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N-P-R's Patricia Neighmond reports that doctors have announced that a 63-year-old Californian had a child last year, making her the oldest woman to ever give birth. This provides scientists with new ideas about the aging of the reporductive systems, but may add to the ethical dilemmas of fertility technology.

NPR's Ina Jaffe reports on a plague that is threatening the sunny image of Beverly Hills. Something is causing some of the city's signature palm trees to lose their heads. The tops, or crowns, of a number of trees have simply broken off and crashed to the ground. But with $1.5 million in its "urban forestry" budget, the city is working hard to root out the cause and keep it from spreading. After all, just imagine what a palm crown weighing a ton and a half could do if it fell on someone's Ferrari!

Commentator Lenore Skenazy (skuh-NAY-zee) says that gift shops have become too upscale and too environmentally sensitive. Lenore laments the loss of stupid souvenir items of the past.

A flagrant, stubborn pro-smoking essay from commentator Guillermo Gomez-Pena (ghee-YAIR-moh GOH-mez PAYN-yuh). He calls it his criminal passion...and claims that attempts to restrict smokers are an intervention of government in our private lives. (3:30) ((ST

Senator Barbara Boxer about Congressional reaction to President Clinton's announcement today to recertify Mexico's anti-drug efforts.

Danny speaks with NY Times correspondent Chris Hedges about accused war criminal Radovan Karadzic and his current profiteering.

-- N-P-R's Richard Gonzales reports that a federal judge has struck down a California initiative placing term limits on legislators and barring them from standing for office ever again. The lifetime ban was deemed an unconstitutional limit on voter choice.

Ray talks with Beth Luman, a statistician with the fetal alcohol syndrome prevention section of the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. They discuss a study that indicates the levels of harmful drinking by pregnant women increased fourfold between 1991 and 1995.

Korva talks with Lee Ballard, whose company, "Name One," names products and services. Ballard gives us a crash course in how to create fun and memorable names.

NPR's Michelle Trudeau reports on a study concerning patients with moderately severe Alzheimer's Disease. It seems that those who were given vitamin E -- which protects brain cells -- progressed more slowly to the more debilitating stages of the disease.