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

• 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.
• 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.
• Girls and Moms Respond to Teen Star's Pregnancy
  Tween star Jamie-Lynn Spears announced this week that she is pregnant. The 16-year-old is the star of Nickelodeon's Zoey 101 and the younger sister of pop singer Britney Spears, and she plans to keep the baby. What are girls and their moms making of the news? Denise Restauri, founder of AllyKatzz — a social networking Web site for girls ages 10 to 15 — and mother of a 14-year-old girl, says girls have had mixed reactions to the news. Restauri talks with Melissa Block.
• 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.
• Teen Hides Romance from Protective Parents
  It's common for parents to urge their teenage sons and daughters to wait until a certain age before entering into a serious relationship. But what's to keep teens from having a secret boyfriend or girlfriend? Consuelo Cisneros, 17, has been doing exactly that, but the pressure of hiding her boyfriend from her parents is becoming too much.
• Fear of Iran Could Spark Mideast Arms Race
  Nearly a dozen Middle East states have expressed interest in developing nuclear energy programs, pledging to restrict programs to peaceful, civilian uses. Experts say, however, some of this renewed interest in nuclear capability is sparked by fears that Iran will acquire a nuclear weapon, and they worry about a future arms race in the region.
• A Slave's Passage in 'God of Luck'
  Alan Cheuse reviews Ruthanne Lum McCunn's latest novel God of Luck, about a 19th-century Chinese slave's passage to Peru.
• Mail Ballots Complicate the Campaign Calendar
  Millions of California and Florida voters will cast ballots by mail this year, well before their state's primaries. The rise of mail ballots — often returned weeks before Election Day — complicates the calendar for candidates and campaigns.
• John Edwards' Adviser on Sprint Strategy
  Democrat John Edwards is locked in a three-way tie in Iowa with Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. But the influential Des Moines Register opted for a Clinton endorsement earlier this week. Joe Trippi, senior adviser to the Edwards campaign, talks about strategy for the sprint to the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3.
• GPS Gadgets Are Hot Item on Santa's List
  A host of new GPS gadgets are on the market that could save you money and perhaps a little time. Omar Gallaga, who covers technology culture for the Austin-American Statesman, talks with Michele Norris.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• '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.
• 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.

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