Refinery and pipeline troubles pushed wholesale fuel costs to a record high this week, leading to higher gas prices for Californians. Industry watchers say those prices may not drop any time soon.

Obama's path to capturing Virginia again remains far from certain in a dead-heat race with Mitt Romney, whose White House dreams rely heavily on securing the state's 13 electoral votes. And the state's race between two well-regarded former governors could determine control of the U.S. Senate.

Researchers recently calculated the theoretical food value of the ethanol in a gas tank. At the heart of the calculation is this: Should we burn so much food as fuel? And how will it impact food prices and the world's poor?

The latest jobs report was good news for President Obama and not so much for Mitt Romney, whose campaign has been predicated on the argument that a bad economy requires a change in White House occupancy.

In September, employers added 114,000 workers and the unemployment rate fell to 7.8 percent. As President Obama notes, job growth is steady. But as his rival Mitt Romney points out, job increases have not kept pace with population growth.

For the first time in nearly four years, unemployment is below 8 percent. It's already heating up the election discussion on the economy. But Wednesday's debate left some confused about where the candidates stand. Host Michel Martin looks at the candidates' economic platforms with NPR's Marilyn Geewax and The Wall Street Journal's Sudeep Reddy.

Republican Mitt Romney delivers a needed jolt to his campaign at the first presidential debate. Ron Elving and Ken Rudin dissect the memorable moments and look ahead to next week's matchup between Vice President Joe Biden and Romney's running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis.

The news is sure to be a hot topic on the campaign trail.

His controversial comments didn't come up in Wednesday night's debate. Thursday night on Fox News Channel, the Republican presidential nominee said his "whole campaign is about the 100 percent."

Venezuelans go to the polls Sunday to decide whether President Hugo Chavez remains in power. Polls indicate it's his most serious electoral challenge since taking office nearly 14 years ago. But Venezuela closed its Miami consulate, so Florida voters have to go to New Orleans.