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Commentator Mark Hertsgaard says the Commission on Presidential Debates makes it nearly impossible for any candidate -- except those from the Democratic and Republican parties -- to participate. He says the debates are essential to any candidacy, and exclusionary rules help the two big parties retain their monopoly over the political system.

NPR's Barbara Bradley reports on two developments from Virginia that involve the use of DNA testing to establish guilt or innocence in criminal cases. In one case, a man who once had been within five days of execution was exonerated of a rape and murder that occurred eighteen years ago. In the other case, a federal judge has ruled that prisoners who claim they were wrongfully convicted have a constitutional right to request DNA testing of the physical evidence.

Commentator Daniel Ferri, a sixth-grade teacher in Chicago says his students discovered a kind of Brazilian dance-rhythm in the sound of the dot-matrix printer. He calls it the techno-sambo.

Ohio has picked the winner in every presidential election since 1964. Like those across much of the Midwest this year, Ohio voters are up grabs this years and are being courted heavily by both Democrat Al Gore and Republican George Bush. NPR's Don Gonyea traveled to the Buckeye state to take the pulse of the campaign there.

Margot Adler reports Americans are getting a rare glimpse at what it might be like to live in a refugee camp. The aid organization Doctors without Borders brings its model refugee camp, complete with overcrowded tents and emergency rations, to New York.

NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr shares his thoughts on the performances of last night's presidential debaters, Vice President Al Gore and Governor George Bush.

Noah talks with Vladeta Jankovic, the vice president of the Democratic Party of Serbia. Jankovic talks about his party's presidential candidate Vojislav Kostunica and plans to boycott this Sunday's Yugoslavian runoff election.

NPR's Tom Gjelten reports on mounting speculation about a possible deal under which Slobodan Milosevic might agree to step down from power. A United Nations human rights official suggested today that the U.N. war crimes tribunal in the Hague should be prepared to drop war crimes charges against Slobodan Milosevic in return for his departure from office. Serbian opposition leaders say it would help their campaign to unseat Milosevic. But tribunal officials -- and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan today rejected the proposal. Russian efforts to negotiate a solution to the Yugoslav crisis continue, but little progress is reported.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews Contemporary Jazz, a new CD from saxophonist Branford Marsalis (Columbia Records).

NPR's Brooke Gladstone reports on the new Fall television season. She says there's quite a bit of variety in the programming and somewhat more racial diversity. Despite the popularity of last year's hits, Survivor, and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, there isn't much innovation. Instead, several movie stars are featured in the new television lineup in traditional formats.