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Host Bob Edwards speaks with Fiona Ritchie, host of NPR's The Thistle and Shamrock, about the original Halloween traditions of the Celts. They carved turnip lanterns, set out food for the dearly departed and sang for a treat. (3:34)

Host Bob Edwards speaks with Curtis Gans of the Committee for the Study of the American Electorate about the upcoming elections. He says absentee ballots are supposed to enable people to vote, but they may actually discourage voting. Gans says it's a case of voting reforms that backfired. (3:40)

Commentator Edmund Morris offers a parallel between the current Iraq situation and one from 100 years ago involving President Teddy Roosevelt and Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany. Edmund Morris is the Pulitzer-Prize winning author of The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt. Other books by Morris include Theodore Rex and Dutch: A Memoir of Ronald Reagan.

There are reports that several terrorist attacks throughout the world since Sept. 11, 2001, are the work of a new group of al Qaeda leaders. NPR's Bob Edwards speaks with Douglas Farah of The Washington Post.

The SEC investigates William Webster's selection to head an accounting oversight board after reports suggest SEC Chairman Harvey Pitt failed to disclose problems in Webster's resume to other SEC commissioners. NPR's Jack Speer reports.

Raisin farmers in California's Central Valley are losing thousands of dollars this year as the industry faces overproduction and a glut of grapes on the market. They hope the U.S. Department of Agriculture will help by paying farmers to pull up their vines. From member station KQED, Tamara Keith reports.

A study raises questions about the effect of the heart medication Digoxin on women. Researchers say women who take the drug have a higher death rate than men who take it. NPR's Patricia Neighmond reports.

In Texas -- a state 52 percent white -- the Democratic nominees for Senate and governor are minority candidates running against white opponents -- and seeking white votes. NPR's Juan Williams reports.

Allan Rutter, head of the Federal Railroad Administration, says railroads are paying more attention to security in light of a recent FBI warning about a possible terrorist threat to U.S. railways. Rutter speaks to NPR's Bob Edwards.

Elderly voters are at the heart of a tight Senate race in New Hampshire. Rep. John Sununu, a Republican, is tussling with Gov. Jean Shaheen, a Democrat, on issues such as Social Security reform. NPR's Mara Liasson reports.