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Fidgety financial markets continued their volatile swings today. As Jim Zarroli reports, the Nasdaq composite index lost more than 4 percent of its value early in the day before rebounding sharply. But the Nasdaq, home to most new economy stocks, is still off 20-percent for the year. There's a sense of unease about some of the high-tech stocks that have powered the market's remarkable performance. Earnings at many companies have disappointed, and with interest rates and energy costs up this year, investors see little to cheer about.

NPR's Pam Fessler reports on the progress being made by the White House and Capitol Hill in attempting to end the appropriations process and send lawmakers home to campaign. President Clinton's signing of the Interior Department's appropriations bill meant that money spent on conservation projects will double next year. But the House also voted to override the President's veto of an energy and water bill, meaning that much contentiousness remains before the 106th Congress comes to a close.

The major party candidates have spent the fall competing for the votes of the political center. That means concentrating on issues with broad appeal rather than on the more controversial positions of their respective parties. But it leaves activists on both the left and right feeling uninspired by the Democratic and Republican nominees, longing to hear more about their favorite subjects. NPR's Anthony Brooks reports.

NPR's Andy Bowers reports on the less-than-obvious sponsors of tonight's presidential debate in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It won't be broadcast from a hall sponsored by corporate America, and no logos will be seen in the background. But big business is still paying big bucks to support the show.

Robert talks to two analysts of Presidential debates, Psychology professor Joseph Tecce of Boston College and Jeff Rubinstein of the Princeton Review in New York City. Each offers a rather unique perspective on the debates. Tecce says research into past presidential contests shows that the man who blinks less in debates wins. And Rubinstein's publication computed a verbal grade level for each candidate during their broadcast encounter.

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments today on two cases testing whether people can sue states for damages under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The cases, both from Alabama, involved a nurse with breast cancer and a security guard with asthma. They accuse state-owned institutions of discriminating against them based on their disabilities, although they were competent to do their jobs. NPR's Nina Totenberg reports that in recent years the Court has cut back on the power of Congress to subject the states to lawsuits.

NPR's Andy Bowers reports on the second debate between presidential candidates Al Gore and George Bush last night in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Seated together at a table talk-show-style, this debate took a friendlier tone than their first meeting.

This year's election has focused on many issues of concern to the elderly -- social security and prescription drug costs among them. Those topics came up again in last night's presidential debate. NPR's Eric Westervelt watched the debate with senior citizens at Pennswood Retirement Community outside of Philadelphia and got their reaction.

The end of the cold war could mean colder -- but shorter -- routes for international air traffic, as Arctic air space could be opened to passenger planes. Russia and Canada have been evaluating possible northern flight routes. Linda talks to Sidney Koslowe, Vice President of Engineering for NAV Canada, who is attending a Transportation Symposium meeting in Washington.

NPR's John Ydstie reports that two Americans will share the Nobel Prize for Economics. James Heckman of the University of Chicago and Daniel McFadden of the University of California at Berkeley were cited for their work in microeconometrics, which combines economics and statistics. Heckman designed new methods for evaluating the effectiveness of various social programs from affirmative action to job training. McFadden was credited with developing statistical methods that transformed empirical research.