Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Ship runs aground, sinks in Duluth-Superior Harbor
  A 1,000 foot lake freighter is aground in the Duluth-Superior Harbor. The Walter J. McCarthy Jr. took on water and sank Monday while docking for the winter. The ships is resting on the bottom in about 20 feet of water. Meanwhile, crews are scrambling to get water out of the ship before it freezes in sub-zero temperatures.4:45 p.m.
• NTSB investigators surprised by what they found
  Bad design, not bad construction or maintenance, led to the collapse of the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis that killed 13 people.5:06 p.m.
• Pawlenty calls for 23 bridges to be reexamined
  Gov. Tim Pawlenty has directed the Minnesota Department of Transportation to recalculate the load capacity for 23 trunk highway bridges with designs similar to the collapsed I-35W bridge.5:11 p.m.
• What is a gusset plate, anyway?
  To learn more about gusset plates and what purpose they serve in the design of a bridge, MPR's Tom Crann talks to Roberto Ballarini, head of the Civil Engineering Department at the University of Minnesota.5:16 p.m.
• I-35W bridge not the only one getting a second look
  The I-35W bridge isn't the only one in the news these days. Some people in the southeastern metro are concerned about the Highway 61 bridge that crosses the Mississippi River at Hastings, Minn.5:45 p.m.
• State economist: Unemployment figures show Minn. in recession
  The latest unemployment figures have prompted the state's economist to say that Minnesota is now in a recession.5:51 p.m.
• Many Mormons back Romney, but say it's not just faith
  Minnesota's 28,000 Mormons are probably watching Tuesday's Michigan presidential primary more closely than most Minnesotans. Michigan is seen as key for former Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Mass., who would be America's first Mormon president if he makes it to the White House. What does Romney's candidacy mean to Minnesota Mormons?6:20 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Campaign Headquarters After Michigan Primary
  Melissa Block talks to Don Gonyea from Romney campaign headquarters in Michigan; David Greene from McCain headquarters in Michigan; and to Ron Elving about the GOP candidates' chances in the South.
• With Michigan Settled, Candidates Look South
  Melissa Block talks to Don Gonyea from Romney campaign headquarters in Michigan; David Greene from McCain headquarters in Michigan; and Rich Lowry, editor of the National Review , who says that Romney's solid victory in Michigan is impressive because he was behind when he went into the race.
• Baseball Officials Update Congress on Doping Fight
  The Mitchell report on doping in baseball proposed a number of ways for baseball to clean up its act. Congress pressed Commissioner Bud Selig and union chief Donald Fehr about what they're actually doing to remove the taint from the game. Former Sen. George Mitchell also testified about his findings.
• Folkman, Cancer Research Pioneer, Dies at 74
  Dr. Judah Folkman, a cancer researcher known for his groundbreaking work on angiogenesis, has died at the age of 74. Angiogenesis involved cutting off the blood supply to cancer cells. Folkman's work cured the disease in mice, and though it didn't succeed in humans, it did spur new cancer treatments.
• Do Political Endorsements Matter?
  Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are competing fiercely for endorsements. But do endorsements mean anything? It depends: They may not sway votes, but they can help get money and local organizational help.
• Hamas Vows Revenge for Bloody Raid in Gaza
  At least 15 Palestinians, most of them militants, were killed by Israeli forces during a raid into the Gaza Strip on Tuesday. It was the highest death toll in a year. Hamas leaders in Gaza are vowing revenge. Israeli officials say the raids will continue until the militants halt rocket and mortar fire on nearby Israeli towns.
• Why Has Bush Changed Mideast Rhetoric, Goals?
  In the past, President Bush has actively advocated the spread of democracy across the Middle East, but he struck a different tone on his recent trip to the region. Fareed Zakaria, editor of Newsweek International, talks about why the president's rhetoric — and goals — appear to have changed.
• Bush Meets with Saudi King; Rice Petitions Baghdad
  President Bush's eight-day trip to the Mideast continued Tuesday with another round of talks with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah at the monarch's desert horse ranch. The president also dispatched Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Baghdad to urge Iraqi leaders to speed reconciliation efforts.
• High Court Rules Against Investors in Fraud Case
  The Supreme Court has struck a blow against investors devastated by stock crashes, ruling that they can't sue third parties involved in stock manipulation. Tuesday's decision heads off lawsuits worth possibly billions of dollars, including a class-action suit covering more than a million Enron shareholders.
• Cardiologist Weighs In on Negative Vytorin Study
  This week, the makers of the drug Vytorin released a long-awaited study that raises questions about whether the drug has an impact in reducing the incidence of heart attacks and strokes. Dr. Stuart Seides has prescribed the drug to his patients selectively and says he will continue to do so, despite the study.
• Alliance Helps Cut Sectarian Violence in Amil
  Southwest Baghdad was wracked by sectarian violence before U.S. reinforcements arrived. Over the past few months, there has been a dramatic reduction in violence in the area, including the neighborhood of Amil.
• Citigroup Losses Heighten Concerns over Economy
  The financial giant reported losing nearly $10 billion during the last three months of 2007, much of it due to the subprime mortgage crisis. A rise in defaults on consumer loans and credit cards raised concerns about slowness in the economy.
• Federal Prosecutors Eye MySpace Bullying Case
  A 13-year-old girl from the St. Louis area killed herself after getting cruel messages on MySpace, spotlighting the issue of Internet bullying. But none of the alleged perpetrators — including an adult — has been charged, because authorities could not find an applicable law.
• Tucson Braces for Strains of Migrant Prosecutions
  The nation's busiest border patrol sector has begun a new program to prosecute apprehended migrants, rather than just deport them back across the border. The program's startup will be limited to 40 cases a day, but even that small amount is expected to put a huge strain on the local judicial system and cost millions of dollars a year.
• NASA Probe Glimpses Unseen Side of Mercury
  The Messenger spacecraft came within 124 miles of Mercury's surface Monday, the closet encounter yet with the planet nearest to the sun. Messenger will soon send back more than 1,000 images it snapped during its rendezvous with the parched planet.

Services

• Hourly Newscast
• HD Radio
• iPhone App / Mobile
• E-mail newsletters
• RSS feeds
• Podcasts
• Submit your photos
• Videos
• Weather
• Most e-mailed stories

Become a Sponsor