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Speakers of interest at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C.

Largely wrung of politics, the first lady's speech plotted parallels in her life and that of her husband, President Obama. She pointedly tracked their humble beginnings and strivings in an unspoken but clear contrast to the privileged upbringing of GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

Since January 2011, the government has knocked 2 percentage points off the payroll tax, which funds Social Security. But there's little appetite to extend the tax holiday and a $95 billion price tag.

One of Billie Holiday's most iconic songs is "Strange Fruit," a haunting protest against the inhumanity of racism. Many people know that the man who wrote the song was inspired by a photograph of a lynching. But they might not realize that he's also tied to an iconic event in America's history.

Some of the positions vacated over summer break still haven't been filled permanently, and this isn't the first time that's happened. Part of the problem is last-minute resignations, leaving school districts in a lurch.

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper is considered a rising stary in the Democratic Party. He will address the Democratic National Convention in prime time Wednesday night. So far, the former Denver mayor and brew pub owner has rebuffed speculation that he has national political aspirations.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in China as part of her six-nation Asia trip. Despite mounting tensions, Clinton emphasized mutual cooperation and strong ties as she visited Beijing.

Africa is in the middle of what Jeffrey Gettleman of The New York Times calls an epic elephant slaughter. He says poachers are killing more elephants now than at any time in the last two decades. He talks to Steve Inskeep about what's behind the resurgence in poaching and where the ivory is going.

A Michigan man was mowing his lawn when he noticed an alligator was stuck in a window well of his house. An animal rescue employee finally helped. But for a while, authorities didn't believe the man's story because of his name: Terry Doolittle. Not unlike Dr. Doolittle, the fictional character who talks to animals.

The former president, who will speak tonight in North Carolina, has played a role in every Democratic National Convention since 1972. Reviewing Clinton's exploits at the past 10 annual confabs offers a set of milestones for his entire career — and recaps 40 years of convention history.