Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Minneapolis and St. Paul get high marks for emergency communications systems
  A new report from the Office of Homeland Security reveals that many cities throughout the United States are not fully prepared for emergency communication during a crisis. Only six cities received the highest rating for emergency communications systems, among them, the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul.4:44 p.m.
• Legislature opens session
  Although promises of bipartisanship ruled the day, Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Republican leaders warned against any efforts to raise taxes.5:19 p.m.
• Views of the Capitol from White Castle
  As lawmakers went through their first-day ceremonies inside the Minnesota Capitol, we headed across the street to the White Castle restaurant on Rice Street, where you can actually see the Capitol dome from the dining room. We wanted to hear what people in the neighborhood hope to see from the 2007 Minnesota Legislature.5:24 p.m.
• Minnesota ranks high in preparing children for success
  Minnesota ranked third in the nation when it comes to preparing its children for a successful career, according to a study released Wednesday.5:49 p.m.
• Regents approve higher costs for new Gopher football stadium
  The University of Minnesota Board of Regents has signed off on basic design details for a new on-campus football stadium. The action also hikes the original price of the stadium by $40 million.5:53 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• A Matchmaker for a Kentucky Girl
  Commentator David Greenberger tells the story of a poor divorced woman from Newport, Ky., who wants to set up her daughter.
• Bangladesh Feels the Tug of Islamist Extremism
  Bangladesh, one of the most populous Muslim nations in the world, is a relatively tolerant society. But some are concerned about the activities of Islamist religious parties and Islamist extremists.
• Parkinson's Medication Linked to Heart Problems
  Two drugs long prescribed to treat Parkinson's disease have been linked to heart-valve problems. Two studies in this week's New England Journal of Medicine present strong evidence that the drugs cause scarring of heart valves in nearly 30 percent of Parkinson's patients. It's the same kind of damage -- for the same underlying reason -- that afflicted many patients taking the diet drug combination fen/phen several years ago. And an upcoming study indicates other widely prescribed drugs may cause the same problem.
• Guards Arrested for Taping Saddam's Hanging
  Two guards at the facility where Saddam Hussein has hanged have been arrested, says Iraqi National Security Adviser Dr. Mowaffak al-Rubaie. The men were paid to tape the event by Arab TV channels, according to al-Rubaie, who was a witness to Saddam Hussein's execution.
• New Jersey Panel: Abolish State's Death Penalty
  A legislative commission in New Jersey has recommended that the state abolish the death penalty. If the legislature and governor approve, New Jersey would become the first state to abolish capital punishment by legislative action since 1972. Melissa Block talks with James Abbott, police chief of West Orange, N.J., and a member of the commission.
• Ellison to Take Oath on Thomas Jefferson's Quran
  Newly elected Rep. Keith Ellison announced last month that he planned to take the oath of office with his hand on the Quran. The decision by the Minnesota Democrat, the first Muslim elected to Congress, drew criticism. But now Ellison says he plans to use a copy of the Quran once owned by Thomas Jefferson. Michele Norris talks with Mark Dimunation, chief of the Rare Book and Special Collections Division of the Library of Congress, who helped Ellison locate Jefferson's Quran.
• 'Culture of Corruption' and Promises of Change
  A top item on the Democrats' priority list is ethics reform. Wednesday marks exactly one year since lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty in the biggest congressional corruption scandal in years. Democrats ran for office promising to end what they called the Republicans' "culture of corruption."
• Democrats Dictate Plans for Congress, GOP Says
  Democrats hope to start the 110th Congress off with a bang, passing an ethics overhaul, stem-cell research legislation, and raising the minimum wage, among other proposals. But Republican House members complain about being shut out of the planning process.
• The Men Who Risk It All to Hunt Explosives in Iraq
  Last month, NPR Baghdad Correspondent Corey Flintoff spent time with some U.S. Army engineers whose nightly mission is to find and defuse improvised explosive devices (IED's) in the mean streets of the Iraqi capital. This week, Flintoff learned that three of those men have since been killed in the line of duty.
• Russians in London: the Monied and Not
  The death in London of the Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko last month has highlighted the city's large Russian community. Although some are political exiles like Litvinenko, most of the tens of thousands of Russian emigres in London are less involved in political intrigue. Many newly wealthy Russians have moved to London for its traditional attractions.
• Ford Laid to Rest in Grand Rapids, Mich.
  President Gerald Ford is being buried today near his presidential museum in Grand Rapids, Mich., his hometown and the district he represented in Congress before becoming vice president. The burial concludes five days of mourning in honor of the 38th president.
• My Life in the Cult: Miracle of the Water
  Commentator Daniel Pinkwater recalls his time in a cult. He asked God to let him know if his prayers were getting through. One night, Pinkwater found himself drawn to the basement. There he found a water pipe had burst. Then the miracle: the plumber came right away.
• Chicago Lags in Homeland Security Report
  The Department of Homeland Security today reported on progress in emergency-responder communications in urban areas. One of the areas lagging behind the rest of the country is Chicago, which DHS says needs better coordination to make radio and computer systems work together. Chicago Public Radio's Alex Helmick reports.
• Preparing the Reeds for Oboe Practice
  Listener Karen Birch of Miami offers us a peek into the world of oboe players. To prepare to play the instrument, the double-reed mouthpiece must be prepped. It's critical to a good sound. Birch walks us through the process, which is part of her daily life.
• Nation's Capital Requires Developers to Go Green
  Washington, D.C., will become the first major city to require that private developers build "green," or environmentally friendly, buildings. The new structures will have features such as green roofs, natural light, fume-free carpets and paint, low-flow water fixtures, even no-flush urinals that use a chemical trap instead of water. The new stadium for the Washington Nationals is expected to be the first stadium in the nation certified by the Green Building Council.

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