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Last year, a move to reform bankruptcy laws was vetoed by President Clinton who believed changes would hurt low and moderate income people. But reformers say too many people use the system to simply walk away from their debts-- even though they have the means to pay them. Now, the same proposal to change the laws is making its way through Congress, and this president may sign it. Laura talks with Travis Plunkett, lobbyist for the Consumer Federation Of America (www.consumerfed.org)
and Joe Rubin, chief banking lobbyist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (www.uschamber.com)

Some people worry that cell phones are making America's roads more dangerous. Many states are looking at banning these highway conversations. But not everyone's convinced that talking on the phone while driving is any more risky than eating and driving or fiddling with the radio. Laura
talks with George Getz, press secretary of the Libertarian Party (www.lp.org) in Washington, DC, and Fran Bents, Vice President of Dynamic Science Inc. www.exodyne.com/dsi/index.htm , and General Manager of its Research, Science and Technology Division.

Two high profile murders have shaken the Dartmouth community. We'll talk about how a town works through such a tragedy and the overall impact it may have on other New Hampshire residents. While homicide rates are down, some people say it's hard to feel safe after such a violent and apparently random crime. Laura's guests are Peter Cordella, Chair of the Criminal Justice Program at St. Anselm College in Manchester and Sandy Matheson, Director of the Victim Witness program at the New Hampshire Attorney General's office.

A coalition of adoptees and birth parents is pushing for the right to open closed adoption records. This proposal can pit an adoptees' right to information against a birth parents' right to privacy. Joining Laura to talk about the issue are Donna Chagnon, president of the New Hampshire Open Adoption Records Coalition (NH OARC)and Jennifer Frizzell, Public Affairs Director for Planned Parenthood of Northern New England. www.plannedparenthood.org/ppnne/

Bullies have taunted and tormented other kids on playgrounds and in classrooms for generations. Now many schools are trying to help both bullies and their victims by implementing special programs. Steve Zind talks with Dover school psychologist Sandy Crosson about a bully-proofing program she's put in place. This is a broadcast of an earlier program.