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NPR's Phillip Davis reports Florida's race for Governor is a tight one. Democrats vowed from the minute Al Gore lost the presidency that Jeb Bush would pay for it. They are hoping the residual anger from 2000, plus the overcrowding of school classes, will propel Bill McBride to victory. But Governor Bush is running a tight campaign, with far more money in the bank than his opponent.

Commentator Mark Allen has this story of the teacher who had the most influence on him growing up. On Halloween during his senior year of high school, the algebra teacher, Rhonda Maloney, wore an elaborate ape mask that probably took hours to create. She was the only one in the school to dress up that day. She was taunted and jeered throughout the day, and Mark has never forgotten how she handled the abuse.

The SEC investigates William Webster's selection to head an accounting oversight board after reports suggest SEC Chairman Harvey Pitt failed to tell other SEC commissioners about problems in Webster's resume. NPR's Scott Horsley reports.

Robert Siegel and John Ydstie read some letters from All Things Considered listeners. Among the topics this week are yesterday's commentary on sex offenders, the ethnicity of Vogue editor Diana Vreeland, and the crowning of Napoleon.

The Mississippi legislature has taken up legislation that would reform business liability law in the state. Lawmakers are reacting to accusations that Mississippi has become a magnet for liability litigation. Proponents of the legislation say reform would save businesses millions in court costs every year; opponents say it will only help rich corporations. NPR's David Molpus reports from Mississippi.

NPR's David Kestenbaum reports that another strong substance may have been mixed with the powerful narcotic gas pumped into a Moscow theater held by Chechen rebels last week. Russian health officials have detected traces of the anesthetic Halothane in the bodies of rescued hostages, but it's unclear whether pending test results will be made public. More than one hundred hostages died from the gas.

NPR's Greg Allen reports on the re-election campaign of Arkansas Sen. Tim Hutchinson, who is thought to be the most endangered GOP senator on the ballot next week. Hutchinson, who ran six years ago as a "family values" conservative, divorced his wife and married an aide shortly after his election. Further, Hutchinson's Democratic opponent, Attorney General Mark Pryor, is the son of one of the state's most revered political figures.

Shipping companies file court papers charging West Coast dock workers with a work slowdown. Union leaders say they are working as fast as they can given the backup resulting from a recent lockout. NPR's Elaine Korry reports.

The U.S. ambassador to Moscow says Russia's reticence about the type of gas used to end the theater siege may have cost lives. But Alexander Vershbow stops short of criticizing Russia for its handling of the crisis. NPR's Michele Kelemen reports.

Reducing poverty tops the priority list for Brazil's president-elect, Luiz da Silva. Poor Brazilians have high hopes for his administration, but "Lula" faces creditors who demand he not bust the federal budget. NPR's Martin Kaste reports. Oct. 30, 2002.