To the Point

The Growing Power of American Suburbs

Suburbia was the place to be in the 50-s and, these days, it looks like the place to be again. More and more Americans are getting out of town, looking for more space, shorter commutes and less stressful lives. The burbs, new centers of wealth, political power and business, are where swing voters are deciding elections and businesses are building more and more new offices. They-re even the stuff of a best-selling computer game. We examine how suburbia is reshaping the face of American political life, business and popular culture with demographers, trend watchers and urban planners. Sara Terry guest hosts. Newsmaker: Ivory Coast's Raging Conflict Draws France In In the Ivory Coast, the government has presented rebel forces with a peace plan to end the conflict that has raged since rebels tried to overthrow the government in a coup last September. The conflict has increasingly drawn in France, the Ivory Coast-s former colonial ruler, which now has more than 2500 troops in the country. Paul Welsh, who has been covering the conflict for the BBC, joins us from Abidjan, the country-s capital. Reporter's Notebook: Yosemite Superintendent Steps Down Leaving Yosemite-why one national park superintendent will end his career and dedicate his time to fly-fishing instead of taking on a prestigious new post. David Mihalic, superintendent of Yosemite National Park, talks about parks, politics and principals.