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2009 SEPTEMBER WEDNESDAY, Sept. 30, 2009 Quakes Strike South Pacific Leaving Scores Dead Giant waves caused by underground earthquakes in the South Pacific have killed hundreds and left many more missing in American Somoa and Indonesia. 2009 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 - 1997 Focus Pivots to Relief Following Deadly Tsunami, Earthquake In the Samoan islands, relief efforts have begun after an earthquake triggered a tsunami. Meanwhile, Indonesia is struggling to recover from its own temblor. U.S. officials say the first flight carrying aid is en route to the region.      News Wrap: Typhoon Rips Through Southeast Asia In other news, the typhoon that caused massive flooding in the Philippines last weekend has advanced through Vietnam and Cambodia, and U.S. forces in Iraq will be able to withdraw faster than originally planned.      Senate Bill May Mark New Start for Climate Legislation Senate Democrats introduced legislation Wednesday aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent over 2005 levels. But with health care dominating the national debate, is Congress ready to tackle more big legislation? Jeffrey Brown talks to a reporter for more.      One Man's Trash, Another Man's 'Earthship' In the latest installment in his series on innovation during the recession, Tom Bearden examines how one architect is turning unlikely items into environmentally friendly homes he calls "earthships."      Summit Aims to Put the Brakes on Texting While Driving Text messaging while driving has been found to increase the odds of a crash by 23 times. Now, lawmakers and transportation experts are trying to find a way to stop the dangerous practice. Ray Suarez reports.      U.S. Considers Reengaging with Myanmar Following a bloody military coup in 1988, the nation of Myanmar has been largely isolated from the West. Now, for the first time in more than 20 years, signs are emerging that the U.S. may engage in new diplomatic talks with the country.      TUESDAY, Sept. 29, 2009 Bid to Revive Public Option Fails in Senate Committee In the latest showdown over health care, the Senate Finance Committee voted Tuesday to reject a proposal to add a public insurance option to a reform bill. Betty Ann Bowser reports.    Rx for Reform Other News: Ahmadinejad Lashes Out at U.N. In other news, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad criticized U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon of "parroting" the baseless charges of Western nations, and flooding in the Philippines has left at least 280 people dead.      NATO Chief Backs Obama's Approach in Afghanistan NATO's secretary general told President Obama on Tuesday that the alliance will support the U.S. in Afghanistan for "as long as it takes."    Afghanistan and the War on Terror Afghan Election Further Complicates Efforts to Shape Military Strategy As the White House works to revamp U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., and Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., assess the call for more troops, the role of the Afghan election and a shift in U.S. public opinion on the war.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror Terror Suspect Zazi Pleads Not Guilty in N.Y. Najibullah Zazi, an Afghan immigrant arrested Sept. 20 in connection to a plot to bomb targets in New York City, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to terrorism conspiracy charges. Dina Temple-Raston of NPR details the case against Zazi.      Politics, Engineering Intersect Over Bay Bridge Political wrangling can often get in the way of critical infrastructure improvements Case in point: The rebuilding of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. Spencer Michels reports.      First Year Lawmakers Face Daunting To-do List In a discussion with Gwen Ifill, four freshmen lawmakers reflect on their experiences thus far dealing with a recession, overseas conflicts, and the health care debate.      MONDAY, Sept. 28, 2009 Iran Continues with Missile Tests Iran continued with missile tests for a second straight day Monday, firing mid-range missiles capable of hitting Israel, parts of Europe, and U.S. military bases in the Middle East. Lindsey Hilsum of ITN reports.    Governing Iran Iran Seeks Image of Defiance With New Missile Tests Iran has test-fired its most advanced missiles, demonstrating its ability to strike targets as far away as Europe, and increasing tensions over its nuclear program. Analysts break down the details of the development.    Governing Iran Other News: 30 Taliban Fighters Killed in Afghanistan In other news, U.S. forces reported killing at least 30 Taliban fighters in Western Afghanistan, and in Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel set to work building a new center-right coalition following her election win on Sunday.      Medicare Set for Big Cuts Under Overhaul Plans Depending on which, if any, health care reform plan passes through Congress, Medicare faces cuts as high as $500 billion. But what would cuts entail? Gwen Ifill reports.    Rx for Reform Obama Looks to Aid Chicago's Olympic Bid at Finish Line President Obama will travel to Copenhagen this week to lobby on behalf of his hometown of Chicago and its bid to land the 2016 summer games.      Gates: Closing Guantanamo Proving 'Tough' Defense Secretary Robert Gates hinted Sunday it may not be possible to close the prison facility at Guantanamo Bay by January, as President Obama has ordered. Margaret Warner reports.      Despite Hurdles, White House Sticking to Gitmo Deadline The White House is sticking to a plan to close the prison complex at Guantanamo Bay by Jan. 22, despite mounting opposition in Congress to relocating terror suspects inside the U.S. With less than four months until the administration's deadline arrives, experts examine the remaining options.      William Safire, Conservative Columnist, Dies at 79 Jeffrey Brown looks back at the life of William Safire, a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and former speechwriter for President Nixon, who died Sunday at the age of 79.      FRIDAY, Sept. 25, 2009 World Leaders Warn Iran Over Uranium Enrichment President Obama and the leaders of France and Britain accused Iran Friday of building a covert uranium-enrichment site. Former U.N. weapons inspector David Albright examines what's known about the Iranian facility.    Governing Iran News Wrap: McChrystal Surprised by Taliban's Strength In other news, five more Americans were killed in Afghanistan on Thursday, and a U.S. missile strike in Pakistan killed 12 militants.      G-20 to Replace G-8 as Global Economic Forum World leaders announced that the G-20 will replace the G-8 as the main forum for coordinating global economic policy. Jeffrey Brown and Paul Solman report.      Growing Economies More 'Empowered' at G-20 Jeffrey Brown speaks with economic experts Simon Johnson and Eswar Prasad about the next moves for the G-20 and its members a year after the global economic crisis began.      Shields, Brooks Examine Obama's Moves on Iran, G-20 Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks sift through this week's headlines, including Iran's nuclear surprise, the G-20 summit and U.N. talks.    Political Wrap Clinton Group Unites Private, Public Spheres on Big Issues Amid the G-20 and U.N. summits, former President Bill Clinton's foundation brought together big names from both the private and public sectors to tackle major issues.      Unearthed Gold Sheds Light on Anglo-Saxon History Britain's largest collection of gold artifacts has been discovered and it dates back 1,300 years to the Anglo-Saxons. Nicholas Glass of ITN reports.   THURSDAY, Sept. 24, 2009 Security Council Calls for Nuclear Disarmament The U.N. Security Council unanimously passed a resolution Thursday promoting nuclear disarmament. Margaret Warner reports from New York.      News Wrap: Afghan Man Indicted for U.S. Terror Plot In other news, an Afghan immigrant was indicted Thursday in New York for allegedly plotting to detonate bombs in the U.S., and Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick named Paul Kirk to fill the senate seat left vacant by the death of Sen. Ted Kennedy.      World Faces Tough Choices on Iran's Nuclear Program Rahm Emanuel tells PBS' Charlie Rose that Iran knows the choices it faces in the global community due to its nuclear ambitions. Also, analysts tell Jim Lehrer that Iran's 'tactical' decisions continue to frustrate the world.      HIV Vaccine Shows Promise for First Time An AIDS vaccine tested in Thailand has shown signs of stopping HIV infection for the first time. Tim Clarke of ITN reports on the clinical research. Global Health Watch Lula: 'Blue-Eyed' Bankers and Emerging Markets Paul Solman interviews Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva at the G-20 about the role of developing nations in the global economy, the state of Latin American politics and controversial comments the Brazilian leader recently made about the role of "blue-eyed bankers" in the financial meltdown.      Decoding the Hidden Secrets of Dan Brown's D.C. Jeffrey Brown decodes the secrets of Washington D.C. highlighted in Dan Brown's latest novel "The Lost Symbol."      WEDNESDAY, Sept. 23, 2009 Obama: Global Cooperation Needed on Key Challenges President Obama urged leaders at the U.N. General Assembly to assume a bigger role in solving the world's toughest problems. Margaret Warner reports.      News Wrap: General to Seek More Troops for Afghan War In other news, General McChrystal will send a formal request to the White House asking for additional troops in Afghanistan, and a death was reported in Honduran clashes following deposed President Manuel Zelaya's return.      Ahead of G-20, How Are World Economies Faring? Ahead of the G-20 summit, Paul Solman asks small business owners at a New York health and beauty show how the economy is faring in their home countries.      How Much Should U.S. Intrude to Protect Citizens? Gwen Ifill speaks with national security experts about how far the U.S. government should go in protecting citizens from threats here and abroad.      Top Banks Rethink Policies on Overdraft Fees Leading banks move to change overdraft fees deemed harmful to consumers. Jeffrey Brown speaks with a banking expert about the overhaul.      Struggling to Find Affordable Health Insurance An excerpt from a PBS special on one family's struggle to obtain affordable health care.      TUESDAY, Sept. 22, 2009 At U.N. Summit, China Pledges to Lead Effort to Curb Climate Change As the U.N. kicked off a summit on climate change in New York, China promised to lead the way in combating global warming. Margaret Warner reports.      News Wrap: Zelaya's Return to Honduras Leads to Embassy Standoff In other news, deposed Honduran President Manuel Zelaya remained holed up at the Brazilian embassy, and the Los Angeles Police Department cracked down on gangs in a massive sweep.      Senate Debate on Health Reform Hinges on Affordability As the Senate Finance Committee opens debate on the so-called Baucus plan for health care reform, the issue of affordability remains a key sticking point. After a recap of Tuesday's hearing on the bill, Susan Dentzer of the journal Health Affairs takes a closer look at costs with Judy Woodruff.    Rx for Reform Better Storage Options Sought as Wind, Sun Power Catch on Tom Bearden reports on new innovations that would allow for better storage of electricity generated by the wind and sun.      Amid Afghan Strategy Review, What Are the Options? As the Obama administration reconsiders the U.S. options on the Afghan war, experts weigh in on the debate over sending more troops and containing the Taliban's influence.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror Profile of 'Genius Award' Winner Heather McHugh A profile of Seattle poet Heather McHugh, who was awarded the MacArthur Fellowship on Tuesday.    NewsHour Poetry Series MONDAY, Sept. 21, 2009 Additional U.S. Troops Sought to Avert Afghan Failure The top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan said in a confidential report that the U.S. military risks failure there if more troops are not deployed. Kwame Holman reports.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror Clinton: No Troop Moves Until Afghan Election Resolved Secretary of State Hillary Clinton discusses U.S. top commander in Afghanistan Gen. Stanley McChrystal's assessment of the war, the U.S. stance on the Karzai government and the U.N. General Assembly meeting.      News Wrap: Deposed Leader Zelaya Returns to Honduras In other news, Manuel Zelaya, the deposed president of Honduras, announced Monday he has returned to the country, and AIG repaid the federal government $60 billion.      Three Terrorism Suspects Jailed in Weekend Raid Judy Woodruff speaks with journalists about the arrests of three terrorism suspects over the weekend related to an alleged plot to bomb American targets.      Tax Feud Emerges Over Health Insurance Mandates A key feature within health care proposals emerging from Congress and the White House is a mandate for all Americans to purchase insurance. But is a mandate a tax? Two experts discuss the topic with Gwen Ifill.    Rx for Reform Novelist Atwood Imagines Dark Future in New Book Jeffrey Brown speaks with novelist Margaret Atwood about her latest novel "The Year of the Flood" at her Toronto home.      FRIDAY, Sept. 18, 2009 Election Tempers Reignite at Rallies Across Iran Demonstrators clashed in the streets of Tehran Friday in renewed protest of the results of June's election. The protests came amid a day of anti-Israel rallies, which President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad used to once again deny the Holocaust. ITN reports.    Governing Iran News Wrap: Putin Applauds U.S. Reversal on Missile Shield In other news, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin applauded President Obama's "brave decision" to cancel plans for a U.S. missile shield in Europe, and seven former CIA directors asked the White House to end a criminal probe of interrogation tactics during the Bush years.      One Year On, Hurdles Remain for Reforming Wall Street One year after the fall of Lehman Brothers' brought the global economy to the brink of collapse, questions remain as to whether the government has been tough enough on Wall Street. Experts explain why.      India's Population Boom Tests Green Revolution's Legacy Fred De Sam Lazaro reports from India about new questions about the environmental impact of the nation's first major initiative to grow more food to meet the needs of a booming population.      Brooks and Marcus on Health Bill, Obama Media Push Columnists David Brooks and Ruth Marcus sort through the week's top stories, including the state of the health reform push, President Obama's media strategy and U.S. plans to revamp missile defense in Europe.    Political Wrap No 'Plan B' for Copenhagen Climate Summit, U.N. Negotiator Says Ahead of a U.N. conference on global warming this December in Copenhagen, the organization's top climate negotiator speaks with Margaret Warner about the outlook for a global pact to curb greenhouse gas emissions.      THURSDAY, Sept. 17, 2009 Obama Shelves Bush-era Plan for Missile Defense Shield The White House said Thursday that the U.S. will scrap a European missile shield proposed by the Bush administration to thwart the threat of an attack from Iran. Analysts weigh in on the decision.      Other News: Afghan Bombing Kills 6 Italian Soldiers In other news, a bombing in Kabul killed at least six Italian soldiers and 10 Afghan civilians, while a government panel in Afghanistan determined a NATO airstrike killed 30 civilians earlier this month.      For Young Americans, Health Insurance is Often Elusive President Obama took his health reform call to young people Thursday with a speech at the University of Maryland. Kwame Holman reports on the challenges faced by the more than 10 million Americans between the ages of 19 and 26 without health insurance.    Rx for Reform Boehner Says GOP Support Unlikely for Baucus Health Plan In an interview with Jeffrey Brown, House Minority Leader John Boehner describes the prospects for GOP support of the president's health reform push and describes what he sees as a "modern-day political rebellion in America" over the expanding role of government.      In Tanzania, New Push To Combat Malaria Between 60,000 and 80,000 Tanzanians die from malaria each year. In the last installment in his series of reports from Tanzania, Ray Suarez looks at a mult-million-dollar effort to slow the spread of the disease through the distribution of bed nets.    Global Health Watch Ted Kennedy Jr. Reflects on His Father's Legacy Judy Woodruff speaks with Ted Kennedy Jr. about his father's posthumously published memoir, "True Compass." The book offers new insights into Edward Kennedy's famous family and his political career, including the dark moments.      Folk Legend Mary Travers Dies at 72 A look back at the life of Mary Travers, of the legendary folk trio Peter, Paul, and Mary, who died Wednesday at age 72.      WEDNESDAY, Sept. 16, 2009 Baucus Health Plan Hits Opposition From Both Parties Sen. Max Baucus unveiled his committee's health care plan on Wednesday. Republicans complained the plan would cut Medicare, while Democrats opposed the exclusion of a public option. Betty Ann Bowser reports.    Rx for Reform Other News: 3 American Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan In other news, NATO announced three American soldiers were killed in a roadside bombing in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday, and election officials there declared Hamid Karzai the outright winner of last month's presidential election.      Doubts Linger Over Targeting Al-Qaida Safe Havens Growing unease has arisen in Washington over U.S. strategy aimed against eliminating so called "safe havens" for terror operatives in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Somalia. Two experts provide insight.      Debate on Race Emerges as Obama's Policies Take Shape The question of race has simmered on the back burner of the national debate over President Obama's policy agenda. Gwen Ifill talks to columnists and academics about the role of race in the current political climate.      Health Workers in Tanzania Battle 'Neglected Diseases' Senior correspondent Ray Suarez reports from Tanzania on a community drug distribution system being used to prevent river blindness, one of the conditions considered a "neglected tropical disease" because of its low profile in comparison to HIV, TB or malaria.    Global Health Watch Ahead of G-20, IMF Chief Seeks New Global Finance Rules The global economy is slowly starting to rebound, but in order to prevent another crisis nation's must embrace stricter financial oversight, said Dominique Strauss-Kahn, managing director of the IMF, in an interview with the NewsHour's Paul Solman.      TUESDAY, Sept. 15, 2009 Obama Touts Economic Policies in Health Care Push President Obama traveled to Pennsylvania and Ohio on Tuesday to tout his administration's economic policies. Separately, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the recession is "likely over," but that a drop in the jobless rate is in all likelihood still months away.      Other News: House Reprimands Rep. Wilson for 'You Lie' In other news, the House of Representatives formally reprimanded Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., for his "You lie" outburst during President Obama's address to a joint session of Congress last week, and the White House unveiled new fuel economy standards for cars and trucks.      Trade Tensions Flare Between U.S., China as G-20 Nears New U.S. tariffs on Chinese tire imports have created a feud between the two nations ahead of next week's meeting of the Group of 20 industrial and developing nations. Trade experts speak with Jeffrey Brown about how the dispute will affect future U.S.-China trade.      Doubts Surface Among Democrats on Afghan War Strategy During testimony on Capitol Hill Tuesday, Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the Afghan war is growing more complicated and may require more troops. Margaret Warner reports on doubts among some Democrats on the strategy for Afghanistan.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror U.N. Finds Evidence of War Crimes in Gaza Fighting A U.N. report has concluded that both the Israeli military and armed Palestinian groups committed actions amounting to war crimes during December's three-week war in Gaza. Gwen Ifill speaks with an author of the report and the Israeli ambassador to the U.S.    Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Tanzanian Doctor Shortage Spurs Training Innovation In the first installment of a three-part series on health care challenges in the east African nation of Tanzania, Ray Suarez reports on how health officials there have had to come up with new training efforts in order to meet the nation's medical needs.    Global Health Watch MONDAY, Sept. 14, 2009 Obama Urges Wall Street to Embrace Stricter Oversight On the one-year anniversary of the collapse of Lehman Brothers, President Obama visited Wall Street to urge financial firms to remember the lessons of the economic crisis and to press for regulatory reforms.      Other News: U.S.-China Trade Dispute Escalates In other news, China filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization over a U.S. tariff on Chinese tires, and election officials in Afghanistan put off announcing when they would release official results from last month's presidential contest.      A Look Back at the Collapse of Lehman Brothers Lehman Brothers survived the Civil War, the Great Depression, two World Wars, and the attacks of 9/11, yet under the leadership of Richard Fuld the investment bank went from storied Wall Street firm to catalyst of last year's economic crisis. What went wrong? Paul Solman reports.      One Year After Financial Crisis, Reform Questions Loom On the one year anniversary of the collapse of Lehman Brothers, Jeffrey Brown talks to economists and experts about what has been learned and the future of financial reform.      Health Care Reform Tests Promises of Bipartisan Politics Despite campaign promises to change the tone of politics in Washington, President Barack Obama finds Congress and the nation still split over a range of critical issues. Gwen Ifill and guests discuss the roots of the division.      'Green Revolution' Founder Borlaug Dies at 95 A look back at the life of Norman Borlaug, a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize who developed important agricultural strategies for countries around the world. Borlaug died over the weekend at the age of 95.      FRIDAY, Sept. 11, 2009 Public Views Shifting on War in Afghanistan Jeffrey Brown speaks with editorial page editors about the public's view on the war in Afghanistan and increasing doubts over sending more troops.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror News Wrap: Training Exercise Prompts Security Concerns In other news, a Coast Guard training exercise in Washington caused security concerns during the nearby 9/11 anniversary services, and the world's oldest person died at the age of 115.      One-shot Solution Explored for H1N1 Vaccine Margaret Warner speaks with Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease about a new H1N1 flu vaccine.    Global Health Watch Chinese Dissidents Committed to Mental Hospitals Special correspondent Shannon Van Sant reports on political dissidents being committed to mental hospitals in China.    Global Health Watch Shields, Brooks Reflect on Health Care Speech, Reform Push Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the week's news, including President Obama's health care speech and renewed reform push.    Political Wrap THURSDAY, Sept. 10, 2009 Obama Seizes on Momentum From Wednesday's Health Care Speech Building on momentum from Wednesday's address to Congress, President Obama pressed ahead with health care agenda. Kwame Holman reports.    Rx for Reform Other News: White House Says Stimulus Has Saved 1 Million Jobs In other news, White House economic advisers reported Thursday that stimulus efforts have already created or saved more than 1 million jobs. Also, the Labor Department reported that first time unemployment claims fell last week.      Public Voices on Obama's Health Care Address Spencer Michels gets reactions from the public to President Obama's health care speech.    Rx for Reform Congress Reacts to President Obama's Speech Judy Woodruff speaks with members of Congress about their responses to President Obama's address.    Rx for Reform New York Times Journalist's Rescue Raises Some Military Questions Independent Television News correspondent Andrew Thomas reports on the British rescue of New York Times reporter Stephen Farrell.      Perils of Reporting in War Zone Examined Jeffrey Brown and guests discuss the dangers of reporting from a war zone following the rescue of a New York Times reporter.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror Even in Tough Times, Innovation Flourishes Despite the recession, one Boston-based company is creating new technology that could redefine the auto industry.      WEDNESDAY, Sept. 9, 2009 Obama Prepares for Crucial Health Reform Address As public opinion dips on health reform, President Barack Obama prepared for a crucial prime-time speech to Congress on the divisive issue.      Axelrod Optimistic About Health Care Reform Push Judy Woodruff speaks with White House senior adviser David Axelrod about what is at stake for President Obama ahead of Wednesday night's speech.      Shields and Brooks Mull Stakes for Obama Speech Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the lead up to President Obama's health reform speech and developments in Congress.    Political Wrap News Wrap: Mexican Airliner Briefly Hijacked In other news, a Mexican airliner with 112 passengers on board was hijacked Wednesday, and British troops rescued a New York Times reporter in Afghanistan.      Supreme Court Hears Campaign Finance Arguments The Supreme Court convened Wednesday for a special hearing on campaign finance rules. Marcia Coyle reports.    Supreme Court Watch Beatlemania Returns with Re-mastered Catalogue More than 20 years after Beatlemania took hold of music fans across the globe, a newly re-mastered Beatles catalogue and video game are being released.      Decades Later, Beatles Hits Continue to Draw New Fans Jeffrey Brown speaks with NPR music critic Tim Riley about the Beatles' influence decades later.      Colleagues, Friends Honor Walter Cronkite President Obama and former President Clinton were among attendees who gathered Wednesday at Lincoln Center in New York to honor Walter Cronkite.      TUESDAY, Sept. 8, 2009 Ahead of Obama Speech, Health Reform Debate Renewed in Congress New health care proposals were discussed Tuesday as Congress returned to Capitol Hill after its August recess. Betty Ann Bowser reports.    Rx for Reform News Wrap: 4 U.S. Soldiers Killed in Iraq Bombing In other news, four American soldiers were killed by roadside bombings in Iraq, making Tuesday the bloodiest day for U.S. troops there in more than two months. And four other Americans died in eastern Afghanistan.      Obama Speaks to Students in High-profile Address Ray Suarez gets reactions from teachers, parents and students to President Barack Obama's back-to-school address, which created controversy among some groups.      In Colo., Arming Schools to Battle the Flu Virus Amid renewed warnings of a potential H1N1 flu virus outbreak, one Colorado school district is taking new precautionary steps. Tom Bearden reports.      Election Concerns Threaten Future Stability in Afghanistan Judy Woodruff reports on new allegations of fraud in last month's Afghan presidential election and talks to experts about implications for the future.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror ICC Prosecutor Makes Case Against Sudan's President Luis Moreno-Ocampo, prosecutor for the International Criminal Court, discusses his view on war crimes charges levied against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.    Crisis in Sudan MONDAY, Sept. 7, 2009 Obama Kicks Off Critical Week for Health Reform President Barack Obama renewed his push for health care reform from Ohio where he addressed the AFL-CIO on Labor Day. Gwen Ifill reports.      Other News: No Replacement Named for White House Environmental Adviser In other news, the White House remained silent on who might replace an environmental adviser who resigned on Sunday, and Afghan President Hamid Karzai declared victory in last month's presidential election to a French newspaper.      Realities of the Recession and the Changing Workforce Paul Solman looks at the faces and places that illustrate the realities of the recession and Jeffrey Brown talks to experts about its impact on jobs.      New Book Looks at Key Moments in Historic 2008 Election Judy Woodruff speaks with authors Dan Balz and Haynes Johnson about their new book, "The Battle for America 2008: The Story of an Extraordinary Election," which examines Obama's historic election.      Learning to Read and Bat at Summer Camp As summer gives way to fall, education correspondent John Tulenko reports on a camp that promotes practicing both reading and batting.      Mary Jo Bang Examines Grief's Poetic Form, the Elegy Mary Jo Bang is professor of English and director of the Creative Writing Program at Washington University. Her fifth book, "Elegy," which won of the National Book Critics Circle Award, examines the pain and grief following the death of her son. She shares two poems from the collection.    NewsHour Poetry Series FRIDAY, Sept. 4, 2009 Jobless Rate Hits 26-Year High, but Hints of Recovery Remain Unemployment jumped to 9.7 percent in August, but new data shows job cuts have slowed. Ray Suarez speaks with a financial expert about the labor market and economic recovery.      Other News: L.A. Opens Investigation into Wildfire In other news, Los Angeles county detectives opened an investigation into the wildfires that claimed the lives of two firefighters this week, and Israel plans to speed up the pace of settlement expansion in the West Bank.      NATO to Probe Strike that Killed Dozens of Civilians NATO plans to launch an investigation into an airstrike aimed at Taliban militants on Friday that inadvertently struck and killed scores of civilians. Meanwhile, in Britain, Prime Minister Gordon Brown sought to reassure skeptics about the rising number of British casualties in Afghanistan. ITN reports.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror Concerns Intensify on Contractors in Afghanistan Just as the American embassy in Kabul announced the firing of eight private security guards for misconduct, an investigation has begun to determine whether money received by some contractors was funneled to the Taliban. GlobalPost's Charles Sennott offers insight.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror Seattle Health Cooperative May Offer National Model The success of the Seattle-based medical provider, Group Health, has put new attention on whether a cooperative health plan can work on a national level. Betty Ann Bowser reports.    Rx for Reform Shields and Brooks on Health Reform, Afghan Strategy Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the top news of the week, including the escalating violence in Afghanistan, and President Barack Obama's upcoming speech on health care to a joint session of Congress.    Political Wrap The Value of Work in 'Shop Class as Soulcraft' Jeffrey Brown speaks with philosopher, author and motorcycle-repair shop owner Matthew B. Crawford about the fulfillment found in building and fixing things, which he details in the new book "Shop Class as Soulcraft."      THURSDAY, Sept. 3, 2009 Gates Signals Openness to Adding Troops in Afghanistan Defense Secretary Robert Gates told reporters Thursday he would be open to sending more troops to Afghanistan, despite mounting questions on the war.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror Other News: Firefighters Gain on Calif. Blaze; Biden Defends Stimulus Program In other news, firefighters have contained approximately 40 percent of a massive wildfire burning through Southern California, and Vice President Joe Biden defended the federal stimulus program, saying it has helped create or save as many as 750,000 jobs.      Madoff Report Highlights SEC Lapses in Detecting Fraud A scathing report by an inspector general for the Securities and Exchange Commission has found the agency missed numerous chances to uncover Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme. A financial reporter and a law professor speak with Jeffrey Brown about the SEC's framework for detecting fraud.      Surgeon Gawande Seeks More 'Rational Care' in Medicine In a continuing series of conversations with key players in the health care debate, Ray Suarez speaks with surgeon and writer Atul Gawande about spreading the concept of "rational care" in medicine.    Rx for Reform Entrepreneurship? There's an App for That While the recession has battered most industries, it has sparked innovation across a range of many others. Case in point: the cell phone application market. Simon Marks reports.      Clock Ticks as U.S. Mulls Solution to Honduran Stalemate With less than three months until presidential elections in Honduras, the White House is running out of time to resolve a coup that resulted in the ouster of the nation's now deposed president, Manuel Zelaya. The dispute has also strained U.S.-Honduran ties.      WEDNESDAY, Sept. 2, 2009 Firefighters Make New Headway on Massive California Blaze Residents across several neighborhoods in Southern California returned home Wednesday as firefighters gained on a powerful wildfire. Jeffrey Kaye reports.      Other News: Worker Productivity Soars Most in 6 Years In other news, the Labor Department reported worker productivity jumped last spring by the most in six years, and an SEC investigation concluded that agency flaws enabled Bernie Madoff.      Afghan Election Tensions, New Violence Renew Security Concerns A top Afghan intelligence official was killed Wednesday in a suicide attack outside of Kabul. The blast came amid new allegations of fraud in the country's presidential election. Gwen Ifill talks to New York Times reporter Dexter Filkins in Kabul.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror Pfizer Settles Unlawful Marketing Case for $2.3 Billion Pfizer Inc., the world's largest drugmaker, agreed to plead guilty under a $2.3 billion federal settlement over unlawful marketing of the anti-inflammatory drug Bextra. Ray Suarez reports on the record fine.      Scientists See More Risk of Wildfires with Forest Changes Scientists are already witnessing climate change increase the threat of wildfires, as warmer temperatures drive more beetles to the forest, where they in turn kill trees and make the woods more susceptible to catching ablaze. Heidi Cullen of Climate Central reports.      The Case Against the Public Insurance Option In the latest in a series of conversations with key players in the health care debate, Jeffrey Brown speaks with Robert Laszewski, president of the consulting firm Health Policy and Strategy Associates and opponent of a public insurance option.    Rx for Reform Eye Hospital in India Restores Sight with Free Surgeries Special correspondent Fred de Sam Lazaro reports from India on the Aravind system of eye hospitals and clinics that subsidizes sight-restoring surgery for impoverished patients and provides top-of-the-line care for patients who can pay.      TUESDAY, Sept. 1, 2009 Calif. Wildfires Rage, but Firefighters Make Some Gains Firefighters were able to contain more of a wildfire blazing through 190 square miles of Southern California on Tuesday, but a forecast calling for high winds threatened the progress. Ray Suarez reports.      Other News: Stocks Slide on Bank Fears In other news, stocks in the U.S. were hit by fears about additional bank failures, and Iran signaled it may be ready to restart talks over its disputed nuclear program.      Grim Military Report Stirs Questions on Afghan Strategy A sober assessment by the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan calling conditions on the ground there "serious" have raised new questions about U.S. and NATO strategy against the Taliban. Experts speak with Gwen Ifill about the chances for victory in Afghanistan.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror Contractors Under Scrutiny at U.S. Embassy in Kabul A nonpartisan watchdog on Tuesday charged that language barriers, overwork, and lewd behavior by U.S. government contractors are undermining security at the American embassy in Kabul. Margaret Warner reports.      Michigan Town Weighs Moving Gitmo Detainees Next Door As the Obama administration contemplates how to close Guantanamo Bay prison, residents in the small town of Standish, Mich., are considering whether to support one plan under consideration at the White House that would bring suspected terrorists to a local prison.      Examining the Public Option in Health Care Reform In the latest in a series of conversations with key players in the health care debate, Jeffrey Brown speaks with Jacob Hacker of Yale University, one of the key proponents of a public insurance option.    Rx for Reform 2009 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 - 1997 ABOUT US   |   FEEDBACK   |   SUBSCRIPTIONS / FEEDS:  Support the kind of journalism done by the NewsHour...Become a member of your local PBS station. PBS Online Privacy Policy Copyright ©1996- MacNeil/Lehrer Productions. All Rights Reserved.