Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• DM&E sale may move expansion forward
  The Canadian Pacific Railway is buying the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad. The $2.5 billion deal was announced Wednesday in Sioux Falls. Officials with both companies say the merger is a good for their customers and for the region.4:50 p.m.
• Pipaashaa means thirst
  Concerns about industrial waste and the havoc it's causing in impoverished communities around the world is at the heart of a new dance that's being performed in Minneapolis this weekend.4:54 p.m.
• Union workers go on strike at University of Minnesota
  Union leaders claim significant disruptions in work operations as positions went vacant. University officials maintain the affect of the strike is minimal.5:20 p.m.
• Some professors take classes off campus to avoid picket lines
  Cafes, churches and bookstores are becoming classrooms as professors move classes off campus to accommodate students who don't want to cross AFSCME picket lines.5:24 p.m.
• Senator arrested at airport may have grounds for withdrawing guilty plea
  Several legal experts say that while it's typically difficult to get a court to throw out a guilty plea, there are unique circumstances in Sen. Larry Craig's case that give him an advantage.5:45 p.m.
• Special interests pressure Pawlenty to relent on special session
  Several groups say immediate action is needed to prevent another disaster like the 35W bridge collapse. But the latest negotiations between the governor and DFL legislative leaders indicate transportation funding might have to wait until next year's regular session.5:52 p.m.
• Parties clash in Congress over response to Minn. bridge collapse
  House Democrats clashed with Republicans and the Bush administration Wednesday over whether to raise gas taxes to pay for safer bridges in response to last month's deadly collapse in Minneapolis.5:56 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• 'Post' Discovers U.S. Agencies' Marching Songs
  The Washington Post has revealed that the uniformed services of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have an official marching song. And they're not the only government agency to have one.
• Efforts Under Way to Rescue Pakistani Soldiers
  For five days, several hundred Pakistani soldiers have been held captive in a tribal region near the Afghan border. They were seized in South Waziristan by pro-Taliban militants — who never even had to fire a shot. Now efforts are under way to secure their release. The affair is causing anger and embarrassment in Pakistan.
• Republicans Face Off in New Hampshire Debate
  Republican presidential hopefuls were debating Wednesday night in New Hampshire. Washington Post political reporter Dan Balz is covering the debate — where Fred Thompson will not be. Balz talks with Michele Norris about how things are shaping up in the Republican field.
• Famed Tenor Pavarotti in Grave Condition
  Opera singer Luciano Pavarotti's health has deteriorated, and he's in serious condition, according to Italian news agencies. The 71-year-old tenor, who has pancreatic cancer, is believed to have lost consciousness for brief moments in recent days.
• Drought Dries Up Wells in Rock Springs, S.C.
  The nation's drought is hitting South Carolina hard. And the community of Rock Springs — despite its name — is running dry. The low- to middle-income community has about 100 homes that rely on well water — and there's precious little of that.
• Voters Size Up Thompson, Now Officially in Race
  In many ways, the actor and former senator represents the traditional Republican values that Rudolph Giuliani and Mitt Romney lack. But will the base like him? Voters in the traditionally Republican town of Evansville, Ind., weigh in.
• Scientists Hope to Create Human-Animal Embryo
  British regulators decided Wednesday to allow, at least in principle, the creation of hybrid human-animal embryos for research into degenerative diseases. The move came despite fierce opposition from some church and ethics groups.
• Taxi Drivers Strike Over Credit Card, GPS Rules
  Taxi strikes slowed travel this morning in New York and Philadelphia. Drivers in both cities are upset with new rules that require cabs to have global positioning systems and touch-screen monitors that allow passengers to pay by credit card.
• Democrats Question Credibility of Iraq Reports
  Senators are positioning themselves on the long-awaited Iraq report from Gen. David Petraeus, with Democrats calling the troop buildup in Iraq "the Bush-Petraeus surge." They question the credibility of the White House-endorsed reports on Iraq due next week, and say that Iraq is worse off now.
• Craig Fights to Clear His Name, Keep Senate Seat
  Larry Craig says that if he can clear his name before his self-imposed Sept. 30 resignation date, he'll stay in the Senate. But his refusal to go away quietly has dismayed his GOP colleagues and angered some former supporters.
• Missouri Picks One Contractor to Fix 800 Bridges
  Missouri plans to issue a single contract for repairing and maintaining 800 of its worst bridges, which will quadruple the pace of bridge repairs in the state. Missouri is believed to be the first state to try this approach — placing the upkeep of so many bridges in the hands of a single contractor.
• New Aircraft Aiding Search for Missing Adventurer
  Millionaire adventurer Steve Fossett was missing Monday, and the search for him now involves flight crews from three states. Crews have brought in a new aircraft from Utah, the Air Van, which has a special imaging system.
• Plans for Nuclear Waste Dump Hit a Snag
  The Department of Energy's controversial plan to build a nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain in Nevada hit a major snag this week. A federal judge ruled that Nevada could withhold the water the agency needs for drilling at the site.
• Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid Traced to Breakup Event
  New research suggests that the impact believed to have wiped out the dinosaurs and other life forms on Earth 65 million years ago can be traced back to a breakup event in the main asteroid belt.
• Arrests in Germany Reportedly Foil Terrorism Plots
  German police Wednesday announced the arrest of three men suspected of planning terrorist attacks. Some reports say they were targeting the U.S. military base at Ramstein in western Germany, and the busy Frankfurt International Airport.

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