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Four years before the famous Kennedy-Nixon face-off, a student at the University of Maryland wanted to see whether the nominees in 1956 — Dwight Eisenhower and Adlai Stevenson — might want to engage with students. His effort failed, but ultimately set in motion the televised debates we know today.

Top universities are embracing free online education. Dozens of schools, such as the University of Pennsylvania, are now offering classes to thousands of people across the world. But what will this mean for the future of the classroom, and the brand of the universities involved?

Decisions are expected this term on affirmative action in higher education, same-sex marriage, the Voting Rights Act and a lot of privacy issues. The court opens the term Monday by taking a look at a case brought against Shell Oil by 12 Nigerians granted political asylum in the U.S.

The Syrian American Medical Society is quietly providing aid inside the embattled country. Some doctors see a series of "relatively safe" towns along the Turkish border as a place to begin rebuilding Syria's decimated health care system.

The next version of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders proposes to lump nail biters and other pathological groomers with people who have obsessive compulsive disorder. But some psychiatrists see nail biting as a much more benign habit.

The satirical news site reported a bogus poll: 77 percent of rural white voters would rather vote for Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad than President Obama. The Iranian news agency Fars did not understand it was a joke, and reported the survey as fact.

Campaigns have many milestones. The debates mark the last. In just a little more than a month, the 2012 presidential campaign will finally be over.

The musician was playing Saturday in New York, and enraged fans by storming offstage after less than an hour. White seemed to blame the fans themselves. He complained of their energy level, and barked out during the performance, "Is this an NPR convention?"

Also: California bans so-called gay-repair therapy for minors; Supreme Court begins a new term; European team retains golf's Ryder Cup after dramatic comeback; Russian court adjourns hearing on appeal from Pussy Riot members.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad brought a large entourage with him when he visited New York last week. One of them, a cameraman, stayed behind and is seeking asylum in the U.S., a lawyer says.