Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Iraqi native, former Minneapolis businessman, sees Iraq's troubles firsthand
  Former Minneapolis restaurant owner Sami Rasouli says conditions are worsening for ordinary Iraqis.5:20 p.m.
• Seat belt law advancing at Capitol
  The proposal would allow police officers to stop motorists solely for failing to wear seat belts. Drivers and passengers who don't buckle up would face fines.5:24 p.m.
• Thomson plans 2,000-job expansion; asks for millions in tax breaks
  The Thomson Corporation released a plan on Wednesday for a $100 million expansion of facilities at its Thomson West campus in Eagan.5:44 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• A Pass to Ride the Bus for Free
  We hear the thoughts and tales — as told by storyteller David Greenberger — of an elderly resident of Erie, Pa., an adventure that began with a free bus pass.
• In Somalia, Son of U.S. Nemesis Gets Backing
  The son of Somalia's most infamous warlord and U.S. nemesis is now a leading member of Somalia's interim government, which is being backed by America. Hussein Aideed is a naturalized U.S. citizen and a former U.S. Marine. But in 1993, the forces of his father, Mohamed Farah Aideed — were behind the infamous Black Hawk Down incident.
• Bush Calls for Civilian Reserve Corps
  A volunteer civilian reserve corps that would allow the government to hire civilians with critical skills to serve on missions abroad, was mentioned in the State of the Union speech. The idea was promoted by Carlos Pascual a year ago, when he served as coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization at the State Department.
• Private Contractors Die in Iraqi Helicopter Attack
  On Tuesday in Iraq, five Americans working for private security contractor Blackwater USA died when their helicopter crashed. They were escorting a convoy heading away from the Green Zone in Baghdad. We find out how many contractors are in Iraq and what services they provide.
• Senate Panel Says 'No' to Bush's Iraq Troops Plan
  A resolution defying President Bush's plan to send 21,500 more U.S. troops to Iraq is approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. A similar resolution, which is non-binding, has been introduced on the floor of the Senate.
• My Katonah? Martha Stewart Ruffles Feathers
  Some residents of Katonah, N.Y., are miffed that neighbor Martha Stewart is trying to trademark the village's name. Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia is selling furniture as part of a "Katonah Collection," saying the line was named to honor Stewart's new hometown. But not everyone feels honored.
• Congress Looks at Possible Delta-U.S. Air Merger
  Congress is looking into consolidation in the airline industry. U.S. Airways sweetened its bid to acquire Delta, which is in bankruptcy. Delta wants to remain independent, and says a merger would lead to job losses and higher prices. Creditors will decide whether to accept a buyout or let Delta emerge from bankruptcy as an independent company.
• Rockefeller: Shift in Wiretapping Policy Is Unclear
  The new Senate Intelligence Committee chairman says that even he isn't clear on the just-announced changes to the NSA's domestic spying program. He can't get an answer, for example, on whether the FISA court has granted blanket authority for wiretapping Americans, or whether individual warrants will be required.
• U.S. Denies Canada's Terror Watch-List Request
  The Bush administration formally refuses the Canadian government's request to remove Maher Arar from a terrorist watch list. In 2002, Arar was en route to Canada when he was detained by U.S. officials in New York and sent to Syria, where he was imprisoned for more than a year and endured severe beatings.
• Israeli President Vows to Clear Name, Not Resign
  Israel's President Moshe Katzav defiantly rejects calls for his resignation as he faces a possible indictment on charges of rape and sexual harassment. Katsav asked for a leave of absence to fight the allegations. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert joined political leaders calling on Katzav to step down.
• The Man Who Brought the West Indies to Brooklyn
  Carlos Lezama, a Caribbean-born transportation worker who turned Brooklyn's West Indian Carnival parade into a world-famous event, died Monday at 83. Michele Norris talks with former New York City mayor Ed Koch, and Herman Hall, publisher of Everybody's Caribbean magazine, based in Brooklyn, N.Y.
• Bush's Address Over, Congress Moves On
  One day after President Bush's State of the Union visit, Congress moved on to regular business. The House wrangled a resolution to give voting rights to delegates from D.C. and U.S. territories. The Senate debated whether to attach tax breaks for small businesses to a minimum-wage measure.
• No Smoking in Paris, Dublin - and New Orleans?
  Commentator Andrei Codrescu keeps being surprised when cities like New York, Paris and Dublin ban smoking in bars. He likes it for his health, but not for what it means to the culture. And now New Orleans has a non-smoking bar. He is shocked.
• Bush's State of the Union Omits State of Louisiana
  In his State of the Union address Tuesday, President Bush talked about the economy, education, health care, immigration, terrorism and Iraq. But he did not talk about New Orleans and the challenges the city faces as it recovers from Hurricane Katrina. And people in New Orleans noticed.
• President Bush Visits Alternative-Fuel Plant
  On the morning after he asked Congress not to give up on his Iraq plan, President Bush made a quick tour of a biofuel plant in Delaware and spoke about energy, one of his domestic priorities.

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