The board responsible for assessing economic cycles announced Monday the U.S. economy is in a recession, and has been for nearly a year. Jeff Frankel, a Harvard professor and a member of the Business Cycle Dating Committee for the National Bureau of Economic Research, offers his insight.

The Big Three automakers have presented their plans to Congress for how they will restructure themselves to make them worthy of a congressional bailout. Ford says it wants a $9 billion standby line of credit; GM has sought $12 billion. Chrysler is expected to ask for $7 billion.

Technically speaking, the Obama campaign had two crown jewels: a database with the e-mail addresses of 10 million supporters and an online network that mobilized voters. What will become of this machine as the president-elect moves to the White House?

Although it is late and over budget, the $621 million dollar Capitol Visitor Center is spectacular. The long-delayed center has finally opened and it is the largest-ever expansion to the U.S. Capitol.

Barack Obama has picked Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano to head the Department of Homeland Security. As a governor of a border state, she has experience with immigration and customs issues. Napolitano is also a former federal prosecutor, which may inform her decisions on security and anti-terrorism matters.

Incoming Democratic Sen.-elect Jeff Merkley won a hard-fought contest against incumbent Republican Gordon Smith in Oregon. Merkley is a former speaker of the Oregon House with a reputation as someone unafraid to break ranks with the leadership.

Utilities want the Supreme Court to reinstate a Bush administration regulation that was overturned by lower courts. The regulation allowed utilities to consider the cost of the cleanest technology and not install it if fails a cost-benefit analysis.

Christmas is weeks away, but Santa is already getting a lot of letters. New York City postal workers have opened the letters and the public has been invited to make someone's Christmas wish come true.

Paul Salopek, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for the Chicago Tribune, tells NPR that American policy has contributed to unrest in Somalia. Salopek, who is examining America's hidden military operations in Africa, says Somalia faces "more lawlessness than ever."

The American buffalo at one time swarmed the plains from Texas to Canada, but by 1911 they were near extinction. Steven Rinella, author of American Buffalo, talks about his experience hunting buffalo in Alaska and about his book.

Listeners responded to Monday's coverage of the 1968 Mexico City student massacre and All Tech Considered's online dating segment.

In Silicon Valley, there are now enough fully electric cars to spark a new business: car-charging stations. One company is joining with the city of San Jose to offer car-charging outlets on streetlight poles, in parking lots and even on parking meters.

In the wake of the shootings at Virginia Tech, colleges and universities are paying more attention to students with mental health problems. But in some cases, that has meant that students who complain of serious depression or suicidal thoughts are quickly suspended or expelled.

Anger and indignation are building in Mumbai in the wake of the terrorist attacks that left nearly 200 dead and hundreds more wounded. The people of Mumbai are sending text messages, calling for a mass protest rally Wednesday.

Award-winning children's book author and illustrator Mo Willems wants to become a radio cartoonist. He and Michele Norris give it a shot.