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The Chicago school board voted to close dozens of schools, despite community protests that the closings disproportionately affect minority students. Now the teachers union and community activists want to change the system and oust the elected officials who disagreed with them.

With the election just three weeks away, many voters are still scratching their heads, wondering what exactly the candidates would do to improve the economy. Audience members at Tuesday night's presidential debate could focus on economic topics such as home prices, gasoline, wages, exports and jobs.

Friday, the MLB debuted its new playoff format: Two wild-card teams from each league played in a high-stakes, single-shot game to advance to the full playoffs. The Baltimore Orioles defeated the Texas Rangers, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Atlanta Braves. NPR's Tom Goldman speaks with host Scott Simon about those games and the Rockets' Royce White, who plays in the NBA with a generalized anxiety disorder.

The five-term senator, a moderate Republican-turned-Democrat, was a key member of the Judiciary Committee and consistently a thorn for leaders of both political parties and their presidents. Specter died of complications from non-Hodgkins lymphoma at his home in Philadelphia on Sunday. He was 82.

Neither President Obama nor Republican Mitt Romney has focused much attention on the poor. They've talked about creating jobs and opportunity, but mostly for the middle class. Advocates say Obama's stimulus spending has helped, but Republicans argue that government aid helps keep people in poverty.

All Italians are being urged to eat a special cheese and rice dish tonight to promote the revitalization of Emilio-Romagna, Italy's famous food production region, after the deadly earthquakes back in May destroyed factories and warehouses.

The fearsome storm has shut down early voting in multiple states and disrupted the presidential candidates' campaign schedules. Sandy may wreak havoc as it claws up the East Coast, but voting experts say its impact may fizzle come Election Day.

Colin Meloy, best known as the Decemberists' front man, is also a novelist. His newest book is the second in a series for young readers, called Wildwood Chronicles. The book catches up with its precocious protagonist, Prue, who leaves the seventh grade to return to the magical world of Wildwood.

Last month's school shootings in Connecticut have prompted communities large and small to hold gun buybacks. On the surface, they seem to have been a success, with record numbers of firearms recovered in some cities. But experts say such programs have limited value in reducing gun violence.

Manti Te'o, who nearly won the Heisman Trophy, is at the center of what Deadspin calls a "hoax," in which the story of lost love was created to bolster his personal myth. The site is questioning the existence of a girl Te'o has said inspired him to new heights. He has not yet responded to the story; we'll update this post with any new information as it emerges.