Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Two more Minnesota children die of flu
  The Minnesota Department of Health is reporting two more deaths of children from influenza.5:18 p.m.
• Judge sentences Alfonso Rodriguez, Jr. to death
  A federal judge in Fargo fought back tears as he imposed the death sentence Alfonso Rodriguez Jr., who was convicted last fall for abducting and killing college student Dru Sjodin.5:20 p.m.
• Deadline for delisting bald eagles extended
  A move to take the bald eagle off the Endangered Species List has been delayed for four months by a federal judge in Minnesota. The original deadline was set for next week, after a Minnesota landowner sued to force the government to make a decision after years of delay.5:43 p.m.
• South Dakota bald eagles make a comeback
  The bald eagle will soon lose its endangered species status. The birds have made a remarkable comeback especially in the upper Midwest. South Dakota now has more than 50 nesting pairs and there are more than 9,000 nests across the country.5:47 p.m.
• A focus on frost
  Here's a little reminder of just how beautiful winter can be. Meteorologist Paul Huttner shared some striking images of winter frost this morning.5:52 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Fight for Baghdad Starts with Fight for Police Force
  Iraqi police are a key component of the U.S. and Iraqi troop strategy to secure Baghdad. But it's an uphill struggle for American trainers to create a sense of responsibility and professionalism — and to fight infiltration by militias. The 89th Military Police brigade tries to promote improved policing.
• Learning on the Job: Defusing IEDs in Iraq
  In Iraq, improvised explosive devices pose a constant threat to security forces. The makeshift bombs are stashed on the sides of roads or hidden in trash. The U.S. military has sought to train Iraqi security forces to handle them on their own. But things don't always go as planned.
• N. Korea Welcomes Talks on Nuclear Program
  In China, diplomats from six countries discuss initial steps toward dismantling North Korea's nuclear weapons program. Talks have been stalled since December. Upon arriving for the talks, North Korea's nuclear negotiator, Kim Kye Gwan said, "We are prepared to discuss first-stage measures."
• Do Fluorescent Bulbs Light the Way to the Future?
  Compact fluorescent light bulbs save consumers money — and their use can help slow global warming. So why haven't they come into widespread use yet?
• On the Trail of the Death Cap Mushroom
  The death cap is the most common cause of deadly mushroom poisoning in the United States, and the fungus is spreading like crazy in California. Biologist Anne Pringle is investigating a death cap hotspot, and in the process, trying to secure her career at Harvard.
• Letters: Hate Crimes, Baghdad and a Big Pump
  Michele Norris and Robert Siegel read from listeners' e-mails. Among this week's topics: our story on the Long Beach hate-crime trial; Anne Garrels' reporting from Baghdad; and our Soundclip from New Orleans.
• Yodeling: Don't Call It a Comeback
  Yodeling is enjoying a bit of a renaissance. It is back on the radio, and even available as a cell phone ring tone. A couple of yodelers are doing their best to fan the flames of popularity.
• Libby's Attorneys Pick at Russert's Account of Leak
  NBC's Tim Russert is being cross-examined by defense attorneys in the perjury trial of former White House aide Lewis "Scooter" Libby. Russert and Libby have told very different stories about a 2003 phone call that is at the heart of the case.
• Speculating on President Bush's Lame-Duck Status
  The White House has been in a lot of headlines this week, from the "Scooter" Libby trial to the Senate debate over President Bush's Iraq policy. But Mr. Bush himself wasn't producing headlines. That has led to speculation that the president is adjusting to his status as a lame duck.
• White House Defends Pelosi on Plane Issue
  The White House is defending House Speaker Nancy Pelosi against Republican criticism that her desire to travel in a long-distance Air Force plane is an extravagance. Republicans have taken issue with the size of the plane in which Pelosi would need to fly to reach her hometown of San Francisco without refueling.

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