Santa Cruz: Crab season opens today for sport fisherman

A good crab season is especially important for local fishermen, as federal regulators canceled salmon season this year for the second year in a row.

  My Town: Central Coast | More My Town pages

Meg Whitman's charitable foundation's biggest benefactor was environmental group

In 2007, the GOP gubernatorial candidate contributed $100,000 to the Environmental Defense Fund, which is now at odds with Whitman over water policy. The foundation also invested $3 million in hedge funds based in the Cayman Islands — a Caribbean tax haven that’s been the subject of political controversy.

  Whitman tax documents | Poizner tax documents

  2010 Governor's race | More politics

Detective: Palo Alto real estate agent Jennifer Schipsi apparently was strangled

Jennifer Schipsi, the real estate agent found dead after a Palo Alto house fire Oct. 15, appeared to have been strangled, according to a police affidavit unsealed Friday.

Audit details ousted East Side schools Superintendent Bob Nunez's expenses

Ousted Superintendent Bob Nunez routinely spent $1,000 a month for meals, travel and lodging and sometimes much more. But the auditors found no illegal expenditures.

Two people killed in Caltrain tracks in San Jose and Redwood City

An adult male and a female were killed Friday on Caltrain tracks, within hours of each other in separate accidents in San Jose and Redwood City.

The California Report Magazine

For the first time in decades, the state legislature has approved a major overhaul of state water policies. Can farmers, cities, environmentalists and fishermen all be satisfied? Also, budget cuts have finally come to state parks — but will they cause more problems than they solve?

The California Report

Uncertain Future for Lake Mead and the Colorado River. End Music.

The California Report

Finding Solutions for Pesticide Drift, Part 2. End Music.

The California Report

Schwarzenegger's Lieutenant Governor Choice Is Up in the Air. Google Goes to Court.

The California Report

Will New LAPD Chief Continue Reforms?. Yosemite Fires Have Greenhouse Gas Link. End Music.

Could Big Donors Break Obama's Fundraising Record?

The Obama presidential campaign rewrote the playbook for raising campaign cash in 2008. The Supreme Court may change it again before 2010: An upcoming decision could potentially curb the growing influence of small donors in favor of corporate America.

Rough Road For Military Families With Special Needs

Deployments are usually hard on families. Spouses must become single parents for months on end, managing households with little outside help. These challenges become even more daunting for families with special needs children.

Joe Jackson Seeks Slice Of Son Michael's Millions

Michael Jackson's father is seeking an allowance from his son's estate to help cover expenses that exceed $15,000 a month, according to court documents filed Friday. The entertainer's 2002 will made no reference to his father, with whom he had an often strained relationship.

Suspected Fort Hood Shooter Saw the Toll of PTSD

As an Army psychiatrist, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan heard the horror stories of war on a daily basis from the soldiers he was treating for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Military Service A Challenge For Muslim Americans

The story of suspected Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan is a reminder of the stresses and potential pitfalls Muslims and Arab-Americans face in serving in the U.S. armed forces in a post-9/11 world.

More top news (npr.org)

Germany's First Concentration Camp

Sachsenhausen Memorial, located about an hour's drive north of Berlin, holds the remnants of Germany's first large concentration camp. Sascha Klepzig, a German student, takes groups through the tree-lined site.

House Health Care Vote Could Be Delayed Past Saturday

House Democratic Leaders worked Friday to line up enough votes to pass a sweeping health care reform measure, but it seemed possible the vote might be delayed past House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Saturday deadline.

Unemployment Hits 26-Year High Despite Economic Growth

The U.S. Labor Department announced that unemployment jumped to over 10 percent on Friday, the highest it's been since 1983. Jeffrey Brown talks to an economist for more.

Conversation: Jonathan Lethem

In Jonathan Lethem's new novel, "Chronic City," two friends travel through a Manhattan that is both very recognizable -- from the billionaire mayor to the burgers at a local diner -- while also surreal, looking for truth.

Around the Nation, Friday Roundup

Here are some of this week's arts and culture headlines from public broadcasters around the nation.

Brown urges new banks 'contract'

UK PM Gordon Brown tells a G20 summit there should be a new social contract with world banks to make them more responsible.

Seven killed in 'Nato air strike'

Seven members of the Afghan security forces are killed in a Nato air strike, the Afghan defence ministry says.

Obama praises army base heroism

President Barack Obama praises the "valour" of those who responded to the deadly attacks at a US army base in Texas.

Lebanon government accord reached

Lebanon's Hezbollah says its opposition alliance has agreed to join a national unity government under PM-designate, Saad Hariri.

ICC seeking speedy Kenya trials

The ICC's top prosecutor says perpetrators of Kenya's post-poll violence could face trial as early as next July.

STREET CRITIQUE - Todd Harrison

Anchor Paul Kangas interviews market strategists and financial experts about Wall Street trends. On Wednesday, November 5th, Todd Harrison of Minyanville is Paul's guest.

The Chrysler Plan

Today in Michigan, Fiat detailed its five year plan to return Chrysler to profitability. NBR's Diane Eastabrook attended the event and has analysis of the plan in tonight's program. You can learn more about the Chrysler plan here.

Of Mutual Interest - Bruce Berkowitz

Tonight's Of Mutual Interest interview focuses on a leading large cap value fund -- The Fairholme Fund. NBR's Paul Kangas asks Fairholme's Bruce Berkowitz about the fund's performance. Berkowitz also talks about some sectors he likes.

Mutual Fund Fee Debate

How much money should you pay your mutual fund's investment adviser? That's the question before the Supreme Court right now. As NBR's Darren Gersh explains in tonight's program, three investors charge Harris' Oakmark Funds with imposing unfair fees. You can learn more about mutual funds here.

MARKET MONITOR - Eugene Peroni

Anchor Paul Kangas gets stock market insight from investing pros. On Friday, October 30th, Eugene Peroni of Advisors Asset Management is Paul's guest.