle, co-founder of school-net.com, about how the issue of education and school vouchers will play into this year's Presidential election.