Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Art Hounds
  Each week Minnesota Public Radio News asks three people from the Minnesota arts scene to be "Art Hounds." Their job is to step outside their own work and hunt down something exciting that's going on in local arts.4:44 p.m.
• A guy and a truck provide recycling pickup in Bemidji
  The City of Bemidji used to provide a curbside recycling service. But the program got the axe in 2007 because of budget cuts. Now, a one-man company is trying to revive the service.4:50 p.m.
• Play gives the back story to 'A Christmas Carol'
  The play opening tomorrow night at the Park Square Theater in St Paul has the words "Christmas Carol" in the title, but director Richard Cook argues for some people it's not a holiday show.4:54 p.m.
• Petters prosecutors not optimistic about investors' lost money
  Federal prosecutors say they will work diligently to seize ill-gotten assets and proceeds in the Tom Petters' Ponzi scheme, but they're not optimistic about investors getting back much of the more than $3.5 billion they lost in the fraud.5:20 p.m.
• Nienstedt: Church speaks with 'moral voice' on health care reform
  St. Paul Archbishop John Nienstedt reiterated the Catholic Church's opposition to any health care reform bill that would allow abortion coverage, in an interview with MPR's All Things Considered on Thursday.5:48 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• U.S.-Afghan Teams Crucial To Success, Levin Says
  The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee told NPR that establishing military teams from both countries is the key to successfully stabilizing the country.
• Holbrooke: Strong Support For Afghanistan
  Richard Holbrooke, the president's special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, says international support for the U.S. strategy is the most he has ever seen. Holbrooke is in Brussels where he is meeting with NATO allies who are discussing President Obama's request for more troops in Afghanistan.
• Cubans Hope, And Wait, For Flood Of U.S. Tourists
  Congress is considering a bill that would lift restrictions on Americans traveling to Cuba. Opponents say U.S. tourism dollars would help the Castro government hold on even longer. But many ordinary Cubans and dissidents, too, say that's not a reason to keep the ban in place.
• Hamster Toy Has Holiday Shoppers Hot On Its Tail
  A tiny robotic hamster, known as the Zhu Zhu, is this season's hot new toy. But neither the manufacturer nor retailers were prepared for the craze. Now, the Zhu Zhu Pets hamster is almost impossible to find on retail shelves — and it's selling for a premium on the Internet.
• Audiences Hooked On 'Jersey Shore' Chutzpah
  Somebody calling MTV "trash television" isn't exactly news. This time it's the Italian-American group UNICO, talking about the reality series Jersey Shore. Commentator Andrew Wallenstein says there's a reason we find stereotypes on TV.
• Man Enough To Love 'Eat, Pray, Love'
  So what if it's pure literary estrogen? Author David Sax says Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat Pray Love the best comeback story he's ever read. Sure, Gilbert's memoir is often dismissed as a beach read for unhappy housewives, but Sax says the haters are missing the point.
• The Decade In Music: How Musicians Create
  How has technology changed the relationship between musicians and their fans? While major record labels still struggle to grasp the power of the MP3, artists, including Of Montreal's Kevin Barnes, have embraced and even found creative solutions around file-sharing.
• With Eye On Second Term, Bernanke Defends Record
  Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke faced tough questions from the Senate Banking Committee about the Fed's failures leading up to the financial crisis and the role it played in the bailout of Wall Street firms. While Bernanke is ultimately expected to be reconfirmed, the hearing may influence the Fed's future role in an overhauled financial system.
• Obama Hosts Jobs Summit At White House
  With more than 15 million Americans looking for work, President Obama held a jobs summit Thursday at the White House. He brought together business leaders to talk about what can be done to boost employment.
• Suicide Attack Kills Somalia Ministers
  A suicide bomber dressed as a woman attacked a graduation ceremony in Somalia's capital, killing at least 14 people, including three Cabinet ministers. The attack underlines the inability of Somalia's weak government to control even the small patch of land it holds in Mogadishu.

The Dinner Party Download™

A fast, funny digest of the week's most interesting news, cuisine, cocktails and culture.

Services

• Hourly Newscast
• HD Radio
• iPhone App / Mobile
• E-mail newsletters
• RSS feeds
• Podcasts
• Submit your photos
• Videos
• Weather
• Most e-mailed stories