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Americans have expressed concern with issues ranging from the economy, health care and national security. But a series of polls by NPR News, the Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government show that no single issue dominates among voters of this year's midterm election. NPR's Marcus Rosenbaum reports.

Charlie Christian introduced the electric guitar to a wide audience. And even though he died in 1942 at 25, guitar enthusiasts remember his name — and his sound. Now there's a new collection of Christian's work. Tom Vitale reports.

At a rare forest clearing in central Africa, elephants gather to munch on mineral-rich soil. And researchers gather there to learn more about the social lives of the threatened animals — and how to save them. For Morning Edition, NPR's Alex Chadwick reports. (8:07)

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the founding of the San Francisco band The Residents, a group that's credited with pioneering punk rock, art rock and techno. They presaged the future of independent labels, music videos and CD-ROMs. So, why have so few people heard of them? NPR's Neda Ulaby came up with some answers.

On Friday, the 16th Party Congress of the Chinese Communist Party -- used by political leaders to lay out their policies for the next five years -- opens with great fanfare, and heavy security. NPR's Rob Gifford reports on the major changes to be considered, and the behind-the-scenes wrangling for power. Read profiles of the outgoing leaders, and the contenders to lead the world's most populous nation.

Pub-goers in London cheer Queen Elizabeth II's announcement that Parliament will soon consider allowing pubs to stay open 24 hours. Currently, pubs must close at 11 p.m. NPR's Robert Siegel talks with London pub manager Charlotte Renick. (This story was corrected on air on Nov. 14, 2002: "It's Thursday, the day we read from your letters, and we start with a correction to yesterday's program. I said that Britain's pubs have closed early, ever since World War II. Our thanks to Charles Day in Bozeman, Montana, Marc James Small in Roanoke, Virginia and Peg Willingham in Arlington, Virginia. All pointed out that closing the pubs early was a World War I innovation, part of the Defence of the Realm Act. Mr. Day notes that the law was "affectionately known to the British' by its acronym 'DORA.' The logic of the pub closings was, he writes, 'to keep factory production levels high. Factory workers, particularly the ammunition factory workers, would be home from the pubs at a reasonable hour so that they would show up well rested on the factory floor the next morning.'"

The frontier is long gone, but the American West clings to some of its roots. Morning Edition presents a series of profiles of people who are inspired by the region's landscape, resources and culture. The series continues with one of the Northwest's premier chefs, Christine Keff of Seattle. NPR Online offers one of her special recipes.

This week PBS will present Benjamin Franklin, an unblinking look at the remarkable founding father whose industriousness furthered the cause of science and whose diplomatic skills helped win American independence. NPR's Steve Inskeep talks with documentary writer Ron Blumer and Ellen Hovde.

In Anouar Brahem's native Tunisia, the oud is known today mainly in the context of loud and large ensembles that leave it all but buried in a dervish of sound. But Brahem highlights the stringed instrument in a delicate, often introspective context. On his new CD, Le pas du chat noir, the oud is part of an unlikely trio including piano and accordion. He talks with Liane Hansen on Weekend Edition Sunday.

Almost a year since former Beatles guitarist George Harrison died of cancer, his final studio album, Brainwashed, hits the record stores Tuesday. NPR's Bob Boilen talks to longtime collaborator Jeff Lynne and Harrison's only son, Dhani Harrison, about putting the finishing touches on George Harrison's swan song.