Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Doug Jones gets inside his characters
  Doug Jones has two major roles in the new fantasy movie "Pan's Labyrinth," but you never see his face. Jones is known for his skill performing otherworldly creatures. He brings emotion and subtlety to a character, even as he's encased in a complicated full body costume.4:50 p.m.
• 3M chemicals found in drinking water of east metro cities
  Chemicals manufactured by 3M have been found in the public wells of six more east St. Paul suburbs.5:20 p.m.
• Vikings say they want new stadium at Metrodome site
  The Minnesota Vikings say they plan to ask the Legislature to approve a plan to build a new football stadium with a retractable roof on the site of the Metrodome.5:25 p.m.
• Lawmakers debate whether inflation matters in budget
  The debate over whether to factor inflation into the state's budget forecast will determine how much extra money is available for state programs.5:50 p.m.
• Music from the heart
  A folk singing duo from rural Minnesota finds fulfillment if not riches in music.5:54 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Presidential Race Comes Early to Primary States
  Michele Norris talks with three newspaper writers and editors about how the presidential race is shaping up in early primary states: Molly Ball of the Las Vegas Review Journal, David Yepsen of The Des Moines Register and Felice Belman of The Concord Monitor.
• A Priest Dispenses Blessings on Mexico's Cars
  A drive on the roads in Mexico is not an experience that's easily forgotten. There are no enforced speed limits; instead, drivers must navigate bumpy roads and corrupt cops. Many drivers are looking for divine intervention. In the town of Chalma, drivers bring hundreds of cars every weekend to be blessed by a priest at a Catholic church.
• Chinese Missile Destroys Satellite in 500-Mile Orbit
  China has used a missile to destroy one of its satellites 500 miles above the Earth's surface. It's a reminder that all satellites are vulnerable to attack. The explosion also created a cloud of debris in space, adding to the amount of "space junk" circling the Earth.
• Abbas Gets Money, Support — and Distrust
  The United States has so far publicly committed $86 million dollars to help train and equip President Mahmoud Abbas's presidential guard, along with up to $42 million to promote alternatives to Hamas. The funds, which haven't been approved by Congress, are central to American efforts to bolster Palestinian moderates to counter the Islamists. Hamas calls it coup money.
• Vacation Boom: House-Sitting for a Change
  Business is booming in an unusual area of accommodation: house sitting. Companies that match homeowners and house-sitters have seen business grow by 30 to 50 percent a year for the past few years. And baby boomers are at the forefront of the trend - not just as owners, but as sitters, too.
• Journalist Who Angered Turks Is Killed in Istanbul
  The editor of a Turkish-Armenian newspaper has been murdered in Istanbul, less than a year after being convicted of insulting Turkey's identity. Hrant Dink editor of the Argos newspaper, was a frequent target of nationalist anger for questioning Turkey's denial of Armenian genocide during World War I.
• Online, Club Penguin Beckons to Preteen Surfers
  One of the latest phenomena sweeping the "tween" world is Club Penguin, an online site for kids. Following in the footsteps of sites such as Neo Pets, Club Penguin offers kids around the ages of 8 to 12 a way onto the Internet. It's also a social networking site.
• India's Hindus Celebrate Kumbh Mela
  Many millions of Hindus are gathered along the shores of their holiest river, the Ganges, in one of the world's largest religious gatherings, the Kumbh Mela. Over a few weeks, up to 70 million Hindus swim in the chilly waters — many of them on what India's astrologers deem to be "auspicious" bathing days.
• Ney to Serve 2.5 Years in Abramoff Bribery Scandal
  Former Ohio Rep. Bob Ney is sentenced to serve two and a half years in prison for his part in a bribery scandal still roiling the ranks of members and lobbyists in a wide-ranging corruption probe. Over four years, Ney took bribes; vacationed on others' tab; and gambled with other people's money.
• A Radio Debut: Three Fish, Three Sounds
  Listener Carol Johnston called our SoundClips line to tell us about her work with fish acoustics at the fisheries department of Auburn University in Alabama. We hear recordings of minnows, darters and sturgeon. These are the debuts on the radio of these three fishes.
• Newest Weapons on Display at Marine West
  The 15th annual Marine West Military Weapons Exposition took place this week at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, Calif. It's an opportunity for defense contractors to show off their latest wares to those who depend on the equipment and information they provide the Marines. Alison St. John of member station KPBS reports.
• A Game Away: Four Teams Vie for Super Bowl
  This weekend's National Football League playoffs will determine who plays in the Super Bowl. The games pit the Chicago Bears against the New Orleans Saints in the NFC, and the Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots in the AFC. Michele Norris talks with Wall Street Journal sportswriter Stefan Fatsis.
• Oil Prices Drop, and a New Reason Emerges
  The price of oil has been steadily declining in recent months. A barrel of crude can now be had for around $50, a 35 percent drop from the peak last July. One reason for cheaper oil is a surprising drop in consumption last year by the major industrialized nations.
• As Saints Near the Super Bowl, New Orleans Is Abuzz
  From a New Orleans neighborhood lunch spot, Molly Peterson hears football fans' soaring hopes for their Saints in the playoff game Sunday.
• Iraq Study Group Co-Chair Testifies on Bush's Plan
  Former Rep. Lee Hamilton of Indiana, co-chairman of the Iraq Study Group, attends congressional hearings into the war in Iraq, its conduct and its future. The Senate is expected to adopt a resolution next week opposing President Bush's plan for a troop build-up in Baghdad.

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