Morning Cram [Todd Akin, Corn Harvest, Student Loan & Payday Loan Edition]

From NPR: It's come to this for Rep. Todd Akin of Missouri:

As more and more of his fellow Republicans call on him to drop out of his race for the Senate before today's 6 p.m. ET deadline to easily get his name off the ballot, the congressman's loudest defender is his Democratic opponent. 

From Illinois:  Illinois’ U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is calling on his colleagues to pass his Know Before You Owe Act, a measure that would help college students understand the range of educational loan options before they borrow. Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has signed a new law he says will protect consumers from payday lenders.

From Tennessee:  This year's corn harvest is ahead of schedule with 4 percent in already, compared with just 1 percent at this time last year.