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Before there was Bernie Madoff, there was Ivar Kreuger, the man John Kenneth Galbraith called the Leonardo of scammers. When Kreuger, an extremely successful and much-admired businessman during the 1920s, killed himself in 1932, investors discovered that his financial empire, based in the manufacture of matches, was made of sand, built out of complex financial instruments that are the forerunners of today's derivatives.

A scathing report by a state watchdog group recommends California lawmakers either take action now to fix the overcrowded prison system --- or set up an independent panel to do the job. From Sacrament

The San Diego art scene was rich and flourishing during the middle of last century. We'll talk with local mid-century art enthusiast Dave Hampton about the San Diego artists from the mid-century modern period.

The Asian tsunami of 2004 killed more than 170,000 people in the Indonesian province of Aceh alone, washing away tens of thousands of homes, schools and businesses. Two years later, reconstruction is under way, but serious challenges in housing and infrastructure remain.

Appointed India's Ambassador to the U.S. just four months ago, career diplomat Meera Shankar has a lot on her plate. We discuss somewhat prickly U.S. - India relations; the Indian view of President Obama's administration and policies; the global economy and India's concern over U.S. protectionism; Indian relations with Pakistan and Afghanistan; the U.S. - India Nuclear Deal; and India's response to terrorism.

A military probe has concluded that U.S. Marines in Iraq killed unarmed Iraqi civilians without provocation. The inquiry alleges that a group of Marines fired on men, women and children while looking for insurgents after an explosion of a roadside bomb killed one of their comrades. Madeleine Brand speaks with Los Angeles Times reporter Tony Perry about the investigation.

Age, The Voter, and the Candidate

Duncan Hunter Redux

After eight days and 700 miles on a bicycle, cyclist Levi Leipheimer from Santa Rosa was declared the winner of the 2007 Amgen Tour of California. Last year's Tour winner was also a California residen

The Dark Knight