Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Mayor R.T. Rybak reacts to Obama's economic plan
  President-elect Barack Obama made a major economic policy speech this morning. He outlined his plans to invest in science and technology to develop America's 21st century economy. Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak was at Obama's speech at George Mason University near Washington Tom Crann talked to him about what he thought about Obama's plan.5:14 p.m.
• Officials outline dire effects of higher education cuts
  Higher education officials told lawmakers at the State Capitol today that big budget cuts this session would be devastating to Minnesota's colleges and universities.5:19 p.m.
• Target, other retailers face tough road ahead
  It wasn't a very good Christmas for Target and other retailers. December sales numbers released today left little doubt. But, retailers are bracing themselves perhaps even tougher times ahead.5:22 p.m.
• Is a runoff election a better way?
  Days after Minnesota finished recounting nearly three million votes in the U.S. Senate race, lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle say they think there might be a better way. They say Minnesota should think about instituting runoff elections in close races.5:51 p.m.
• Minn. Senate panel gives thumbs-up to roads chief
  Transportation Commissioner Tom Sorel has won a unanimous vote of confidence in a key state Senate panel.5:55 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Two Top Al-Qaida Operatives Killed In Pakistan
  Usama al-Kini and Sheikh Ahmed Salim Swedan, both natives of Kenya, have been wanted since the 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Africa. They were recently blamed for the deadly September 2008 hotel bombing in Islamabad, Pakistan.
• U.N. Agency Suspends Work In Gaza
  A U.N. aid agency working to provide aid to Gaza has suspended operations after one of its truck drivers was killed by Israeli fire. Earlier, Israel declared another brief lull to allow in humanitarian supplies. Meanwhile, three rockets launched from Lebanon landed in Israel.
• Minn. Woman Survives Four Hours In Ice
  Emergency Room doctors in Duluth, Minn., recently dealt with the coldest living person they had ever seen. A woman who fell and spent four hours in the snow and ice was brought to the ER with a temperature in the 70s. Dr. Chris Delp, who worked to get the woman's temperature back to normal, says it took an hour of chest compression to get her chest restarted.
• Senate Pick Burris Denies Any Pay-To-Play Deal
  Roland Burris told an Illinois House committee that there was no "quid pro quo" with Gov. Rod Blagojevich before the governor named him to fill Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat. The committee also released a draft report recommending that Blagojevich be impeached.
• U.N. Official In Gaza Discusses Aid Suspension
  The U.N. Relief And Works Agency has suspended operations in the Gaza Strip after one of its drivers was killed by Israeli fire. John Ging, UNRWA's director of operations in Gaza, says the suspension of aid is "a disaster" for the people of Gaza. He says Israel had approved the movement of the aid convoy.
• Senate Holds Hearing On Tenn. Coal Ash Spill
  Representatives from the Tennessee Valley Authority and state regulators got grilled by the Senate Environment and Public Works committee about last month's coal ash spill in Kingston, Tenn.
• Davidson's Curry Shines In Court, Classroom
  One of the best players in college basketball this year attends school in North Carolina. But it isn't at Duke or the University of North Carolina. Stephen Curry attends tiny Davidson College, which is known for its academics instead of athletics.
• Study: Early Repeat C-Sections Puts Babies At Risk
  A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine reports that elective, repeat C-sections performed earlier than the recommended 39 weeks increases the risk of complications for newborns. Dr. Catherine Spong, co-author of the study, says babies born under these conditions see double the risk of "adverse outcomes" such as nenonatal death.
• Reporter Calls Gaza's Tunnels 'Rudimentary'
  The Islamist group Hamas is known to use tunnels on the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip to smuggle weapons and other goods into the territory. Christian Science Monitor reporter Dan Murphy, who has spent time with workers who dig the tunnels, says the stretch of the border between Gaza and Egypt is dotted with these "rudimentary" tunnels.
• Despite Glitz, Economy Hits College Football
  The excess of the college football bowl season hasn't been visibly diminished by the recession, but with the economic downturn some companies may have second thoughts about sponsoring bowl games. Also, a straightforward playoff system may become more compelling.
• Oakland Transit Shooting Sparks Riot
  The fatal shooting of an unarmed man by a police officer on a Bay Area Rapid Transit train is raising tensions in Oakland, Calif. On Wednesday night, a riot followed a peaceful demonstration as protesters set dumpsters on fire and broke windows.
• In Lab, Clues To How Life Began
  Scientists long to understand how a bunch of chemicals on the early Earth transformed themselves into the first living creatures. Now one lab has made a self-replicating set of RNA molecules that the scientists say may mimic what might have happened during the early evolution of life.
• Obama To Congress: Act On Stimulus Plan
  President-elect Obama said congressional inaction on his economic stimulus package could make a bad situation dramatically worse. In a speech at George Mason University, outside Washington, Obama blamed the economic crisis on "an era of profound irresponsibility."
• Deficit Projections Spur Debt Fears
  The Congressional Budget Office is predicting a $1.2 trillion federal deficit for 2009, a record both in dollars and as a percentage of the gross domestic product. Many people are concerned high deficits will push overall debt levels dangerously high.
• Letters: Bush Presidency
  Listeners sent in their thoughts in response to a review of the highs and lows of the Bush presidency.

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