Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• 6th District race comes down to the wire
  Voters in Minnesota's 6th District are poised to elect a woman to Congress this year. But which woman?5:15 p.m.
• The air is filled with political ads
  Television commercial breaks are flooded with political ads, but more money could be flowing to local stations.5:35 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• 'Runway' Ready Halloween Costumes
  For some Halloween costume ideas, Robert Siegel talks with Laura Bennett. She was the runner-up in this season of the hit Bravo TV series Project Runway. Bennett, the mother of five children -- with a sixth on the way -- says people should stick with the scary theme for their kids. She recommends tin foil if you're making a last-minute run to the supermarket to make a costume on a shoestring budget.
• Lobstermen Seeing Red Over Langostinos
  When is a lobster not a lobster? When it is a Langostino Lobster. At least that's the opinion of Maine lobstermen. Restaurants are marketing the langostino as lobster, and the cheap price is driving down demand for the Maine catch. It's no wonder the experts in Maine are feeling crabby. They say the langostino is really an overgrown cousin of the hermit crab.
• Cardinals on the Brink; Tigers Hope History Counts
  The Detroit Tigers find themselves in a hole. It's Game Five and they're down to the St. Louis Cardinals three games to one. One more win and the Cardinals clinch the championship. However, these same two teams faced off in 1968. The Tigers were down three games to one, and wound up beating the Cardinals in seven games.
• U.S. Admiral Inspects the Disarray of E. Timor
  U.S. Adm. William Fallon tours tumultuous East Timor, where violent clashes between eastern and western residents of the capital of Dili have been going on since the spring. Hours before Fallon arrived, the airport was still closed, the result of a deadly clash with rioters.
• Anthem Singers Test 'the Land of the Free'
  In 1968, the last time the Tigers played the Cardinals in the World Series, Jose Feliciano sang his version of the "Star Spangled Banner." Although it may sound restrained by today's standards, the performance was widely criticized for being disrespectful. Since then, singers have taken more artistic liberties with the anthem.
• After Two Strong Quarters, GDP Swoons
  The national economy slowed sharply in the third quarter, falling to 1.6 percent, according to new government numbers. The droop comes after the nation's Gross Domestic Product had expanded at a 5.6 percent annual rate earlier in the year. Analysts blamed the poor showing on a slump in the housing sector.
• Winds Fuel Deadly Fire; Reward Offered for Arsonist
  A fatal wildfire near Palm Springs, Calif., has now become the target of federal arson investigators. Four U.S. Forest Service crew members died Thursday after flames engulfed them as they were trying to protect a home.
• Arson Forensics Team Studies Fatal Forest Fire
  Melissa Block talks with fire investigator Jonathan Calore of the South Carolina Forestry Service about how investigations into forest arsons are conducted. Calore says he begins by talking to witnesses and looking at indicators such as burn patterns on trees or stones. The key, he says, is to narrow down the site of origin.
• Baghdad Finally Calm Under Massive U.S. Presence
  In Baghdad, a daytime curfew and a massive American street presence ensured a peaceful end to a violent week, in which top officials argued over timelines and security and a U.S. soldier went missing.
• Iraq War Vets Return; Some Have No Home
  National Guard Cpl. Joe Raicaldo is home from Iraq with things he didn't have when he left: an honorable discharge, metal rods and screws up and down his spine, and an arm that moves like a robot's. He's also homeless, living in his car. There are at least 600 recent vets who are homeless.
• Bush Administration Alters Terms for Discussing Iraq
  President Bush and senior members of his Cabinet all spoke this week about Iraq. A review of the statements suggests that the language used to describe the situation has changed. But does a shift in language mean a change in strategy coming?
• Political Wrap: 2006 Election, Iraq and Scandals
  For a wrap-up of the week in politics, both at the White House and around the country - Robert Siegel talks with political observers E.J. Dionne, a columnist for The Washington Post, and Rich Lowry, editor of The National Review.
• Haunted House Preys on New Yorkers' Fears
  They say nothing can rattle a New Yorker -- but one man claims to know the city's deepest fears. In building a haunted house meant to scare the pants off visitors, an off-Broadway producer polled New Yorkers about what they fear the most.
• Would-Be Mall Developer Adds Green to Pitch
  The owner of one of the last large open spaces in San Luis Obispo, Calif., is seeking to develop old farm land into a modern shopping mall. But after local voters soundly rejected the plan, Ernie Dalidio has made his proposal "greener." The planned mall in the coastal town would now incorporate an organic garden, a traditional farmers' market and a monarch butterfly sanctuary.
• Gael Garcia Bernal Stretches Acting's Boundaries
  Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal's work is often cited for its intensity and vulnerability. His latest films are Babel and The Science of Sleep. He talks about acting -- and the leap of faith it requires.

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