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The union representing the nation's letter carriers has hired a former Obama administration adviser as it faces proposals that could lead to layoffs of thousands of its members. Ron Bloom oversaw the administration's auto industry task force. His hiring by the National Association of Letter Carriers comes as the union is negotiating a new contract with the U.S. Postal Service, which cannot find a way to make delivering mail by hand profitable. It is losing billions of dollars and is considering drastic steps to cut costs.

When office costs are factored in, doctors lose money about half the time on common immunizations, a new analysis finds. Vaccine storage and personnel costs are often overlooked.

In a new book, two Pulitzer-winning authors say the great Dutch painter covered up his own murder. But Van Gogh experts are unconvinced.

An NPR analysis of contributions week by week found that itemized contributions to Texas Gov. Rick Perry dropped 60 percent during the week following his first appearance in a GOP presidential debate, on Sept. 7. That same week, Romney's itemized contributions went up 50 percent. Compare the candidates' weekly fundraising totals in an interactive graphic.

Members of the United Auto Workers union finish voting Tuesday on a new contract with the carmaker that would mean nearly 6,000 new jobs in the U.S. Ford and the UAW both say it's a good deal for the company and its union employees, but not everyone is convinced.

The editor of Newsweek offers some required reading on the gap between the Tea Party and the Republican establishment — and talks about the "Yes We Cain" issue of Newsweek, featuring Republican Herman Cain. "Herman Cain is surprising everybody," Brown says.

President Obama is drawing sharp contrasts between his jobs plan and the ideas put forward by Republicans in Congress, as he continues his bus tour through North Carolina and Virginia. That may not bring his jobs plan any closer to passing, but it does help frame the argument for the 2012 election.

A "dazed ... thin and pale" Gilad Shalit is home in Israel after more than five years as a prisoner of Hamas. Palestinians are celebrating as Israeli authorities begin releasing some of the hundreds of prisoners who are being set free in exchange.

A young Japanese artist has developed quite a web following for his banana art. Keisuke Yamada uses a toothpick and spoon to sculpt faces onto the fruit.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has a connection to the Occupy Wall Street protesters. The mayor's girlfriend Diana Taylor is on the board of directors of Brookfield Office Properties. That company owns Zuccotti Park, where protesters have been camping for weeks. He insists they don't discuss the demonstrations or her business interests at home.