Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• New Minnesota members of Congress sworn in
  Rep. Keith Ellison became the first Muslim elected to Congress in the United States. Amy Klobuchar became the first elected female senator from Minnesota.5:19 p.m.
• YMCA Youth in Government legislative session convenes
  Hundreds of high school students from around the region are taking part in the YMCA's 53rd Youth in Government Model Assembly Session this week. This mock legislative experience gives the kids a chance to see how government works at the state level.5:23 p.m.
• In 2007 Legislature, arts groups set sights on 2003
  Buoyed by last session's support for an arts share in a constitutional amendment, the State Arts Board aims to restore funding to pre-2003 levels.5:49 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Freshmen Members Stake Out Roles in House
  As the new Congress convenes, freshmen members are arriving in Washington and settling into their new offices. A couple of them talk about their hopes of bipartisanship and how much they think new members of Congress can contribute to the debate in Washington.
• Well Into Winter, the Alps Finally Get a First Snow
  After an unusually warm season, snow is finally falling in the Alps. Michele Norris talks with Georg Romang, the communications and PR director for Crans Montana tourism in Crans Montana, Switzerland.
• In the House: Pelosi Makes History
  NPR's Andrea Seabrook depicts the scene on a historic day in Washington, as Nancy Pelosi becomes the first female Speaker of the House of Representatives.
• Letters: American Workers, and the Fords
  Michele Norris reads from listeners' letters and emails, including responses to a story about the small town of Galena, Ill. Listeners also wrote in about the eulogizing the late President Ford and the pardoning of Richard Nixon, as well as Betty Ford's role in the fight against cancer.
• Karzai, Aziz Discuss Pakistan's Anti-Terror Plan
  Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz meets in Kabul with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in an attempt to ease growing tensions between their two countries over how they fight terrorism. The two leaders held the hastily-arranged talks after tensions flared over Pakistan's plans to mine and fence part of its long border with Afghanistan.
• Troop Levels Are Already Increased in Deadly Anbar
  One region in Iraq that has already seen an increase in U.S. troops is Anbar province, the Sunni-dominated area in western Iraq where more than 1,000 troops have died. In November, 2,200 additional Marines arrived in Anbar as part of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
• U.S. Replaces Generals Ahead of Troops Decision
  Adm. William Fallon has been named as the new head of U.S. Central Command, the post that oversees U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. U.S. ground operations in Iraq also have a new commander: Lt. Gen. David Petraeus. The replacement of two top officers comes one week before President Bush is expected to unveil his new Iraq strategy.
• McConnell: Divided Government Can Produce
  Robert Siegel talks with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), about his party's agenda in the new Congress. McConnell says that a divided government can be productive, and he expects that big things can be done in the upcoming session. He just wishes the Democrats' agenda included comprehensive immigration changes or Social Security initiatives.
• Reid Promises Bipartisan Leadership in Senate
  In the Senate, Democrat Harry Reid of Nevada takes over as Majority Leader, proclaiming it to be a new day in Washington. Standing with new Minority Leader Mitch McConnell at his side, Reid said that the Senate would work on a bipartisan basis. Robert Siegel reports from Capitol Hill as the Democrats take control of both houses of Congress.
• Congress Switches Parties: What to Expect
  What does the changeover in leadership signify for Congress? Robert Siegel talks with political analysts Norman Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute and Thomas Mann of the Brookings Institution. They give an appraisal of changes to come in the 110th Congress. We also touch base with two former freshmen members.
• Boehner: Republicans Set to Work in Minority
  Robert Siegel talks with House Minority leader John Boehner (R-OH). Boehner discusses his party's agenda on issues such as ethics and Iraq going into the new session. He also talks about how he will work with Democrats as Republicans assume the role of the minority party for the first time in 12 years.
• Negroponte's Move Is Latest Shift for Intelligence
  National Intelligence Director John Negroponte will leave his job as the nation's spy chief to become Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's second-in-command. Negroponte's move is yet another shift in an intelligence community that has seen little continuity at the top since the departure of CIA director George Tenet in 2004.
• Two Senators Sound the Call: Centrists, Unite!
  Two senators are hoping to shape a bipartisan group that can work together to get work done in the upcoming congressional session. Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine, a Republican, and Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, a Democrat, are forming the centrist meeting group for the 110th Congress. Robert Siegel talks with Snowe and Landrieu.
• Pelosi and Democrats Unveil Early Agenda
  The Democrats take control of both houses of Congress and make Democrat Nancy Pelosi of California the first female Speaker of the House. Pelosi unveiled the Democrats' agenda for the first 100 hours of the session. The agenda ranges from domestic to foreign policy.
• Venerable OED Turns to Readers for Help
  hele Norris talks with the Oxford English Dictionary's editor at large, Jesse Sheidlower. The dictionary is calling on the public for help as it looking for the origins of 40 terms used in everyday language, like "Bloody Mary" and "identity theft."

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