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An economist's career was shaped by the food shortages of the 1970s. The rice crisis of 2008, and continuing high food prices around the world, brought him out of semi-retirement. Today, he's busier than ever.

As China gears up for a once-in-a-decade political transition, those vying for leadership are backing competing socio-economic models. This year's political debate has sprung out in the open — and it has leaders and constituents considering how to move forward politically.

Tuesday is Election Day in many places around the country. NPR's Political Junkie, Ken Rudin, talks to host Audie Cornish to about who and what is on the ballot, and what the results may say about the 2012 races.

After a week of political turmoil in Greece that threatened the fate of the eurozone, Prime Minister George Papandreou is deadlocked with his major opposition rival in trying to form a coalition government. The increasingly unpopular prime minister has not yet announced his promised resignation, keeping the political world on tenterhooks.

Environmentalists are planning to encircle the White House Sunday to protest the Obama administration's expected support of a new pipeline through the Midwest to carry one of the dirtiest forms of oil from Canada to Gulf Coast refineries. NPR's Richard Harris explains that the pipeline pits jobs against the environment.

A recent report by the research project found that one in three Americans raised in the middle class fall out of it as adults. Host Audie Cornish speaks with Erin Currier of the Pew Charitable Trusts' Economic Mobility Project about pressures on the American middle class.

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega's critics call him a dictator. His supporters say he's a revolutionary populist. As NPR's Jason Beaubien reports, Ortega is defying both a constitutional two-term limit on presidents and a ban on serving consecutive terms to run for an unprecedented third term. The election is Sunday.

The system eliminates the need for primary and runoff elections, but some say it is too complicated. In the mayoral race in San Francisco — where 16 candidates are on the ballot — voters will soon find out if the system works.

Police departments are starting to equip officers with video cameras on their uniforms. It's supposed to protect both cops and the public, and clarify he-said-she-said situations. But the technology is raising a number of questions and concerns about privacy and who has access to the videos.

A former assistant football coach faces 40 counts of sexual abuse involving young boys. He says he's innocent. Two officials are charged with perjury and failure to report child abuse. They deny wrongdoing. Paterno says he never knew the specifics.