Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Future of food: vaccines with a peel and printable sushi
  MPR's Tom Crann talks to futurist Cecily Sommers about how tomorrow's food is being engineered today. Sommers says a banana a day could soon keep both the doctor and diseases away.4:44 p.m.
• BusTales and other transit adventures
  If America is a melting pot then buses are like moving cauldrons. Weird things can happen when passengers from every imaginable walk of life board the bus. Regular riders often have wild stories to tell. A Minneapolis man has created an online repository where these stories can be shared.5:25 p.m.
• Body donors remembered with poetry, music and gratitude
  On average, 38,000 people die each year in Minnesota. About 260 of them donate their bodies to science. Medical students at the University of Minnesota say these body donors are vital to their education. And, every year, they try to thank those who gave the gift of themselves.5:50 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Scientists Produce Embryonic Stem Cells from Skin
  Two teams independently discover a way to turn ordinary human skins cells into stem cells with the same characteristics as those derived from human embryos, a breakthrough that could open the door for advanced medical therapies.
• Revisiting Giuliani's Role as 'America's Mayor'
  Rudolph Giuliani's response to the Sept. 11 attacks revived his political career and primed him for a presidential run. But critics question some decisions made before the attacks, including locating emergency operations in the World Trade Center.
• The Musical Worlds of WOMEX
  Every year, thousands of international music industry folks gather to discuss the field called "world music" at the WOMEX conference. Critic Will Hermes attended the expo this year, and was encouraged by what he heard.
• Stem-Cell Supporters, Critics Weigh In
  Supporters and opponents of embryonic stem-cell research agree that the new development is exciting, but they disagree on whether the findings should spell the end of such research.
• Supreme Court to Review D.C. Handgun Ban
  The Supreme Court agreed Tuesday to review the District of Columbia's nearly complete ban on the right to own and use a handgun. The city is appealing a ruling that said the ban is unconstitutional under the Second Amendment.
• Vendors of Oprah's Favorites Brace for Sales Boom
  When Oprah Winfrey endorses a product from a small company, a phenomenon called the O factor occurs. Vincent Larouche of LAFCO New York, a company of six, is preparing for a make-or-break moment after his soap was featured on Tuesday's episode of "Oprah's Favorite Things."
• Musharraf Grips Power Tightly amid Upheaval
  While it appears that Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf is easing the state of emergency, he has not loosened his grip on power. On Tuesday, he was in Saudi Arabia, reportedly to dissuade the government from letting an ex-prime minister return to Pakistan.
• Retirements Spark Air Traffic Controller Shortage
  The thousands of replacement air-traffic controllers hired in the early 1980s are now eligible to retire,and they're leaving a lot faster than expected. The government says safety has not suffered, but some worry the friendly skies are simply lucky.
• Airlines Scramble for Fresh Options for Travelers
  With the holidays closing in fast, many would-be travelers are finding a surprising wealth of airline options, from planes that boast $10 seats to luxury carriers where $10 might not even buy a drink.
• Art Pepper's 'Straight Life' Goes Straight to YouTube
  Art Pepper was a self-taught jazz legend. He played with Miles Davis and was hailed as one of the greatest alto players to follow in the footsteps of Charlie Parker. He also spent ten years in prison on narcotics charges. Now his widow is turning his life story into a series of short films she's posting on YouTube.

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