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The nation's governors are meeting in Washington and lobbying for more control over government programs. The governors are looking for the flexibility to provide disability benefits and other welfare programs for legal immigrants and other groups the federal government would exclude. The governors are also concerned about reports that President Clinton will seek a cap on federal spending for Medicaid, which would increase the state governments' responsibilities. NPR's Peter Kenyon has a report.

Robert talks with Democratic Governor Ben Nelson of Nebraska about this week's meeting of state governors in Washington. They discuss welfare reform and what it will mean for immigrants...particularly in those states which do not have high concentrations of immigrants.

At the White House tonight, President Clinton is hosting the nation's governors at a black-tie reception that will offer the president the chance to reminisce about the National Governors' Association, which he used to lead. But NPR's Steve Inskeep reports that the ceremony will not erase some major policy differences between the White House and the governors over welfare and Medicaide reforms.

Jacki Lyden speaks with Raymond Scheppach (sheh-PAHK), executive director of the National Governor's Association. The group is meeting in Washington this weekend. High on their agenda is discussion of the Medicaid system. The Clinton Administration wants to put a cap on Medicaid spending, but the governors fear this will shift undue financial burden to the States.

The nation's governors are meeting in Washington this weekend, and the big issue on their agenda is welfare reform. NPR's Barbara Bradley reports that when Congress gave the state more responsibility for welfare last year, many governors were pleased. But now thatthey see how much its going to cost them, they're having second thoughts.

Three federal agencies have come up with a plan to try to stop the slaughter of bison near Yellowstone National Park. More than 700 of the park's herd of 3500 buffalo have been killed for wandering onto private land outside the park in search of food. The agencies say they will implement 24 hour patrols to keep the bison in the park and try to steer wayward animals onto national forest lands. NPR's Mark Roberts reports that environmental groups and the governor of Montana are not satisfied.

Local governments in California are struggling with how to respond to Governor Pete Wilson's plan to eliminate a state program providing pre-natal care to illegal immigrants. The governor says taxpayers should not have to fund services for people who are breaking the law, and officials in many counties agree. But others say offering pre-natal care is more cost-effective than paying for later medical problems in the babies, who are US citizens. Jason Beaubien (BOH-bee-en) of member station KQED reports.

Michigan Governor John Engler has proposed that the state take over Michigan's most academically troubled schools, adding to the number of states and cities that have chosen a radical response to poor school performance. NPR's Don Gonyea reports from Detroit.

by the new Congress. The Senate Subcommittee on Immigration has a new chairman, Spencer Abraham, a Michigan Republican, whose grandparents were immigrants from Lebanon.

NPR's Nina Totenberg reports that the Supreme Court today heard arguments on whether Paula Jones' sexual harrassment suit against President Clinton can go forward while he is still in office. The court has ruled in the past that civil suits cannot be brought against a sitting president if they involve his official actions, but Jones' says that Clinton harrassed her while he was still governor of Arkansas. The president's attornies argued today that any suit against the president could interfere with his official duties and should be delayed. Jones' attornies said the president had same responsibilities as other citizens.