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While the East Coast was inundated with snow this week, Alaska is experiencing a drought. Linda talks with Gary Hufford in Alaska, who we spoke to in December about the lack of snow there. The problem continues. He says he'd be happy to arrange to take the snow from the East Coast. The drought of snow poses problems for pipes, tourism, skiers and the dog sled races.

NPR's Tom Gjelten reports from Sarajevo on the battle over NATO policy in Bosnia. There is a tug-of-war between advocates of "mission creep" and "mission-shrink". Some want the NATO implementation force, known as IFOR, to take on added responsibilities beyond its initial mission. Others want IFOR to stick to the strict interpretation on the Dayton peace agreement.

Anti-government activists have set up so-called "common-law courts" which operate without judges or lawyers and focus on prosecuting banks and government agencies. Matt Algeo (AL-gee-o) from Minnesota Public Radio reports that although these courts are not legally legitimate, their numbers are growing.

The accordion was invented in the early 19th century and in that relatively short period of time, it has become an integral part of folk music throughout the world. Daniel talks with Michal Shapiro who produced a 3 cd collection of accordion music from across the planet. This compendium is especially interesting because much of the music defies the stereotype of accordion music as only good for polkas and German beer halls. Shapiro says one reason you find accordions in most countries is because missionaries brought them in as a substitute for church organs and though it's popular as a folk instrument, the accordion still struggles to be accepted as a "serious" instrument by the classical music world. The cd collection is called 'Planet Squeezebox' and is on the Ellipsis Arts record label.

Computer experts and police in California are trying military technology in troubled neighborhoods to track down gunshots. Too often residents direct police to the sound of gunshots. Reporter Chris Arnold in San Francisco says the experimental system employs an array of microphones to locate the source of a gunshot and immediately relays the information to police.

Commentator Marion Winik loves Martin Luther Kings birthday-- you get to honor a great human and you don't have to fuss for days and weeks ahead of time like you do for the other major holidays that precede it!

Daniel talks with Creed Jackson, a former construction contractor and consultant, about the do''s and don''ts when it comes to hiring a contractor for home renovations. Jackson says there''s a couple of things to be wary of - such as does the contractor have references, and a license, and does the customer know exactly what the contractor''s going to do for them?

problems for residents of the North East, also has caused havoc with crops in the Southeast. The storm brought with it extremely cold temperatures, which stretch as far south as Florida.

All Things Considered introduces Lunch Menu Man to the nation. David Price, a former used car salesman in Concord, North Carolina, has become a local celebrity with his new call-in service, in which he reads the school district's lunch menu.

In the first of a four part series on the gap between rich and poor in America, NPR's Margot Adler reports on the history of inequality in this country. She reports that America has always believed in political equality, but not necessarily economic equality. The income gap, which has risen and fallen at various times in U.S. history, has been widening for the last two decades.