Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• The Rochester Coalition strikes back
  The Rochester Coalition is questioning whether the DM&E Railroad can pay back a $2.5 billion federal loan. But DM&E President Kevin Schieffer says the Coalition doesn't have its facts straight.5:18 p.m.
• Rod Grams back in the game
  Former U.S. Senator Rod Grams has his eye on Washington again. This weekend, he picked up the 8th Congressional District Republican endorsement for Congress and will challenge the long-time DFL incumbent Rep. James Oberstar.5:23 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Choosing Hayden For CIA, Bush Risks Senate Fight
  President Bush names Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden to replace Porter Goss as director of the CIA, touching off what may be a tough confirmation battle. Several members of Congress have criticized a controversial eavesdropping program that Hayden ran as director of the National Security Agency.
• The Misunderstanding of John Malkovich
  John Malkovich is more than just a big-screen baddie -- and he's more than just an actor. He talks about being misunderstood as a performer and about his dual role as actor and producer in his latest film, the black comedy Art School Confidential.
• Paul Simon On Songwriting And 'Surprise'
  For Paul Simon, the songwriting process often proceeds "backward." The singer-songwriter explains what that means — and how it affects his new Surprise, a collaboration with electronic-music pioneer Brian Eno.
• Debate Over Gen. Hayden Begins in Congress
  The Senate Intelligence Committee could begin hearings on President Bush's choice of Gen. Mike Hayden to run the CIA as soon as next week. But the debate on the Hill has already begun, with some members of Congress asking whether a career military officer should be running that agency right now.
• A Top CIA Official Retires Under Cloud of Suspicion
  Even as it loses its chief executive, the CIA's recently retired third-ranking official is under investigation for possible improper relations with a defense contractor, says Newsweek magazine correspondent Michael Isikoff. Federal investigators are investigating CIA Executive Director Kyle "Dusty" Foggo.
• Official: Funding Crisis May Force Hamas to Change
  The leaders of Hamas will be forced to take more moderate positions if the Palestinian Authority's financial crisis continues to worsen, says the head of the Palestinian Monetary Authority. Employees of the new Hamas-led Palestinian Authority haven't been paid in more than two months.
• U.S.-Russia Relations Turning Icy Again
  The relationship between Russia and the United States continues to deteriorate, says NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr. He points to recent comments by Vice President Cheney and Russia's oil minister as evidence.
• Doctors Going 'Off-Label' to Help Patients
  Patients may not realize it, but many of the prescriptions they get from their doctors are "off-label" -- that is, for uses not approved by the Food and Drug Administration. It's legal, and a new study shows it's an accepted part of medical practice: 21 percent of all prescriptions are for what are called off-label uses.
• Remembering the Early Days of 'Gay Cancer'
  Commentator Joe Wright spent more than 10 years doing AIDS community work in San Francisco. He says that back in 1981 and '82, before AIDS was called AIDS, it was called "gay cancer." At the time, cancer was the most dreaded disease in the United States. But for some of the men who had the mysterious new illness, calling it "cancer" was a form of hope. Joe Wright is a student at Harvard Medical School.
• Ney's Former Top Aide Cops Plea in Abramoff Case
  The former chief of staff of Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH) reaches a plea agreement with federal prosecutors in which he will assist the investigation of his former boss for allegedly doling out political favors to former lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Neil Volz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud in the deal.

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