WBUR Newsroom Election 2008 CommonHealth Blog Radio Boston Blog Boston Weather Climate Connections BBC World News NPR Top Stories NPR's Morning Edition NPR Topics: Books NPR Topics: Movies Fresh Air All Things Considered Marketplace Submit a News Tip RSS Feeds Podcasts The Beat Goes On, Part 2 By Charles Sennott Listen to story (Real Audio) Grand Island, Nebraska (Photo: Dominic Chavez - for more photos see links below.) ON THE ROAD, USA - September 18, 2007 - Jack Kerouac's novel On The Road was about liberation as much as it was about the lure of the road for a post-war generation. But 50 years after its publication, do people still hear that call? Charles Sennott of The Boston Globe made his own journey this summer across the United States to find out. In the second part of our series retracing the path of Jack Kerouac, Charles departs the author's hometown of Lowell for America's heartland. RELATED LINKS Boston.com: The Beat Goes On (Series Index page) Charles Sennott 'On The Road Again' Part 1 Charles Sennott 'On The Road Again' Part 3 Charles Sennott 'On The Road Again' Part 4 Charles Sennott 'On The Road Again' Part 5 On the Road Scroll Unrolled The Kerouac collection at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum.    From The WBUR Newsroom Comparing Jobless Benefits BOSTON, Mass. (July 25, 2008) As jobless claims rise, people get more unemployment benefits in Massachusetts than in most other states. We compare what it's like for someone in Lawrence with their counterpart across the border in Salem, New Hampshire. From Pump to Pew BOSTON, Mass. (July 25, 2008) A church in West Bridgewater is giving out free raffle tickets to parishioners. The prize: a 50-dollar gas card...and more people in the pews. Strain of Stressful Finances BOSTON, Mass. (July 25, 2008) The faltering economy puts stress on individuals and families, and may lead to a rise in people with mental health issues. We talk with one doctor from Mass. General about the trend and what to do about it. The Bard is Back in Boston BOSTON, Mass. (July 25, 2008) The Bard is back: Shakespeare on the Common returns to the outdoor stage with a full schedule of free shows this summer.