By Brian Williams, Anchor and managing editor

Perhaps because I had more time than normal today to cruise the interwebs and the Googles, I'd like to devote my post and my space (see how well I avoid any discussion of last night or politics in general?) to some notable stuff out there: a great piece of work on the TSA, and items of interest on the Titanic and the Royals (not the Kansas City kind).

Tonight I'm off to the Al Smith dinner here in New York. It's a night of good news/bad news. The good news is, I'm lucky enough, as a former keynoter, to have a seat on the dais with Obama and McCain and all the other luminaries. The bad news is: I'm missing one of the more spectacular nights of television viewing, including The Office, the SNL special, and McCain on Letterman! The good news is: a seat on the dais usually means you get your meal about 6 minutes before the folks at the tables. The bad news: all those on the dais have to wear white tie.

The most important thing, however, is this: as with all political events this season, this is the first Al Smith dinner in modern memory without Tim Russert. Tim and I used to jokingly call the dinner the "Irish-Catholic Oscars," and sadly, my friend won't be there tonight -- but his wife and son will. So will a room full of people who loved him.

We hope you can join us for tonight's broadcast.

By Brian Williams, Anchor and managing editor

All of us become aware -- in the course of an average day -- of small moments … snippets of Presidential speeches. There are tons of them, constantly -- the President always seems to be speaking somewhere, saying something to someone -- and it's simply a fact of life that during "normal" times, most Presidential remarks don't have national impact. Sometimes you have to hold them up and highlight them -- so we can read them and concentrate on them, away from the heat of the day and debate, and reflect on them. So I offer, for that purpose, these words from the President:

"Our adversaries have not abandoned their ambitions, our dangers have not diminished, our vigilance cannot be relaxed. But now we have the military, the scientific, and the economic strength to do whatever must be done for the preservation and promotion of freedom. That strength will never be used in pursuit of aggressive ambitions -- it will always be used in pursuit of peace. It will never be used to promote provocations -- it will always be used to promote the peaceful settlement of disputes."

The words of the President. President John F. Kennedy. It's a portion of the speech he never delivered: prepared for delivery at the Dallas, Texas Trade Mart on November 22, 1963.

I hope you can join us for our broadcast tonight, and then for our special live coverage of the Presidential debate -- the last of three -- tonight at Hofstra University on Long Island. We'll be on the air at 9pm Eastern for the full two hours.

By Robert Bazell, NBC News chief science correspondent

Today we report on yet more promising research in monkeys involving possible treatments for paralysis. You can read more of the details here. Whenever we consider reporting on animal research we have to consider the fine line between relating hopeful basic research and raising false expectations in the millions of people who suffer paralysis from injury or illness and their loved ones.

 

The head scientist in this study Dr. Chet Mortiz was careful to tell me that he thinks human applications will be decades away. Yet there is a genuine excitement, not just from this one study, but from many, that a combination of a better understanding of the brain, computers and robotics will bring real help to people sooner rather than later.
 
To see many of the research projects now underway I suggest you check out the websites of the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, and the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke.

By John Rutherford, Producer, NBC News, Washington

Some families endure tremendous sacrifices for this country that most Americans are unaware of.

Sharon Rusch was three days shy of her sixth birthday when her father was shot down over Laos in 1972 and disappeared.

"He wasn't suppose to fly that day," Sharon said recently. "Actually, his friend was, but his friend's wife had called and said, 'I had a bad dream. You can't fly today.' So my dad took the mission and of course got shot down."

Air Force Capt. Stephen Rusch, 28, left behind his wife Judy and daughters Sharon and Rebecca.

"We had nothing," Sharon said. "My mom had no money. She would work all day at minimum wage jobs and then put us to sleep and make doll clothes for us for Christmas. It all worked out in the end, but I don't know how she did it."

Sharon joined the Air Force herself in 1992 and rose to the rank of colonel in the Dental Corps. She married a fellow Air Force officer, Kevin Bannister, and had two daughters of her own, Kira and Haley.

But her father's disappearance continued to prey on her, especially when she began receiving phone calls from a man who insisted her father was still alive and living overseas.

"He never asked for money, but that's where I think he was going," Sharon said. "I was very quick to tell him I didn't buy any of it and I thought it was awful of him to call families. He contacted me a couple of times and then sort of disappeared."

She said families of the missing are often targets of such scams.

"It's more common than you would think," she said. "It makes me a little sick to my stomach to know people are out there doing that to families."

About 10 years ago, her father's crash site was located, and a bone fragment was later recovered. A DNA sample was needed from his mother to identify his remains.

"My father had been adopted, and after a lot of work, we contacted the adoption agency, and after I explained the whole situation, the adoption agency grudgingly agreed to help me find the birth mom," Sharon said.

"The agency found her. I wasn't allowed to talk to her, but I was allowed to give her a letter. The birth mom refused to give a swab from the inside of her mouth, which is all it took to be able to identify my dad."

Sharon was never given a reason for the woman's refusal.

"I mean, what would it hurt to help somebody?" she asked. "I just can't imagine not doing that."

Two years later, however, her father's remains were identified through the fillings and leftover enamel in two tiny pieces of teeth recovered from the crash site.

"It's just amazing that they were able to find something so small in an overgrown jungle that was enough to identify him and bring him back to us, bring him back to his family," she said.

Sharon flew out to Hawaii and brought his remains home for burial at Arlington National Cemetery on Nov. 30, 2007.

"I didn't think I'd be as emotional as I was," she said. "It was the first time in a long time that I cried. It was like he was finally home, and I finally knew he was being buried in the most honored place you could possibly be buried."

Even today, 36 years after his death and nearly a year after his burial, Sharon still thinks every day about her father.

"There's not a day that goes by that I don't miss him," she said. "My dad's still my hero, and he always will be."

Photos: Air Force Capt. Stephen Rusch (Pentagon photo); Air Force Col. Sharon Bannister and her family receive American flag at burial of her father at Arlington National Cemetery, Nov. 30, 2007 (AP Photo).

Click here to view tributes to the 413 service members killed this year in Iraq and Afghanistan, including the following four casualties from last week:

1. Army Sgt. William Rudd, 27, of Madisonville, Ky.

2. Marine Col. Michael Stahlman, 45, of Chevy Chase, Md.

3. Marine Cpl. Jason Karella, 20, of Anchorage, Alaska.

4. Army Cpl. Ruben Fernandez III, 22, of Abilene, Texas.

Washington Producer John Rutherford is a decorated Vietnam veteran. He also posts stories on the military at www.fieldnotes.msnbc.com (click on "John Rutherford" under "categories") and at http://john-rutherford.newsvine.com. The tribute gallery can be found at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22802019/.

By Vicky Bernal, NBC News associate producer

More than a third of all children in foster care are African American, yet they have lower rates of adoption than children of other race and ethnicities. African American children are also more likely to stay in foster care for a longer period of time compared to white children. A report from earlier this year examines the role of race in adoption from foster care.

The Even B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, a non-profit adoption advocacy and research organization, takes a look at the federal law governing adoptions from foster care. Under the law agencies that receive federal funding are prohibited from considering race, color or national origin as a factor when placing foster care children with potential adoptive families. Part of what this includes and what the Institute takes issue with is that white parents adopting a black child are not required to receive special training or counseling to discuss the potential challenges that adopting across racial lines can bring-things like how to deal with discrimination to how to take care of African American hair.

This report argues that a colorblind approach doesn't work and doesn't meet the needs of African American children. While adopting across racial lines can bring much needed homes to children who need them the Institute wants more practices in place to help better serve the challenges that adopting across racial lines can bring.

For example several studies cited in the report found that transracially adopted children struggle more with acceptance and comfort with their physical appearance than children placed in families of the same race. Some children also struggle to develop a positive racial and ethnic identity.

Aaron Stigger, 28-years old is biracial. He was adopted as a baby by a white couple. He and his mother, Judy Stigger share with us their experience growing up in a transracial family. They agree that race does matter and needs to be addressed whenever you adopt across racial lines but as you'll hear from them directly they believe it's a wonderful way to be a family.

                        

          Editor's note: Click on the above photo to watch the video.

 

More links: Adoption Learning Partners, The Cradle
See this msnbc.com report: Shades of experience - Multi-racial in America

By Al Henkel, NBC News producer

Driving into the middle of Kansas City, Missouri, we saw James Brickhouse sitting on his porch, having a cigarette and a cup of coffee, getting ready to go to work. Brickhouse and his girlfriend live in what was once a pretty nice area of inner-city Kansas City, Missouri.

Brickhouse and most of his neighbors admit, it's not so nice right now. "It's the economy, man. It's really jacked up right now," he says in a low-key voice. Brickhouse is working to remodel some houses for his landlord, and is looking for another job on top of that, but no one is hiring in this neighborhood right now.

This zip code, 64130, has one of the highest foreclosure rates in the city. Abandoned houses, with boarded up or broken out windows are everywhere, Courthouse auction flyers decorate some porches, and bright green "Do not occupy" stickers are all around.

Brickhouse says crime around here is out of control. "Kids are doing stupid crimes, shooting people over gas, just stupid stuff."

Kansas City police say overall crime is up about 10 percent in the city.
Exact stats are not kept, but cops on the beat patrol this neighborhood all the time. The economy goes down, crime goes up. It's not all gloom and doom for the people in this neighborhood, but there's a lot less of a cushion than in most.

Tomorrow: Des Moines, Iowa.

By Brian Williams, Anchor and managing editor

Supreme Court buffs know that when you put nine high-intellect legal minds together, something is bound to happen to upset the norm once in a while. It has happened this term, from an unlikely source. Tonight we'll talk about one of those rare occasions when a Supreme Court justice busts out of the norm -- and instead of writing a by-rote piece of legalese, decides to have some fun...with an otherwise serious case before the Court.

And about last night: thanks to all of you who wrote...and clicked on our extended coverage...and who share our fascination with the Kennedy tapes -- and the simple joy of hearing the conversational voice of a former President. He was taken from us too young, he left far too little behind. What a rare treat to uncover something new from this man about whom it was famously said, "We hardly knew ye..."

We hope you can join us for tonight's broadcast.

By Al Henkel, NBC News producer

Our road trip continues through the heartland. Tonight we'll take you to tiny Garden Plain, Kansas, and introduce you to Larry Steckline and some of his neighbors. Larry was born on a farm in northern Kansas, and clearly loves it. He has to love it, he says, "because some days I sure don't like it very much." He jokes that farming is like going to the crap tables in Las Vegas, "But at least in Vegas you can have some fun while you are losing your money."

Farmers all throughout the country enjoyed a pretty good 2008, at least until the last few months. Grain and feed prices are swinging like a pendulum; fertilizer and diesel fuel prices were through the roof for the planting season last spring, so farmers are stuck with those costs, yet grain prices are depressed. But farmers are optimists, and you will see that in our story tonight.

I wanted to give you a small snapshot of how we're traveling this week. From our jumping off point in Tulsa, OK, we've driven about 600 miles so far in the SUV.

Once we're done shooting, Mara jumps in the backseat and starts logging and editing the tape to get it ready for the next day's spot. My best guess is a total trip of about 2000 miles, once you count the backroads and side trips.

Tomorrow night: Kansas City, MO.

By Pete Williams, NBC News justice correspondent

In dissenting from the Supreme Court's refusal to take up a drug case from Philadelphia, Chief Justice John Roberts today channeled his inner Jack Webb or Dashiell Hammett in summarizing the facts of the case like a hard boiled fiction writer.

"North Philly, May 4, 2001. Officer Sean Devlin, Narcotics Strike Force, was working the morning shift. Undercover surveillance. The neighborhood? Tough as a three-dollar steak. Devin knew. Five years on the beat, nine months with the Strike Force. He'd made fifteen, twenty drug busts in the neighborhood.

"Devin spotted him: a lone man on the corner. Another approached. Quick exchange of words. Cash handed over; small objects handed back. Each man then quickly on his own way. Devlin knew the guy wasn't buying bus tokens. He radioed a description and Officer Stein picked up the buyers. Sure enough: three bags of crack in the guy's pocket. Head downtown and book him. Just another day at the office."

The issue was whether the policeman had sufficient reason to make the arrest -- probable cause -- even though he didn't actually see any drugs change hands. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court said no, he did not, and dismissed the charges. Justice Roberts, joined by Justice Kennedy, said that was the wrong ruling. They said the Supreme Court should have taken the case to overturn that decision.

Probable cause requires only a reasonable ground for belief of guilt. There could have been an innocent explanation for the transaction the policeman saw, said Roberts and Kennedy, but the officer knew it was a high-crime area where frequent drug sales take place. He was entitled to draw the conclusion he did, the justices said.

Tough racket.

 

By Maria Menounos, NBC News contributing correspondent

 

Today, one in every five kids living in the U.S. is a child to immigrant parents and, in 15 years, the U.S. Census Bureau projects that more than half of all children will be minorities.

 

By Brian Williams, Anchor and managing editor

We're debuting our JFK tapes tonight -- we're planning and putting together an extra package on the web to go with it (for those who want to hear more) and it continues to be fascinating the more I listen to it. The great Michael Beschloss, historian and author, will be here tonight to talk us through what we're hearing. I think most listeners will be struck by President Kennedy's intellect, his respect for the political process and the voters, his candor, and how our language has changed in the course of a generation or two. We're very excited to be bringing this to you tonight, along with the rest of our newscast this Columbus Day Monday evening.

I hope everyone had a good weekend and can join us tonight.

By Les Kretman, NBC News White House producer

The economy "schmeconomy." There is something about a White House South Lawn ceremony that that pushes aside worldly troubles for almost an hour. As many members of the Italo-American community waved flags and cheered the close relationship between Italy and this country, a nineteen gun salute punctuated the air.

This is Columbus Day and in less than a month the U-S will be electing a new President. So in recent weeks a variety of heads of state have made farewell stops at the White House - and today one of President Bush's closest allies Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi dropped by for a state visit complete with a review of the troops. Tonight, there'll be state dinner.

Back in 2003 Berlusconi got one of those coveted invitations for a weekend at the ranch in Crawford, Texas - and has made several trips to the White House. Bush, meanwhile, visited Italy earlier this year. Today, Berlusconi called the President a man of great ideals and principles. Bush greeted him with as hearty "Buon Giorno." And later at a Rose Garden news conference Berlusconi expressed 'love" for the president.

But in today's atmosphere of hyperbolic cordiality there was a dose of reality. At both the South Lawn ceremony and in the Rose Garden the leaders made references to the economy, and the urgent need to stabilize world markets. Bush, in the Rose Garden described this as being as being "a crucial time in history."

Tonight more ceremony with a State Dinner and entertainment.

By Al Henkel, NBC News producer

This week Mara Schiavocampo and I will be taking you on an economic adventure through the Midwest. We're traveling through 5 states, talking to people about the economy. We'll give you a different snapshot every day. No experts, no talking heads, just real people, from all walks of life.

The Midwest is a great place to do this sort of reporting. If you are polite enough to ask first, people will talk to you about darned near anything. I grew up, both personally and professionally, in the Midwest. I was a reporter in Iowa more than a quarter century ago, when family farms were being lost, and bankers were repossessing livestock to cover bad loans. In Oklahoma in the 80's the savings and loan debacle occupied much of my time, both as a reporter, and a consumer. Working everyday in that environment doesn't make you an expert on economics, but it sure gives you a good base for questions this time around. The phrase "main street to wall street" doesn't mean much unless you really get out and hit the bricks.

Tonight we'll introduce you to the people of Pryor, Oklahoma. Even before the national troubles, Pryor has not had a good couple of months. Two major employers have announced job losses of almost 700 people. That's a lot for a town of 86-hundred. When Georgia Pacific announced it was shutting down the paper mill that's been operating here since Johnson was president, people were stunned. Early this month, a second long-time employer announced it was moving operations to Texas and Mexico. That would be bad enough. Then the markets started the meltdown. People here scared, frustrated, and worried, yet hopeful and optimistic at the same time. "Small towns are like that" says Mayor Jimmy Tramel. "We all help each other, it's just what we do."

By Lester Holt, NBC News anchor

I'm beginning to regard the notion of a Monday through Friday business week as a thing of the past.  The U.S. financial markets don't open until tomorrow morning, but for yet another Sunday, economic policy makers are busy trying to head off a market meltdown. Their deadline is not Monday morning, but tonight, when Asian markets open for business.

By Lester Holt, NBC News anchor

Emotions are running high in the final weeks of the presidential campaign. Sharp language, attacks and accusations are flying fast and furious — and that's just between supporters of the two candidates. Now, John McCain – who the Obama folks have accused of crossing the line with some of his recent attacks – finds himself in the curious – and oddly uncomfortable – position of confronting his supporters at campaign rallies, and defending Barack Obama.

By Brian Williams, Anchor and managing editor

I just returned from one of my favorite things. Every year I speak to a group of about 100 U.S. Marines -- mostly Lt. Col.'s and Col.'s -- all of them just back from either Iraq or Afghanistan or both. Many are base commanders and XO's; all of them thoughtful warriors. I'm flattered to be invited to spend time with them during their week-long gathering in New York every year. As is always the case when I spend time with the military, I get much more from being around them than they could possibly get from my remarks. But that's just the way it is. They had a ton of questions about public perception of our dual wars, the financial mess and the upcoming election.

I found a sobering video on the New York Times website last night, and I recommend it to all who are looking for some historical perspective on the current financial crisis. It is serious and sobering and features two of the paper's veterans talking about the topic they know best...their life's work, and our shared financial state.

I hope you can join us for our Thursday night broadcast.

By Carl Sears, NBC News producer, Washington

The Government has gone fishing for a 'king salmon.' His name is Ted Stevens, longest-serving Republican Senator and at age 84, an Alaskan legend up for reelection. Stevens corruption trial has reached the half-way mark with the Government resting its case that he lied about $250,000 in home renovations and gifts that he failed to report on Senate financial disclosure forms.

At trial, Stevens has been as imposing and placid as a totem pole as his former close friend Bill Allen testified about extensive renovations performed by Allen's former oil pipeline company--Veco employees on Stevens' Alaskan home in Girdwood. Allen is a convicted felon having been 'hooked' last year in a separate federal investigation for bribing Alaskan state legislators, and is a cooperating witness in Stevens' trial.

Whether the jury saw Allen as a tarnished titan or a rusty steel pipe is open to question, but his halting testimony was supported by numerous exhibits--showing the transformation of Stevens' modest A-frame cabin into an A-Z home with extra bedrooms, new kitchen and bathrooms, sauna, decks, garage, fire escape ladder and generator for power failure. Much of this work was performed by Allen's Veco employees totaling $180,000 on the company's internal accounting records, but Senator Stevens was never sent a bill.

At trial, Government witness testimony supported by emails and handwritten notes showed that on at least 3-4 occasions Stevens asked Allen or Veco workers for a bill, and even reminded Allen in a note that "friendship is one thing, but compliance with ethics rules is another." The defense argued that even Allen acknowledges that if Stevens had been sent a bill, he would have paid it. On the one hand, this suggests a willingness to pay for work done, but on the other it is potent evidence that Stevens knew the importance of reporting on the disclosure forms -- and even if he didn't have a bill to pay -- he knew that Bill Allen was doing work that needed to be paid for and that he needed to report it --- he neither paid nor reported any of Bill Allen's or Veco's renovation work.

On Thursday afternoon, Judge Emmet Sullivan has denied defense motion for acquittal. The defense is opening its case with character witness Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), and intends to follow perhaps tomorrow with Colin Powell, among others. In better days, Stevens and his fishing buddy Bill Allen used to catch their share of prized king salmon in Alaska's Kenai River. Now, the big fish is in the dock as the trial winds through its third week.

By Brian Williams, Anchor and managing editor

As I said after last night's coverage, anyone familiar with the early American town hall meeting tradition -- would be forgiven for not considering what happened in Nashville last night a "town hall-style meeting" per se. The rules allowed the audience to play but a limited role. Tom Brokaw did the best he could against the time constraints, and the candidates did what candidates do. If the voters want changes, the Commission on Presidential Debates will have to change...and it will take both parties to change that. For now, we'll continue using these same formats, the same lecterns, the same eagle logo above the stage -- and we'll have to be content with events like last night.

We'll have coverage of the debate and the continuing economic situation tonight. I hope you can join us. 

By John Rutherford, Producer, NBC News, Washington

Army Chief Warrant Officer Michael Slebodnik, the father of six children and a veteran of six combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, was buried Wednesday at Arlington National Cemetery.

Slebodnik, 39, died Sept. 11 of wounds suffered when his helicopter was hit by small arms fire in Afghanistan.

Slebodnik enlisted in 1987 after graduating from high school in Gibsonia, Pa., and spent the next 21 years flying helicopters in the Army. He participated in Operation Desert Storm in 1990 and served four tours in Iraq before deploying to Afghanistan in January.

He was scheduled to return home this month but was fatally wounded near Forward Operating Base Nagil on the seventh anniversary of 9/11.

"Mickey loved his country," his sister Jody said at an earlier memorial service. "He loved being a soldier. That's all he ever wanted to be."

He also loved his wife, Tanja, his daughter, Ginger, his three sons, Michael, Jacob and Spencer, and his two stepsons, Benjamin and Dylan.

About 100 friends and family members gathered Wednesday morning for Slebodnik's burial, which was preceded by a flyover of four Black Hawk helicopters. Slebodnik's 3-year-old son Michael sat on his mother's lap, clutching a stuffed Panda Bear doll during the brief graveside service.

As is often the case, some of the most poignant tributes to Slebodnik were found on legacy.com.

"I knew Mikey many years ago from Sunday School at St. Killians," wrote June Crowe-Fosnight. "What a wonderful boy."

"I remember seeing him every spring at Crossroad Church when he would come to help Adalaide bring stuff from the barn to the Flea Market," wrote Janice Luffey.

"I looked upon his pictures and I saw the same engaging smile in the man that I recall from high school," wrote Mark Porterfield. "Mickey was a truly nice guy."

"I served with Mike for a short time in Iraq," wrote Gary Linfoot. "The Army has lost a good soldier."

"I'm proud to call Mickey family," wrote Ashley Peters. "I will see him in Arlington, where we honor a true patriot."

Slebodnik was the 79th casualty of the war in Afghanistan to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Photo credits: Family photo of Army Chief Warrant Officer Michael Slebodnik; AP Photo of Slebodnik's burial ceremony, Oct. 8, 2008.

Click here to view tributes to the 409 service members killed this year in Iraq and Afghanistan, including the following eight casualties from last week:

1. Army Sgt. William Hasenflu, 38, of Bradenton, Fla.

2. Army Pfc. Christopher Fox, 21, of Memphis, Tenn.

3. Army Capt. Richard Cliff Jr., 29, of Mount Pleasant, S.C.

4. Army Sgt. 1st Class Jamie Nicholas, 32, of Maysel, W. Va.

5. Army Sgt. 1st Class Gary Vasquez, 33, of Round Lake, Ill.

6. Army Pfc. Christopher Bartkiewicz, 25, of Dunfermline, Ill.

7. Army Pfc. Tavarus Setzler, 23, of Jacksonville, Fla.

8. Army Spc. Jason von Zerneck, 33, of Queens, N.Y.

Washington Producer John Rutherford is a decorated Vietnam veteran. He also posts stories on the military at www.fieldnotes.msnbc.com (click on "John Rutherford" under "categories") and at http://john-rutherford.newsvine.com. The tribute gallery can be found at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22802019/.

By Michelle Kosinski, NBC Correspondent

Driving around foreclosure-riddled southwest Florida, we couldn't believe our eyes.  The prices! Were those typos?

By Brian Williams, Anchor and managing editor

When media people have to approach other media people for comment, or an interview -- including times when they know that it's a fruitless task -- they always say the same thing, "I had to ask."

So when we asked Tom Brokaw's producer in Nashville this morning if he wanted to come on Nightly News tonight to preview the debate, we quickly added that we had to ask. Per usual, Tom did the right thing and declined. Whenever I've moderated debates, I've tried to stay well within a protective bubble on the road -- from hotel to venue and back again, avoiding all interview requests. It's inevitable: everyone wants to know how you THINK it's going to go, and what the candidates "have to do" that night. Afterwards, the first question is always "who do you think won the debate tonight?"

Because that's not our role, and because Tom knows that more than most, as I write this he's "underground" and can't be reached, while he's doing his final preps. We'll be watching our man tonight -- I'll be watching while sitting in the seat he occupied for 23 years. Tom knows that at a well-moderated debate, the focus is squarely on the candidates, and what they say and how they react -- as it will be tonight.

We hope you can join us for Nightly News, and again later in the evening for our live debate coverage at 9pm Eastern time, 6pm on the West Coast.

By Brian Williams, Anchor and managing editor

This is what Gretchen Morgenson wrote in the New York Times on 3/30/99, under the headline DOW FINISHES DAY OVER 10,000 MARK FOR THE FIRST TIME:

"Although 10,000 is little more than a psychological hurdle for investors, the market's move is significant in what it reflects: the unparalleled strength of the economy and the dominance of the world economic stage by American corporations."

On the other hand, there's today's news. And tomorrow's. As one leading financial executive said today, "you will remember 2008 for the next 50 years." I fear it won't be for anything good.

Sorry to end the post on that note, but work calls. On the upside, the New York Giants are undefeated. We hope you can join us for tonight's broadcast.

By Rehema Ellis, NBC News correspondent

When we joined the kids at Van Derveer Elementary in Somerville, New Jersey, we discovered they're learning a lot of lessons on the so-called walking school bus.

For one, kids are getting pointers on what it means to be a good citizen. One teacher, Lindsey Frevret, who walks with the students every Wednesday, says she reminds the children about the importance of respecting the property of others.

"I tell them not to walk on the grass and not to pick the flowers, because those things are here for everyone to enjoy," she says.

Another lesson: We saw the children pick up trash in front of a stranger's house and put it in a garbage can.

Now this may all sound a bit corny and maybe even simple, but not if it's your neighborhood that children are walking through and not if it's your grass and flowers. The children are all supporting each other's efforts, having a good time, laughing and burning up a lot of energy as they scurry to school. And by the time they get to class, they're wide awake, and ready to learn, teachers say.

The benefits aren't limited to the children and the neighbors. Teachers and parents -- the walking monitors -- are also getting to exercise, and they're getting to know the children in a different setting. Frevret says as she listens to the kids share stories with one another.

"It keeps me updated on things like Hanna Montana. So I can go into the classroom and throw out those names and feel cool, and it gets the kids excited," she says. 

One father walking his son to school said he loves it because they get to talk. And that makes it a good time for both of them.

WATCH VIDEO

By Lester Holt, NBC News anchor

After all the urgency and build-up to yesterday's passage of the financial bailout plan, one almost expected to wake up this morning to an economy on the rebound. The reality of course is that it will take time before the government can start buying up all that bad debt, and no one can say with certainty whether the plan will work as advertised. One can understand the impatience of industries and businesses that are running out of time. On our program tonight Chris Jansing profile's a Los Angeles area car dealership that saw virtually no customers walk through the door this morning, has had to lay off workers, and now even closes up early each day to save on the cost of electricity. It seems lately if you get more than two people in the room, the conversation turns to the economy and the signs we are all seeing around us of how people and businesses are getting hurt. In addition to Chris's story, CNBC's Trish Reagan will be on tonight to address what happens now that the bailout plan has been approved, and how we will know if it's working.

The other talker of the day is the OJ Simpson guilty verdict, which came 13 years to the day after he was acquitted in the murders of his ex-wife and her friend. What would otherwise be a local story of a two-bit holdup has re-ignited the national debate over whether justice was in fact properly served 13 years ago in Los Angeles, and whether it was ever possible to view this latest case in a vacuum. We'll have much more on the story tonight.

I hope you'll join us later for NBC Nightly News.