New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has a connection to the Occupy Wall Street protesters. The mayor's girlfriend Diana Taylor is on the board of directors of Brookfield Office Properties. That company owns Zuccotti Park, where protesters have been camping for weeks. He insists they don't discuss the demonstrations or her business interests at home.

A young Japanese artist has developed quite a web following for his banana art. Keisuke Yamada uses a toothpick and spoon to sculpt faces onto the fruit.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is in Tripoli today and while in Libya will both congratulate the Libyan people on their freedom from Moammar Gadhafi and announce several new types of aid headed their way from the U.S., NPR's Jackie Northam reports.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is visiting Libya, where she will meet with members of the National Transitional Council. This is the first time a cabinet-level official from the U.S. has traveled to Libya since 2008.

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RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

While Herman Cain's 9-9-9 tax proposal has proven effective as a marketing device, it's also inspired criticism from across the political spectrum. Here's tax attorney and Republican candidate, Michele Bachmann, attacking the plan.

MICHELE BACHMANN: One thing I would say, is when you take the 9-9-9 plan and you turn it upside down, I think the devil's in the details.

MONTAGNE: There's also been plenty of skepticism about the details from liberal quarters. That includes Cornell University economist, Robert H. Frank.

Herman Cain's simplified tax plan has vaulted him into the spotlight and has sent his poll numbers soaring. But do people actually know much about the Republican presidential candidate's 9-9-9 tax plan, and how it would affect them?

The Israeli soldier being released in the prisoner exchange with the Palestinian group Hamas is Gilad Shalit. The head of Israel's largest support group for captured soldiers knows better than most what Shalit will experience when he emerges from captivity.

Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas are carrying out the first stage of a prisoner exchange. On Tuesday, Israel is releasing nearly 500 Palestinian prisoners for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. In total, some 1,000 Palestinians will be let go.

Renee Montagne and Steve Inskeep have business news.