Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• House speaker says Molnau should 'do the right thing' and go
  House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, of Minneapolis, said Wednesday she wants to see a "fresh start" at the Transportation Department and has grown concerned about Carol Molnau's ability to run the agency. Molnau is also Minnesota's lieutenant governor.5:19 p.m.
• Accused downloader demonstrates ripping CDs for jury
  The most dramatic moment so far in the trial of a Minnesota woman accused of music piracy was when she set up her computer and copied a couple of CDs in front of the jury on Wednesday.5:23 p.m.
• Study shows seniors benefit from flu shots
  A new study with Minnesota-led research finds flu shots help seniors avoid hospitalization and death from flu and pneumonia.5:50 p.m.
• State agency taken to task for lax oversight of wetlands
  A legislative committee says the Board of Water and Soil Resources isn't using money and authority it was given in the last legislative session to protect wetlands.5:55 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Rescue Under Way for 3,000 Trapped Miners
  More than 3,000 gold miners have been trapped about a mile underground for nearly a day near Johannesburg, South Africa. An elevator shaft was damaged when a water pipe burst at the mine owned by Harmony Gold, the world's fifth-biggest producer.
• Commission: Veterans Care Broken, Out of Date
  A commission set up by Congress nearly three years ago reports that the health care system for disabled veterans is broken, out-of-date and unable to best treat some of the more frequent injuries of the current war: post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries.
• NTSB Investigators Pack Light, Travel Fast
  National Transportation Safety Board accident investigators leave their offices or homes immediately upon learning of a plane crash or bridge collapse. What do they do in their quiet time? What do they have packed? How quickly can they leave?
• N. Korea to Disable Main Nuclear Facility This Year
  North Korea has agreed to provide a "complete and correct declaration" of its nuclear programs and says it will disable its main reactor complex by Dec. 31. The deal with five other countries has the U.S. taking a lead in overseeing the shutdown and funding initial activities.
• U.N. Condemns Attack on Peacekeepers in Darfur
  The Security Council stopped short of placing blame on any particular group for the "murderous attack" on African Union workers in Darfur. Sudan has accused rebels of trying to scuttle upcoming peace talks and discourage nations from contributing to a new peacekeeping mission.
• Jimmy Carter Fights Back in Darfur Exchange
  The former U.S. president was involved in a tense verbal exchange Wednesday in Sudan while traveling with a delegation gathering information about the conflict that has left more than 200,000 people dead and more than 2 million displaced.
• San Jose Aims to Cut Length of Council Meetings
  San Jose City Council is considering reducing the number of commendations on the council's agenda in hopes of shortening its marathon meetings.
• Is Capitol Visitor Center Worth the Price Tag?
  The vast underground complex by the U.S. Capitol is still being built. For tourists, there will be theaters, exhibits, a restaurant and gift shops. For Congress, it has meeting rooms, a media studio and more. But the price tag has more than doubled — to $621 million.
• Feds Sue Illinois Over Worker-Verification Law
  The Department of Homeland Security is suing Illinois over its new law to keep employers there from enrolling in a federal program that verifies the legal status of job applicants. Lawmakers and rights groups say the E-Verify system is flawed.
• What's Next for SCHIP Legislation?
  Political commentators E.J. Dionne of The Washington Post and the Brookings Institution, and David Brooks of The New York Times talk about the political implications of President Bush's veto.
• Backers of Vetoed SCHIP Bill Say It's Misunderstood
  President Bush issued his fourth veto Wednesday — turning back legislation to expand the State Childrens' Health Insurance Program. Congress will vote this month on whether to override the veto. If that fails, supporters have vowed to keep it alive.
• Family Accuses 'Sugar' Filmmakers of Defamation
  The Price of Sugar tells the story of Haitians working in the Dominican Republic to harvest sugar cane. Lawyers for one of the powerful families that own several plantations there accuse the filmmakers of defamation.
• Thompson's Iowa Trip Gets Lukewarm Response
  Republican presidential contender Fred Thompson spends the week traveling around Iowa. But national media reviews of his first few campaign forays have been lackluster.
• Huckabee Campaign Builds on Straw Poll Finish
  John "Chip" Saltsman, campaign manager for presidential candidate and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, says the campaign sees promise in a second-place finish in the Iowa straw poll and has made inroads with conservative groups.
• Blackwater's Version of Iraq Attack Disputed
  Employees of the private security firm Blackwater USA are accused in the unprovoked shootings of Iraqi civilians in September. James Glanz, New York Times Baghdad bureau chief, says witnesses and Iraqi investigators dispute Blackwater's version of events.

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