I noticed a good D-Star article in the November issue, page 20: "Amateur Radio's D-STAR Spearheads Innovation"
Written by Jason Togyer, KB3CNM. I've only glanced at it thus far but it seems to cover many of the basics as well as D-Star's current popularity or lack thereof, depending on your point of view ;) 73, Benson K4GST (who has recently learned of a plan to install a D-Star repeater about 30 miles from his QTH in the NW corner of rural North Carolina - woot!)