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NPR's Elaine Korry reports that California is adopting a plan that puts it in the business of buying and selling power. Many lawmakers who championed deregulation say they voted for the plan only to avoid an energy disaster.

NPR's Nancy Marshall reports on a scam that many consumers who shop over the phone are discovering: buying clubs. The services add you to their membership list, and then add their membership fee to your credit card bill without the customer's consent.

Jay Field of Chicago Public Radio reports the city of Rockford, Illinois, is chipping in to help small businesses buy health insurance. The program helps low-paid workers at family restaurants and other establishments afford basic coverage, with help from their employer and the city. So far, 500 businesses are participating.

PepsiCo will buy Quaker Oats for $13.4 billion in stock, giving PepsiCo a new array of food and beverage products, including Quaker's big seller -- Gatorade. The deal gives PepsiCo a boost in its battle with arch rival Coca-Cola over customers who drink non-carbonated beverages. Coke withdrew a pricier bid for Quaker Oats last month. NPR's Jim Zarroli reports.

Commentator Lenore Skenazy says Halloween has taken on the commercial importance of Christmas, much to her chagrin. It used to be a relatively unadorned festival. Now it's full of lawn ornaments, lights and plastic tchotchke.

NPR's John Ydstie reports the U.S. joined the central banks of Europe, Japan, England and Canada in a coordinated effort to stop the slide of the Euro. The intervention in the foreign exchange markets seemed to work, at least for now. The Euro climbed as high as 90 cents, but then fell back a bit later in the day.

The housing market is still booming and prices are skyrocketing in many hot areas. With costs so high, some economists say it might make more sense to rent. A look at the financial choice many people face.

Chrysler would be the first major automaker to become a private company. The big question is what will Cerberus do with the ailing car maker? Colin Blaydon, professor at Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business, talks about the deal.

The health law lays out a new and possibly less costly model to help health care providers care for patients and keep costs down. So just what are these Accountable Care Organizations and how would they work?

Noah talks with Brian Graunke, a resident of Medford, Oregon who was a victim of identity fraud. He and his wife were tipped off to the problem when Sprint called them to ask about an application for an account that was made in their names. They had not submitted the application. Identity theft has become one of the top concerns of American consumers, according to the Federal Trade Commission. A Senate Judiciary subcommittee held a hearing on the subject yesterday.