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Tim Crowley of North Carolina Public Radio reports North Carolina like several other states is rethinking the effectiveness of private prisons. The state department of corrections recently cancelled a contract with the private Corrections Corporation of America allowing the company to run two medium security prisons. State officials say they were concerned with the quality of staff CCA provided. The company blames its staffing problems on the rural setting of the prisons and says it didn't mismanage the state's prisons.

Linda talks to Bill Buckholz, owner of Goodman Vending Service in Reading Pennsylvania, about problems the new five and ten dollar bills are causing for vending machine owners.

Writer JOYCE JOHNSON, talks about her relationship to Beat icon Jack Kerouac, and her new book, –Door Wide Open : A Beat Love Affair in letters— (Viking). In 1957, JOHNSON started a relationship with the then little-known writer Kerouac. 9 months later, Kerouacs Beat classic –On the Road— was published. JOHNSON will talk about her two-year, tumultuous love affair with Kerouac, how the publication of –On the Road— changed Kerouac, and shell talk about what it was like being young and female and part of the Manhattan bohemian scene. –Door Wide Open— contains many letters sent to JOHNSON by Kerouac. In addition to –Doors Wide Open,— JOHNSON is also the author of 3 novels, including –In the Night Cafi.— Her memoir –Minor Characters— won the National Book Critics Circle award, and her work has been published in major magazines including the New Yorker and Harpers. (THIS INTERVIEW CONTINUES IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE SHOW.)12:28:30 FORWARD PROMO (:29)12:29:00 I.D. BREAK (:59)12:

Scott Horsley of member station KPBS reports on aggressive trial lawyers who've sued the tobacco and gun industries and are now considering class action lawsuits against health maintenance organizations, drug makers, and liquor distillers. One such attorney is Dick Scruggs from Mississippi, who led the suit that won a 246-billion-dollar settlement for the states against cigarette makers and a 400-million-dollar fee for himself. Supporters of such lawsuits say they help reduce corporate irresponsibility Some critics say they're motivated by greed; other critics say that legislatures, not courts, should make social policy

Host Bob Edwards talks to Washington lawyer Michael Hausfeld who led the class action lawsuit on behalf of survivors of Nazi slave labor. Under a settlement signed this week, a foundation set up by Germany will pay out five billion dollars in compensation. Jews who worked as slave laborers will receive 7,500 dollars each. Forced laborers, mostly East Europeans, who were treated less harshly, will receive 2,500. More than a million people will be eligible to receive payment.

During 36 years as a pipeline inspector, Stanley Rychlicki walked an estimated 136,887 miles. He received a certificate this week from Guiness and may be entered into the next Guiness Book of Records as a World Record Holder.

Linda talks to NPR's Howard Berkes about the indictment of two officials who had headed Salt Lake City's Olympic Committee. The two are being charged with conspiracy, racketeering and mail and wire fraud.

At the World Exposition in Hannover, Germany, organizers are disappointed at the number of visitors. NPR's Guy Raz reports that the failure to draw large crowds could be in part due to globalization and modern technology that makes travel to World's Fairs seem less remarkable. The poor turnout may also be due to bad press and high prices.

Robert talks to Karin Helmstaedt, a reporter in Germany for the Toronto Globe and Mail about another Olympic scandal. This week, a German court sentenced two men involved in feeding steroids to East German athletes to help them in Olympic competition.

NPR's John Ydstie reports Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan gave an upbeat assessment of the U.S. economy today. Greenspan told members of the Senate Banking Committee the economy shows signs of slowing to a more sustainable pace and that reduces the risk of accelerating inflation. Stock and bond markets both rallied on the suggestion that Fed might leave interest rates alone when it meets next in August.