Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Lawmakers look at election reforms, post-recount
  Minnesota's U.S. Senate election is still unresolved in the courts, but at the Capitol, lawmakers are already working on a post-mortem of the recount.5:20 p.m.
• A skirmish over words
  Minneapolis writer Dobby Gibson just released a new collection of poetry called "Skirmish." He says it's a reference to the many small battles contained between the covers, including an ongoing battle between himself and his writing.5:24 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Tracing The Highs And Lows Of The Bush Presidency
  Two weeks from now, President Bush will be former President Bush, and what was once his agenda will become his record. The president suggests that history will judge him better than the current analysis. So what will he be remembered for?
• Amid Mideast Conflict, An Attempt At Comedy
  The conflict in the Gaza Strip may not seem like rich material for jokes, but a bunch of comedians are giving it their best shot. The group Seeds for Peace sponsored a night of Israeli and Palestinian humor.
• Do Hard Economic Times Spur Suicide?
  Recent high-profile suicides have been linked to the global economic downturn. They call to mind stories of bankers jumping out of windows during the Great Depression. John Steele Gordon, financial historian and author of An Empire Of Wealth: The Epic History Of American Financial Power, says stories of Depression-era jumpers are a myth.
• Europe Feels Pain Of Russia-Ukraine Gas Spat
  The dispute between Russia and Ukraine over the price of natural gas is starting to cause energy shortages in many European countries. The European Union has called on Moscow and Kiev to solve their disagreement, which comes just as a winter freeze envelops much of the continent.
• Letters: Gupta, Bard College, 'Thirty Days'
  Listeners respond to the story on CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta becoming the next U.S. surgeon general. They also wrote in pointing out an error in the piece on Bard College at Simon's Rock and responded to the interview with Christopher Stevens, author of Thirty Days Has September: Cool Ways to Remember Stuff.
• What Gaza Means For Obama Policy
  It is hard to predict what the situation in Israel and Gaza will be on Jan. 20, but it is clearly Israel's intention to neutralize Hamas and quickly try to engage Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah administration on the West Bank in negotiations. For that, Israel will need American support.
• This Winter, More Cause For Broadway Discontent
  The recession has hit Broadway hard: Nine shows, including Young Frankenstein, closed this week, and four more have posted notices. Jeff Lunden talks to a veteran producer and a young investor to see how bad the outlook is.
• Joe The Plumber Trades Wrench For Press Pass
  Joe The Plumber is heading to Israel as a war correspondent for conservative Web site pjtv. com. Samuel J. Wurzelbacher, who gained fame during the presidential election, says he will spend 10 days covering the fighting.
• Infomercials Thrive Amid Downturn
  A downturn in the economy has provided a boom for infomercials. A.J. Khubani, president and CEO of the direct response company TeleBrands, says his company has seen that business booms in bad economic times. He attributes the success to lower TV ad rates.
• Obama Names Chief Performance Officer
  President-elect Barack Obama named Nancy Killefer as his chief performance officer. Her job will be to bring modern ideas of business efficiency to the White House. Obama also spoke of his plans to revive the economy without worsening the federal budget deficit.
• In Gaza, A Brief Humanitarian Cease-Fire
  The guns fell silent for three hours Wednesday in the Gaza Strip as both Israel and Hamas observed what's being called a humanitarian truce, aimed at bringing food and medical supplies into Gaza. Both Israel's operations and Hamas rocket attacks resumed after the lull.
• Ethanol Takes A Hit Amid Falling Oil Prices
  An plant in Plainview, Neb., announced a temporary shutdown this week, and other ethanol companies have put plans to build new plants on hold. Chris Hurt, professor of agricultural economics at Purdue University, attributes the downturn in the formerly booming ethanol industry to excess capacity and low fuel prices.
• Senate Softens On Burris
  Senate Democratic leaders are changing course and it looks as if the Senate will seat Roland Burris as the junior senator from Illinois once all legal obstacles are overcome. Senate leaders Harry Reid and Dick Durbin both have said they have no problem with Burris.
• Despite Court Order, Journalists Barred From Gaza
  Israel has barred journalists from entering Gaza since launching its offensive Dec. 27. The ban continues despite a decision last week by Israel's Supreme Court to allow a limited number of journalists to enter Gaza.
• Alaska Natives Look For New Friends In Congress
  With Alaska's Ted Stevens no longer in the Senate, there's talk on Capitol Hill of reconsidering some of the federal contracting preferences enjoyed by Alaska Native corporations. These companies often receive federal deals even when other, cheaper businesses offer similar services.

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