Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Most memorable stories of 2008
  Over the course of a year, Minnesota Public Radio's reporters, producers and hosts talk to hundreds of people from all walks of life. Some make a bigger impression than others. Some stories involve a behind-the-scenes challenge. MPR journalists each selected a story or show that was the most memorable for them.4:48 p.m.
• The year in the media
  Minnesota played a big part in the news of 2008, especially in politics. Newspapers, online and broadcast media all got into the act. But it has been a tough year for media, here in Minnesota and elsewhere. As part of our look back on the year that was, All Things Considered host Tom Crann talked to David Brauer, who covers media for Minnpost.com.4:55 p.m.
• Companies vow to change mortgage terms -- for a price
  Homeowners facing foreclosure are increasingly hearing from third-party companies offering to negotiate better terms on their mortgages. Housing advocates say the firms represent the latest form of industry predators.5:20 p.m.
• New era for police/community relations in Minneapolis
  The end of 2008 also means the end of the voluntary mediation process designed to improve police/community relations in Minneapolis. The five-year-long program has expired. But community members who worked on the mediation say there's more work to be done and some say legal action may be needed to finish the job.5:24 p.m.
• Slowing economy has some ships tying up early for winter
  There are still a couple of weeks left in the Great Lakes shipping season. But the recession is drying up business, and a number of Great Lakes ships have already called it quits, tying up for winter early.5:50 p.m.
• Studs Terkel's conversations about music
  In 1964, legendary radio host and oral historian Studs Terkel brought a young, virtually unknown songwriter from Hibbing into the studios at WFMT Chicago. That interview with a young Bob Dylan is one of dozens he has transcribed into a collection of conversations about music. Terkel says the book's title, "And They All Sang: Adventures of an Eclectic Disc Jockey," comes from an interview with conductor Leonard Bernstein. He talked with MPR's Tom Crann.6:20 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• 2008: Spitzer, Chillicothe, Zion And Pierre
  As the year draws to an end, we revisit some of the major news stories we reported on and the people — and penguins — we met to find out what's happening now.
• Spike In U.S. Medevac Crashes Prompts Oversight
  Helicopter medevac flights in the U.S. killed 28 people in 2008, the most dangerous year on record. Officials say there is no common thread between the crashes, but the number of accidents has drawn the attention of Congress and the National Transportation Safety Board.
• Bob Mondello's Top 10, Plus 12 Bonus Picks
  The economy may have turned sour, but with a total take of $9.5 billion at the box office — and 22 films on our critic's year-end best-movies list — Hollywood can look back at 2008 without shame.
• Divided Arab League Calls For Halt To Gaza Strikes
  Arab foreign ministers met in Cairo to discuss the crisis in Gaza as the Israeli military operation there, as well as Palestinian rocket fire into Israel, continued for a fifth day. But as often happens at Arab League meetings, while the rhetoric was strong, the unity of purpose was scarce.
• Experts Weigh How Gaza Fighting May End
  Three Middle East experts discuss how the current conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza might end. Dore Gold, former Israeli ambassador to the U.N., Ambassador Edward Djerejian, director of the James Baker Institute of Public Policy at Rice University, and Rashid Khalidi, Edward Said professor of modern Arab Studies at Columbia University, offer their insight.
• Grim Prospects For The New Year
  In 1996, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan cautioned against "irrational exuberance." Now, in the 21st century, we live in the age of anxiety. Shopping is down; shoplifting and other woes are up. Dickens was only half-right: it's not the best of times, but only the worst of times.
• Dora Roped Into Viacom-Time Warner Fee Spat
  Media giant Viacom says 13 millions subscribers will be unable to see Comedy Central and 18 other channels at 12:01 a.m. Thursday if there is no deal by then with Time Warner on a new carriage-fee deal. L.A. Times business reporter Meg James explains why Dora the Explorer has become involved.
• Times Square Ball To Stay Through Year
  The giant crystal ball perched above Times Square is a New Year's Eve icon. Millions of people watch it drop in person and hundreds of millions more on TV. So why not give it a bit more stage time? Rather than put the ball away come Jan. 1, New York officials want to use the sphere to celebrate other holidays.
• Burris, At Center Of Storm, Calls Appointment Legal
  Roland Burris, named by embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to fill President-elect Barack Obama's Senate seat, says that despite corruption allegations surrounding the governor, his appointment is legal.
• Legality Of Blagojevich Appointment Examined
  As Democrats seek to block the appointment of Roland Burris to replace Barack Obama in the Senate, Charles Tiefer, a former counsel to the U.S Senate and House and now a professor at the University of Baltimore Law School, offers his insight.

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