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The unemployment rate ticked up to 7.9 percent in October, while the economy added 171,000 jobs, the Labor Department said Friday. Steve Inskeep speaks with NPR's John Ydstie and Tamara Keith about the numbers.

The 70-foot spruce has left its home in White River National Forest and is heading by truck to Washington, D.C. Along the way, it will stop in 10 states. One of the drivers, Gerald Morris, is looking forward to the trip: "It's a great thing to be involved in such a project."

The federal agency has received praise from politicians and storm survivors alike for being prepared before the storm and responsive immediately afterward — two things the agency was not when Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast in 2005.

Missouri has the lowest cigarette tax in the country and health advocates cite that when pointing to the state's high smoking rates and minimal resources to help people quit. A ballot measure in the state proposes changing that, directing the tax revenue to schools and tobacco prevention programs.

Election Day 2000 ended in a stalemate and weeks of finger-pointing and legal battles. Host Michel Martin looks at whether the country has learned the lessons from that crisis in time for Tuesday's vote. She speaks with Ilya Shapiro of the Cato Institute, and Robert Pastor of the Center for Democracy and Election Management at American University.

New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg announced Thursday he is endorsing President Obama, in large part because he believes Obama will do a better job addressing climate change. That phenomenon is on the minds of New Yorkers as they struggle to clean up from this week's devastating storm. Steve Inskeep speaks with NPR's Richard Harris about the science and politics of climate change.

Mitt Romney dialed up the criticism of Barack Obama at campaign events across Virginia on Thursday. For most of this week, Romney held back from criticizing his opponent as Superstorm Sandy raged.

There were about 50,000 more jobs added to payrolls than economists expected. Also: September's growth was revised upward. This is the last major economic report before Election Day and is sure to be a hot topic on the campaign trail.

Long lines have drivers on edge. Disruptions to the supply chain continue. But steps have been been taken to get more gas to the region through the area's ports. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo predicts things will be better soon.

In the closing days of the campaign, some serious money is coming in behind the controversial GOP Senate nominee, and one recent poll showed his race against Claire McCaskill is a dead heat. But most observers think Akin's already done his campaign too much damage.