Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Meg Tilly's promise to "Gemma"
  Meg Tilly won fans in the 1980s with her acting in "The Big Chill" and an Oscar nomination for the title role in "Agnes of God." Then she turned her back on Hollywood and moved to Canada to write.4:50 p.m.
• Barack Obama: Part politican, part rock star
  Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, one of the biggest names in the Democratic Party, spent Monday in Minnesota -- campaigning for Democrats and signing copies of his new book. The atmosphere at the book signing was worthy of a rock star.5:20 p.m.
• Mesaba mechanics continue negotiations
  Mesaba reached agreement with negotiator for its pilots and flight attendants unions over the weekend, but is still bargaining with mechanics. A judge's ruling that the bankrupt regional airline can impose contracts on workers put all the unions at a disadvantage.5:23 p.m.
• Minnesota's timber industry in crisis
  In September, Ainsworth Lumber Company -- one of the state's largest wood products operations -- temporarily shut down plants in Grand Rapids and Cook. It laid off 300 workers. Just a month earlier, Ainsworth permanently cut more than 100 jobs when it closed a production line in Bemidji. Observers say the cuts have far reaching implications. Many loggers, haulers and suppliers are expecting tough times ahead.5:50 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Underwater Pumpkin Carvers Vie for Top Honors
  Conventional pumpkin carving just isn't enough for some people. For the Mountain Sharks Dive Club of Missoula, Mont., it's just the start. At its premier underwater pumpkin-carving event, held Sunday, nearly a dozen divers sank to the bottom of the Blackfoot River to test their manual dexterity.
• Reports Reveal Problems with Iraqi Forces
  A quarterly report on Iraq released by the U.S. Congress contains updates on Iraq reconstruction and security. Two reports requested by Sen. John Warner relate to the Iraqi Security Forces; another outlines problems with a program putting American advisers in Iraqi provinces to help them learn to govern. Robert Siegel talks with Stuart W. Bowen, the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction.
• Red Cross Bids to Be Leaner, More Efficient
  The American Red Cross unveils a series of corporate-governance changes, responding to stinging criticism about how the agency dealt with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The changes include cutting the size of the board by more than half and explicitly delegating responsibility for day-to-day operations to the Red Cross' full-time professional management.
• Report: Climate Change Weighs on Economy
  Climate change could trigger a global economic recession, says a new report from the British government. The study concludes that it would cost less to take strong action against climate change than react to the changes as they unfold.
• Virginia's Allen Hopes Gay Issue Helps Turnout
  Ballot measures to ban gay marriage were credited with boosting turnout among values voters in 2004. This year, the issue is on eight state ballots, including in Virginia, where Sen. George Allen (R) has seized on the issue to energize his own re-election bid.
• Lieberman Leads Challengers by Wide Margin
  Polls show Sen. Joe Lieberman, running as an independent, leading Ned Lamont, who beat Lieberman in Connecticut's Democratic primary. Lieberman also holds a wide lead over Alan Schlesinger, the Republican whom the state and national party has plainly ignored.
• President Lends Support in Red-State Races
  With midterm elections eight days away, President Bush is out on the campaign trail, flying to Georgia and Texas, two states he won by wide margins in 2004. But the political climate is vastly different now; several states the president won in 2004 are now battlegrounds for GOP candidates.
• Oaxaca Subdued, But Not for Long
  Mexican government forces have cleared striking teachers out of the colonial city of Oaxaca, where protesters are planning new marches. Federal forces stormed Oaxaca over the weekend, ending a five-month occupation. But leftist supporters roamed the streets with sticks and gasoline bombs.
• Thousands of U.S.-Bought Weapons Lost in Iraq
  The U.S. military can't account for thousands of weapons purchased to arm about 325,000 Iraqi security forces by December, according to a new report. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said last week that the U.S. military would beef up Iraqi forces' training. But the new data reveals weaknesses in the arming of Iraqi security forces.
• Sound of the Caves at Lake Superior
  When nature cooperates, it offers startling sounds. We hear a recording from sea caves around Lake Superior sent to us by listener Ken Parejko of Holcomb, Wis. He recorded the musical sound inside the caves.
• In Iraq, October Death Toll Hits 101 for U.S. Forces
  The U.S. military has announced the death of its 101st service member to die in Iraq this month. The number is the highest monthly death toll since January 2005. The grim milestone came as violence returned to Baghdad after a lull that followed the end of Ramadan.
• New York Considers a Trans-Fat-Free City
  The New York City Health Board holds a public hearing on its plan to ban anything more than tiny amounts of trans fats at the city's 20,000 restaurants. New York would become the first large American city to strictly limit trans fats, although Chicago is considering a smaller plan. The final New York board vote is in December.
• KFC Will Cut Trans Fat from Its Famous Recipe
  In a mounting war against trans fat, officials at Kentucky Fried Chicken announce that the company will begin frying most of its foods with an oil that doesn't contain trans fat. Omitting trans fat, which is especially bad for people's arteries, may affect not only the food's taste, but also costumers' health, and the company's business.
• Book Collects Greatness in 'American Speeches'
  A new, two-volume anthology of U.S. speeches offers ample evidence that political speaking has framed and rallied every great event from the Revolution to the present. Editor Ted Widmer talks about the famous and not-so-famous orators in American Speeches.
• 'Press Play' Finds Diddy in Good Company
  Sean Combs, known as "Diddy" to his fans, has released his first album in five years. The rap star and entrepreneur has a net worth of more than a quarter of a billion dollars. He hopes to add to his wealth with his new CD Press Play.

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