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NPR's John Ydstie reports that a new study by the Census Bureau shows the number of Americans living in poverty has dropped to the lowest level in two decades. The study also shows that approximately 17 percent of American children are growing up in poverty.

The US women's softball team won a gold medal at the Sydney Olympics Tuesday in the hardest possible fashion. As NPR's Tom Goldman reports, the team was considered unbeatable after a two-year winning streak of 112 games. But it lost three straight games in the early round of competition, nearly putting it out of medal contention. The US then fought back and swept the three teams -- China, Australia and Japan -- it lost to earlier in the tournament.

The name change comes after years of activism from the Butchulla Aboriginal people, who inhabited the island before colonization. K'gari means "paradise" in the Butchulla language.

Banning Eyre has a review of Un Gran Dia en el Barrio, or A Great Day in the Neighborhood, by the Spanish Harlem Orchestra. The band is made up of veteran New York musicians, but they play together for the first time on this new CD. (Atlantic Records ASIN: B00006IZNW ) (4:00)

The Colombian indie rock band performs a colorful and funky four-song set from their home country's capital, Bogotá.

Osnos' new book focuses on coal country in West Virginia; hedge fund culture in Greenwich, Conn.; institutional racism in Chicago and why Democrat Joe Manchin holds remarkable sway in the Senate.

On Dec. 1, the court will hear arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. The Mississippi case tests whether all state laws that ban pre-viability abortions are unconstitutional.

Jacki Lyden interviews NPR's Ken Rudin about what may be at stake should the Senate elections result in a power shift or what could happen if the balance of power remains the same. (3:30)

The sequoias are "wrapped with house-wrapping material, kind of an aluminum-foil fabric that goes around the base of the trees," says Jon Wallace, who is helping to lead the firefighting effort.

The control of the U.S. Senate may rest with several key races around the country. Today, we take a look at three of them. First, John Ydstie talks with NPR's Nancy Solomon about the race in New Jersey. Then, we're on to South Dakota, where Republican John Thune is challenging incumbent Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson. We're joined by Curt Nickisch from South Dakota Public Radio for this portion. Finally, we talk about Missouri, where Democrat Jean Carnahan is fighting to keep her seat from Republican challenger Jim Talent. NPR's Greg Allen joins us to talk about the Missouri race. (8:30)