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  • Retired basketball star Dennis Rodman called Kim Jong Un an "aweseome" man after a visit earlier this year. His trip there this week follows a prediction by Rodman that he would persuade Kim to release Korean-American missionary Kenneth Bae. But Rodman says that's not the purpose of his visit.
  • The U.S. Air Force has pulled the plug on a radar system that tracks thousands of objects orbiting Earth, from satellites and debris to meteors. The military says the shutdown can save $14 million annually. A replacement plan is in the works.
  • Diana Nyad became the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without the help of a shark cage. This was Nyad's fifth attempt and it took her 53 hours. Host Michel Martin spoke with her three years ago, about not giving up.
  • Ethan Saylor, a young man with Down Syndrome, died after an altercation with police. The case has raised questions about the way cops deal with people who have mental disabilities. Host Michel Martin discusses Saylor's case with parents and a former policeman.
  • When you're out shopping, it may be a little difficult to make smart money decisions - especially when those perfect shoes are calling your name. Omar Green wants to help; his company is developing software that tracks spending and - just like mom - reminds you about your financial goals.
  • While President Obama is trying to convince members of Congress that action is needed in Syria, one Washington-based group is already aiding opposition forces. Host Michel Martin talks with Dan Layman of the Syrian Opposition Group about their efforts to fund the Free Syrian Army.
  • Snails getting ready for winter are natural carpenters. They construct doors, or maybe you'd call them walls, inside their shells. They do this without hammers, nails or cement. Instead, they use their foot — and of course, their favorite material, mucus. Welcome to the ingenious world of snail construction.
  • One of the biggest challenges in public health challenges is reaching people in vulnerable groups. Often influential peers are recruited to help spread the word. When that technique was transferred to Facebook, at-risk Latino and African American Men were more likely to get an HIV test.
  • After the 1989 earthquake that shook the region, the Bay Bridge had been "protected" by a metal troll welded to the span. Some had worried that the new Bay Bridge wouldn't have its own troll. To the relief of many, it will.
  • Allegations that U.S. agents spied on Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto when he was a candidate during last year's campaign have led Mexico to summon U.S. Ambassador Anthony Wayne and demanded "a thorough investigation."
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