Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• The Beatles' one-night stand in Bloomington
  Bill Carlson was 17 years old when he got a press pass to photograph the Beatles during their one and only show in Minnesota. Few of those photos saw the light of day until recently, when Carlson decided to publish them in a book called "The Beatles! A One-Night Stand in the Heartland."4:50 p.m.
• Lawmaker says flood money is too slow in coming
  A state lawmaker is blaming bureaucrats and red tape for holding up some of the flood relief promised to southeastern Minnesota.5:20 p.m.
• Communicating with Kris Kringle
  Every year, the U.S. Postal Service handles more than one million letters to Santa. In Minnesota, mail addressed to Mr. Claus typically makes its way to the central post office in Minneapolis.5:54 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• In New Orleans, a Mother's Search for Her Lost Son
  Jean Aaron hadn't heard from her 52-year-old son in five years. Then, earlier this month, she heard his voice on the radio. Chris Turnbow was one of the hundreds of homeless sleeping near New Orleans' city hall. Aaron and her grandson got in their car and set out to bring Chris home.
• Moby Grape Just Can't Catch a Break
  Aside from critics and fans, few today have heard of the '60s rock band Moby Grape. Why? Bad advice, bad breaks and bad behavior are three short reasons. Now that a label is reissuing the group's first five records, other old problems still stand in the way.
• Jeri Thompson Brings Political Fervor to Campaign
  Jeri Thompson is significantly younger than her husband, Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson — when they married in 2002, she was 35 to his 59. But she is an accomplished politico in her own right, and has been accused by some of micromanaging the campaign.
• Judge Weighs Legality of CIA Tapes' Destruction
  Bush administration lawyers told a federal judge Friday that there's no evidence that the CIA violated the judge's order when it destroyed videotapes of interrogations of al-Qaida suspects. Lawyers for detainees said the destruction of the tapes makes them fear that other related materials are not being saved.
• Survey Finds Rise in Suicide, Divorce Among Soldiers
  NPR has obtained information on the latest Pentagon mental health survey from Iraq, showing increased suicide rates, more divorces and lower morale. Top generals will be briefed in the coming weeks.
• 'Charlie Wilson's War' a Satirical Spin on History
  Democratic Texas Congressman Charlie Wilson conspired with a rogue CIA operative to launch an operation to help the Afghan mujahedeen during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. So it may seem surprising that the film about him has been nominated for five Golden Globe awards in the "musical or comedy" categories.
• Knicks Take Troubles Out on Their Fans
  On Wednesday, a group of New York Knicks fans protested outside Madison Square Garden, urging the ouster of president and head coach Isiah Thomas. Meantime, the Knicks played their best game of the season, despite having star point guard Stephon Marbury on the bench because of flu-like symptoms.
• Mom's Attempts to Stop a Reckless Driver Thwarted
  There's no good place to meet a reckless driver, but a blind curve has to be among the worst. Commentator Julie Zickefoose encountered one such driver and then set out to learn more about him. Turns out he has a history of arrests, and police can't do anything about her near-miss.
• Checking Romney's Account of Civil Rights Ties
  Over the years, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has said repeatedly that his late father, former Michigan Gov. George Romney, marched with Martin Luther King Jr. Now, there are questions about those claims.
• Christmas Tribute to Tuba Star Turns 33
  Since 1974, U.S. tuba players have gathered en masse to play Christmas music in tribute to William J. Bell, a beloved figure in the annals of American tuba history, who died on Christmas Day in 1971. For the 33rd Tuba Christmas, musicians in 224 cities across the U.S. — including Fredericksburg, Va. — are scheduled to participate.

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