Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Crews continue to work on freeing ship stuck in Duluth-Superior Harbor
  Crews are pumping water out of the ship that sprung a leak Monday in the Duluth-Superior harbor. The Walter J. McCarthy's engine room flooded after the ship struck an unidentified object under water while docking in Superior.4:50 p.m.
• Robert Bly takes on a Norwegian masterpiece
  Minnesota author and poet Robert Bly has written a new translation of Henrik Ibsen's Peer Gynt. It premieres on the Guthrie Theater stage this weekend.4:54 p.m.
• Collapsed bridge design firm has deep Minn. roots
  The investigation of the I-35W bridge collapse is bringing new focus on the engineering firm that built it. The National Transportation Safety Board said design errors led to the disaster.5:14 p.m.
• Why did no one ever look at the gusset plates?
  In their many reviews of the 35W bridge, why did inspectors never look at the thickness of the gusset plates?5:19 p.m.
• Rep. Oberstar wants to ground NWA merger
  U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar, DFL-Minn., says he is strongly opposed to airline industry consolidation. Oberstar is the chair of the House Transportation Committee and says his objections extend to a possible merger between Northwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines.5:48 p.m.
• Lawmakers propose to crack down on binge drinking
  Recent high-profile tragedies involving alcohol are sparking renewed interest in state legislation to limit cheap drink specials at bars and also change state law to allow colleges to notify parents about alcohol violations.5:54 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Mix of Factors Led to Record Arctic Ice Melt in 2007
  Summertime ice in the Arctic Ocean has been in quick retreat. There's a lot of uncertainty about how quickly it will melt away entirely in the summertime. Estimates range from 2013 to beyond 2100. The uncertainty is explained by the science behind the phenomenon of melting.
• Did Baitullah Mehsud Kill Benazir Bhutto?
  The Pakistani government has accused the pro-Taliban leader of involvement in the Dec. 27 assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, along with a series of attacks on security forces. What evidence does the government have linking him to the attacks? And how much influence does he have among the pro-Taliban forces?
• CIA Leaders Testify in Hearing on Destroyed Tapes
  A House panel has a closed hearing on the destruction of CIA interrogation videotapes showing harsh techniques, with top CIA lawyer John Rizzo testifying. But the former head of the CIA's clandestine branch — the man believed to have authorized the destruction — will not testify at this time.
• Egypt's President Offers U.S. Help on Mideast Deal
  President Bush, wrapping up a visit to the Middle East to promote peace in the region, got a boost Wednesday on his last stop in Egypt. Top Arab ally President Hosni Mubarak said he would work closely with the U.S. on a deal to create a Palestinian state.
• UFO Sightings Stream In from Texas Townsfolk
  Stephenville, Texas, is abuzz with talk of UFOs. Several residents — including a pilot — have reported seeing a large silent object with bright lights flying low and fast, describing it as "nothing from these parts." Federal officials say there's a logical explanation, but locals insist the object was larger, quieter and faster than an aircraft.
• Boeing May Face Penalties for 'Dreamliner' Delays
  Production of Boeing's 787 "Dreamliner" jet has been delayed. The company outsourced most of the production work on its massive plane and underestimated how long completion of that work would take. Eight-hundred jets are on order, and Boeing now says the first of the planes won't be ready until early next year.
• U.S. Presidents' Saudi Ritual Nearly Obsolete
  President Bush appealed to Saudi leaders this week to increase the flow of oil — to help to keep prices under control. It's a ritual for U.S. presidents — and one that NPR Senior News Analyst Ted Koppel says is almost obsolete.
• Romney Seeks Momentum in South Carolina
  Fresh from his big victory in Michigan, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney joins other Republican presidential contenders campaigning in South Carolina. He is stressing his optimistic economic message and plans to increase technology investment.
• California's Marine Protection Law Sets High Bar
  A new law to establish Marine Protected Areas along the California coast just went into effect. No other state in the nation comes close to matching the scope of this ambitious project — and now everyone is watching California to see if, and how, this marine protection works.
• Democratic Candidates Target Economy in Nevada
  The leading Democratic presidential candidates have been campaigning in Nevada, which holds caucuses Jan. 19. The state has one of the highest foreclosure rates in the country, and the candidates have focused their messages on the economy.
• Combo Test Identifies Prostate Cancer Risk
  A test looking at five genetic markers and a patient's family history may help predict a man's risk of prostate cancer at an earlier stage in his life. But the test doesn't foretell whether a man is likely to get an aggressive type of cancer.
• University Makes New Black from Tiny Carbon Tubes
  Rice University has developed the world's darkest material, made from millions of tiny vertical tubes of carbon. Pulickel Ajayan, who helped lead the project, says the material isn't perfect, but it's "pretty dark." It approaches the elusive ideal black, which would absorb all colors of light and reflect none.
• Economist: Don't Jump the Gun on Stimulus Plans
  Economist Russell Roberts says he loves the word "stimulus." It sounds like the perfect prescription for an ailing economy. But if politicians know how to stimulate the economy, why wait for a recession?
• Police Honor K-9 Companion Killed in Line of Duty
  Oceanside Police Department in San Diego, Calif., had a memorial service this week for Stryker, a police dog killed in the line of duty after a dramatic chase on New Year's Eve. Police Lt. Fred Armijo says the memorial service drew K-9 officers from all over the San Diego area.
• GOP Presidential Field Is Wide Open
  With three different winners in three major early voting contests, the GOP race is as muddled as ever. South Carolina's Jan. 19 GOP primary could help narrow the field. But it's also possible the race could last through Super Tuesday — and beyond.

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