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The California economy is in bad shape. The state's unemployment rate currently sits at 10.5 percent, compared to the national rate of 8.1 percent. Can we expect the state's unemployment to continue to grow, or are there signs of improvement on the horizon? Host Maureen Cavanaugh speaks to Steve Levy, from the Center for Continuing Study of the California Economy, to get his take on the state's economic health.

Famous autistic Temple Grandin talks about her book Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior.

How does fear of losing a job or growing old impact our lives? We'll talk with best selling author Rabbi Harold Kushner about his newest book "Conquering Fear: Living Boldly in an Uncertain World."

A Senate committee will consider President Bush's nomination for the next surgeon general, Dr. James Holsinger. But there are questions about both the job, and the candidate. Earlier this week, former Surgeon General Richard Carmona testified that he was muzzled by the Bush administration.

The U.S. military says a man recently killed in an attack is the minister of information for al-Qaida in Iraq. The Iraqi government says he was the head of an insurgent coalition that includes al-Qaida in Iraq, but the U.S. cast doubt on the claim.

Tensions are high in Lebanon's capital after three days of gun-battles have seen Hezbollah fighters taking control of much of the city. At least 11 are dead, and on Friday Hezbollah fighters attacked a pro-government TV station.

Talk of the Nation asked friends and colleagues at NPR to remind us of some of the remarkable men and women who died in 2009. The staff responded with personal stories about the people who inspired them — people like Kim Peek, "The Real Rain Man," and centenarian Ann Nixon Cooper, who was mentioned during Barack Obama's election speech. But there were others who've touched our lives who weren't famous at all.

It's looking more and more like the Miramar Marine Corps Station will be put to a vote as a possible airport site in November. A key committee of the County's Airport Authority voted yesterday to put

The City of San Diego passed a smoking ban in city parks and on beaches in 2006, are people following the law? A local community group, concerned with the amount of cigarette litter on the ground in city parks organized a clean up and found more than 17,000 butts a month. We discuss the smoking ban, who's smoking and the harms of second-hand smoke.

Millionaire Eric Roach has stepped out of the race for the 50th Congressional District. Guest host Alison St. John finds out what this means for the district and the upcoming elections.