L.A. Times reporter Alana Semuels asked a group of UCLA economists visiting the L.A. Times offices

what it's going to take to launch a sustained recovery.

The clock is ticking down the final 72 hours of the campaign, and we touch base with California politics reporter and editor Cathleen Decker about the polls, plans and prospects of the candidates for governor and senator.

As part of the "America Out of Work" series, which chronicles the U.S. unemployment crisis, The Times' Stuart Pfeifer writes in Sunday's paper about scams targeting job seekers.

Fatima Bhutto Times staff writer Lori Kozlowski recently had a chance to speak with author Fatima Bhutto, the niece of Benazir Bhutto, for an upcoming piece in Books.

Markets columnist Tom Petruno talks about how bond funds performed in the third quarter, which ended Sept. 30. Are they really the safe havens that shelter-seeking investors may think they are? And what should you do if you own them?

We touch base with California politics editor Cathleen Decker for a status update on the gubernatorial and senate races. We also get some insight on recommendations on the governor's race and on Propositions 19 and 23 from Robert Greene, who heads up the endorsement process for the Times' editorial board.

Entertainment reporter Amy Kaufman takes us inside the upcoming movie about the first friends of Facebook, "The Social Network." She spent time with Jesse Eisenberg, who portrays Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg.

Columnist Steve Lopez ponders how likely charges are to stick in the scandal in the city of Bell. And data team editor Megan Garvey gives listeners an audio preview to a feature coming to Latimes.com on Sept. 29

Every so often, the Los Angeles Times revisits stories that have faded like the newsprint that once heralded urgent national headlines. One such story is that of the 1984 disappearance of Laura Bradbury. Reporter Kurt Streeter connects with the Bradbury family and recaptures the heartbreaking emotion and journey the family has undergone over the last 26 years.

This edition of the Pacific Time podcast checks in with state politics editor and writer Cathleen Decker for an update on California's gubernatorial race. She gives a round-up and preview of what's to come before the November election.