Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Coast Guard calls off live fire training plan on Great Lakes
  The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended all live fire exercises on the Great Lakes indefinitely, in response to concerns over whether the activity poses a threat to the lakes' environment.5:20 p.m.
• Pawlenty names new DNR head, accepts chief of staff resignation
  In a second wave of top-level administration changes, Gov. Tim Pawlenty on Monday put a seasoned official in charge of the Department of Natural Resources and accepted the resignation of his chief of staff.5:50 p.m.
• Down dollar picks up mall economy
  Holiday shopping at the Mall of America might be a smidge more crowded than in years past. Mall officials says they're finishing the year with 500,000 more international visitors than usual. It's partly because of a weak dollar, but it's also a sign that tourism is picking back up after post-911 declines. Minnesota Public Radio's Annie Baxter reports.5:53 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Joseph Barbera, Legendary Animator, Dies
  Animator Joseph Barbera, half of the legendary duo of Hanna-Barbera has died. Barbera, 95, created a host of cartoon characters, from the Flintstones to the Jetsons and Tom and Jerry.
• Newly Sworn In, Gates Plans to Visit Iraq
  New Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, sworn in at the Pentagon Monday, says he plans to visit Iraq soon, to get the "unvarnished" views of American commanders. A former CIA director, Gates promised candid and honest counsel. President Bush called Gates the right man for the job.
• Weapons-Grade Uranium Flown Out of Germany
  A Russian cargo plane took off from Germany this morning with a very unusual load: almost 600 pounds of highly enriched uranium. It was the biggest shipment ever in a joint U.S.-Russian program to keep nuclear material off the black market -- and out of the hands of terrorists.
• Menopause Study: Herbal Remedies Don't Help
  Many menopausal women who are afraid that hormone replacement therapy could increase their risk of breast cancer have turned to the herbal supplement black cohosh an alternative in recent years. But a large, NIH-sponsored study reports that, unlike HRT, the supplement doesn't ease hot flashes or other menopausal symptoms.
• The White House's Cold-War Cleanup Plan
  Dozens of nuclear research reactors still run on the kind of fuel that can be used to make an atomic bomb. The United States and the Soviet Union set them up during the Cold War to encourage the peaceful use of nuclear power. Since the 1980s, there have been attempts to secure the fuel.
• North Korea Shows Bluster at Nuclear Talks
  The Six Party negotiations aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear weapons program resume, after being stalled for well over a year. During the hiatus, North Korea conducted its first nuclear test. At the start of negotiations, North Korea declared that it is a nuclear power deserving of respect.
• Palestinian Factions Fight Anew, Despite Cease-Fire
  There was more factional fighting in the Gaza Strip Monday, despite a cease-fire brokered by Egyptian and other mediators late Sunday. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas reaffirmed his plan to hold early elections in the Palestinian territories despite fierce opposition from the Islamist group, Hamas, which controls the Palestinian government.
• Will American Voters Elect a Black President?
  While a majority of U.S. voters say they would vote for a black presidential candidate, many people say the United States is still not likely to put an African-American in the Oval Office quite yet. Michele Norris talks with campaign strategist Donna Brazile.
• Smelling in Stereo: Human Sense Detailed in Study
  Just as they hear in stereo, humans also smell in stereo, according to a new report. Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, found that humans use both nostrils to determine where a smell is coming from, much like we use our two ears to find where sound is coming from.
• NBA Benches Seven After Brawl in New York
  Seven players, including the NBA's leading scorer, Carmelo Anthony, are suspended for participating in a melee Saturday at New York's Madison Square Garden. The suspensions were the most severe since the infamous 2004 brawl between the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers. The NBA is still dealing with the repercussions of that incident.
• U.S. Eases Pollution-Reporting Requirements
  The Bush administration sets new rules for companies that must give public accounts for the toxic pollution they release into the environment each year. Critics say the new standards will reduce how much the public can learn about that factory up the street.
• A Male Therapist on Screen? Odds Are, He's a Heel
  Commentator Dennis Palumbo is a psychotherapist who used to be a screenwriter. And that makes him uniquely qualified to make an observation about how therapists are portrayed in the movies. In general, male therapists are given a very bad rap, says Palumbo, who works in Sherman Oaks, Calif. His screenwriting credits include the movie My Favorite Year.
• Deep City Records: Bedrock of Funk Samples
  Deep City Records was founded in the 1960s by alumni of Florida A&M University's Incomparable Marching 100 Band. Known for highly aggressive performances, their sound formed the foundation of Deep City. Though the Miami-based label existed for only a few years, it had a lasting impact on rhythm 'n' blues via a series of singles that it released. Meredith Ochs has a review.
• Curious George's Trip to Hell
  - Somewhere between the Wizard of Oz and Dante's Inferno is "Curious George Goes to Hell" by storyteller Kevin Kling; it's the adventures of Curious George in the Way Down Under.
• Advice on Iraq for the New Pentagon Chief
  NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr says that the idea of stabilizing Iraq with a temporary increase of combat troops is now at the center of the policy debate.

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