Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Is there justice for people with fetal alcohol brain damage?
  Pregnant women who drink alcohol risk giving birth to children with permanent brain damage. As these kids grow up, many get in trouble with the law. Experts say the country's justice system is ill-equipped to deal fairly with fetal alcohol offenders.4:44 p.m.
• Climate decision felt from California to Minnesota
  The decision by the federal Environmental Protection Agency to reject California's proposed tailpipe emissions standards may limit Minnesota's choices on dealing with global warming.5:20 p.m.
• New FCC rules on media ownership likely to change little in Minnesota
  New FCC rules on media ownership are likely to change little in Minnesota.5:24 p.m.
• Hungry like a wolf?
  The Minnesota Zoo is getting into the video game business. The Zoo unveiled Thursday a pioneering wildlife simulation game called "WolfQuest."5:50 p.m.
• Cantus & Theater Latte Da - All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914
  Imagine putting your rifle down, climbing out of the safety of your trench, and walking across No Man's Land to deliver the gift of song -- to your enemy. Minneapolis-based men's choir, Cantus, and Theater Latte Da perform a new radio drama based on the Christmas truce of 1914.5:55 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Letters: Baseball Doping, Christmas Spirit, Pudding
  Reaction to our coverage of the Mitchell Report on doping in Major League Baseball, claims that we've ruined Christmas, incandescent light bulbs, and love for Christmas pudding: Melissa Block and Michele Norris read from this week's listener e-mail.
• Romney Returns to Curb Huckabee's Surge in Iowa
  Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney returns to Iowa for a final pre-Christmas push. The former Massachusetts governor has seen his once-solid lead eclipsed by another former governor, Mike Huckabee of Arkansas.
• Lee Brings Mixed Record to South Korea Presidency
  Lee Myung-bak was elected president of South Korea on Wednesday after a career of solid achievements, but he has also been marked by scandal and illegal practices. In business, in parliament, as mayor of Seoul, and now as president-elect, questions remain about Lee's character.
• Astronaut in Space Gets News of Mother's Death
  Daniel Tani became the first American astronaut to lose a close family member while in space. Dr. Sean Roden, a flight surgeon at Johnson Space Center in Houston, broke the news to Tani that his mother, Rose Tani, was killed Wednesday when her car was struck by a train.
• Iowa Teens Translate Books into Arabic for Iraqis
  Washington High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has just mailed a shipment of children's books to Iraq — translated by the school's Arabic class. The teacher behind the project, Ikram Easton, talks with Melissa Block about Easton's effort and why translating Dr. Seuss is no small feat.
• Bush Highlights Spending Bill in Year-End Speech
  In a news conference Thursday at the White House, President Bush thanked Congress for passing a spending bill but warned that there's more work to be done in the coming election year. The president also touched on the destruction of CIA tapes and Russian President Vladimir Putin being named Time's man of the year.
• Men Freed from Guantanamo Accuse U.S. of Abuse
  Three British residents released after spending more than four years in Guantanamo have been celebrating their freedom in London. The men were questioned by police as they entered Britain on Wednesday. One was released, but the other two appeared in court Thursday on a Spanish extradition request; they were freed on bail.
• In 'Sweeney Todd,' Blood Will Most Certainly Flow
  How to begin a musical about a barber who slashes his customers' throats and a baker who grinds up their corpses to fill her meat pies? If you're director Tim Burton, you start by raining blood from the skies.
• Jackie Clegg Dodd Is at Home with Iowans
  Jackie Clegg Dodd, wife of Democratic candidate and Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd, moved with her family to Iowa this fall to campaign full time for her husband. She says the move has helped her get to know what's really on voters' minds.
• Campaign Ads for the Holidays: Cheers or Jeers?
  The forward slide of the presidential primaries has pushed the Iowa caucuses to two days after New Year's — and a week after Christmas. Most candidates say they're not campaigning on Christmas, but a new blitz of holiday ads will run on TV. A few do a good job of conveying season's greetings in a nuanced fashion, and some fall flat.
• Listeners' Picks for Album of the Year
  The online NPR listeners' poll for top albums of the year produced a list topped by the usual suspects of Radiohead, Wilco and Arcade Fire, but there were some unexpected additions further down. All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen talks with Michele Norris.
• Vermont Governor: EPA Emissions Ruling Misguided
  The Environmental Protection Agency has denied California and 16 other states the right to set their own standards for carbon dioxide emissions from cars. The first to follow California's path was Vermont, and Gov. Jim Douglas says the EPA's ruling is misguided.
• Elizabeth Takes 'Oldest Monarch' Title from Victoria
  Britain's Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday became the island nation's oldest living monarch ever, surpassing her great-great-great grandmother Queen Victoria's record of 81 years and 243 days. Melissa Block marks the royal milestone.
• Congress Slips 9,000 Pet Projects into Spending Bill
  Democrats came to Washington promising to clean up the place, but the 9,000 earmarks in the newly passed omnibus spending bill suggest that it isn't just a Republican problem. Can anyone change the system? After all, one person's earmark may be another's bridge to somewhere.
• U.S.-Bound Iraqi Refugees Cleared to Leave Syria
  With visa restrictions lifted for Homeland Security in Damascus, Syria, a huge backlog of refugee cases is moving — slowly. The U.S. government has pledged to resettle 12,000 Iraqis this fiscal year but has fallen short of those numbers so far. Some cases were finally cleared in Damascus, and the first batch of refugees is departing.

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