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about the expanding political crisis in Colombia. This week Colombia's legislature begins an extraordinary session to deal with allegations that President Ernesto Samper accepted millions of dollars from the Cali drug cartel for his 1994 presidential campaign.

presidential caucuses next Tuesday, before New Hampshire or Iowa. Republican candidates have been divided in their campaign strategies.

NPR's David Molpus reports that an estimated eight million working Americans are now -- or soon will -- be providing substantial care for an elderly relative. For most people, providing care while continuing to work is stressful. Now, some employers are taking steps to ease the burden of providing care for elderly relatives.

Commentator Paul Durrenberger says that the Superbowl is one of our main national observances. It is purified ritual and as gripping as any celebration that was invented earlier. He figures we must be a nation starved for drama -- so much so that we have to create our own. We lack the public spectacles of the Romans, Greeks and Mayas and so we demand it from our professional sports.

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NPR's Chitra Ragavan talks to federal workers who went back to work today. Federal workers had been kept off the job first by the federal budget impasse, and then by the blizzard. With more snow on the way, and budget talks uncertain, the future remains up in the air.

Satire from Harry Shearer.

Danny goes to the National Zoo here in Washington to examine efforts to teach orangutans how to communicate with humans. The zoo has developed an exhibit called "The Think Tank". We meet with Rob Shumaker, one of the key researchers at The Think Tank who shows us how he's teaching the orangutans a new, specially developed language of symbols. The hope, Shumaker says, is that one day the orangs will learn enough of this symbolic language that communication between humans and primates would be possible, at least on a limited basis.

due to go before the Supreme Court today on the copyright relating to computer software. >

Patrick Cox of member station W-B-U-R reports from coastal Massachusetts on the snow's impact and concerns about high tide and coastal flooding.