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Mississippi is the most obese state in the nation. That's not something top-ranking state officials like to boast about, so they've decided to take matters into their own hands. A group of state lawmakers has begun an effort to shed hundreds of pounds. It's hoped their weight loss will spur others on.

Dreamgirls is nominated for eight Academy Awards, but not for Best Picture. Babel, which is among five nominees for the top film, earns seven nominations.

Rising prices are a top concern for voters in this year's midterm elections, outpacing abortion, crime and defending democracy. Prices in September were up 8.2% from a year ago.

The Obama administration recently filed a complaint against China with the World Trade Organization. Meanwhile the two campaigns are having an ad war in Ohio over Chinese trade. Part of the reason is that Ohio's manufacturing industry — especially for autos — is firing on all cylinders.

After a record-setting Christmas, Hollywood wraps up the year with more than $9 billion in the till -- the second biggest box office total in its history. Film critic NPR's Bob Mondello says a large part of that money was well-earned: some of 2003's most popular movies were also among the year's best. He offers a list of his top movie picks for the year.

There was a lot that happened in politics this year, from the consequential midterm elections to the Supreme Court's historic abortion ruling and record migration at the southern border.

Highlights from New York's one-night festival of global sounds included music from Haiti's dance-clubs, Ukrainian experimental theater and Mexican cabarets.

Tom Terrell has a review of Soul on Top, a re-release of a James Brown recording from 1970. On it, Brown sings jazz tunes such as "September Song" and "What kind of Fool am I?"

Toyota remains the world's top-selling automaker. Numbers released Friday show the Japanese company sold 4.9 million cars and trucks in the first half of the year, beating out rival General Motors.

Alistair Campbell, British Prime Minister Tony Blair's top media strategist, steps down amid accusations that he helped exaggerate evidence on Iraq's weapons programs. The British media had dubbed Campbell the "real deputy prime minister." Campbell cites family reasons for his resignation. Hear NPR's Guy Raz.