From KCRW in Santa Monica and PRI, Public Radio International, this is To the Point.

Men's sports, political influence, and sexual assault.

Hello again, I'm Armin Alney, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International,

a daily look at the issues Americans care about most. Last year, a 14-year-old cheerleader claimed she was raped by a football star at a

drunken high school party. When the town found out, she got the blame. Her mother lost her job,

the family home was burned down. The sheriff says there was evidence for a strong rape case,

but the DA refused to prosecute. Investigative reporting has raised disturbing questions, and this week came an announcement.

The case will be re-examined.

It was one incident in small-town Missouri, but some see a broader pattern of toleration

for sexual assault, especially when male athletes are involved.

Today's talking point, a terrorist bomb, and an effort at understanding.

First, here's the news.

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Support for To The Point comes from the members of KCRW and from the Public Radio International Program Fund.

Hello again, Mormon-Aldney, back with To the Point.

Officials in Missouri announced this week they will re-examine a controversial case of

alleged rape. A 14-year-old girl and her family were blamed and bullied and the local prosecutor

dropped felony charges. Is it an isolated incident or a case that's all too familiar?

Today's talking point, we'll hear what happened when a Jewish-American writer tried to meet the

Palestinian bomber who almost killed his wife.

First is news update. For years, Saudi Arabia has campaigned for a seat on the UN Security Council.

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