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NPR's Patricia Neighmond reports on a new study showing that HMOs and other health plans save money when they provide comprehensive treatment to diabetics. The study, published in today's Journal of the American Medical Association, supports closely monitoring diabetics' blood sugar and aggressively controlling it with insulin or other drugs.

NPR's Phillip Davis reports that the US Civil Rights Commission opens two days of hearings today in Tallahassee into allegations of voting irregularities in Florida's Presidential election. The Civil Rights Commission has subpoenaed state officials to testify. In another case in Miami, the NAACP, the ACLU, and other civil rights groups have filed a class action suit against Florida. They allege that poorly maintained voter rolls prevented many African Americans from voting, and that there was a pattern of substandard voting equipment in minority neighborhoods.

Educating diabetics is key to their well being. But only about 20% of them get the information and counseling they need. Bill Zeeble from member station KERA looks at some innovative programs in the Dallas area, which has a high concentration of patients with diabetes.

Commentator Michael Berube talks about his son Jamie, who has Downs Syndrome and attends a mainstream public school in Champaign, Illinois. One of Michael's low points in his son's academic year is the annual holiday concert, where, on stage, Jamie never seems to perform as well his father knows he can. Michael wants the other parents to see how well Jamie is doing, so they will understand that not only are their children teaching Jamie, but Jamie is also teaching them about what it means to be different.

Scott Horsley of member station KPBS reports on the latest developments in California's electricity crisis. The US Department of Energy Department refuses to extend an emergency order that requires out-of-state power companies to supply electricity to California. The order expires at midnight tonight. California's electric system has been dangerously close to collapse, and some industrial customers have been asked to cut back in order to prevent rolling blackouts.

NPR's Joe Palca reports on a recent discovery about stars that's confirming observations Chinese astronomers made over a thousand years ago. The discovery has to do with the position of a pulsar...also known as a spinning neutron star...within the remnants of a supernova.

NPR's Larry Abramson reports on researchers that are studying how to fight a specific type of virus--the kind that attacks your computer.

NPR's Claudio Sanchez reports on a new study showing that most states fail to give public school students the help they need to succeed.

In the U.S, new roads built in national forests has just been banned by executive order. But in Canada old growth forest is being leveled at a rate that alarms environmentalists. NPR's Kathy Schalch reports.

NPR's Eric Westervelt reports on what one Maryland school district is doing to combat gun violence. The district requires gun safety awareness for all grade levels. So far the curriculum satisfies most parents on both sides of the gun issues, and other school districts are looking to the program as a model.