Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Why is crime down in Minneapolis? The broken-window theory
  Law enforcement officials across the country as well as in Minneapolis have embraced the theory that if left unfixed, broken windows and other signs of blight help create a culture of lawlessness.5:20 p.m.
• Cellulosic ethanol pushes ahead
  Cellulosic ethanol has been more talk than action. Officials at a Sioux Falls company say cellulosic is entering a more active phase.5:24 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Filmmaker Reflects On 'Waltz With Bashir' Reception
  Although Ari Folman's father warned him not to create the animated film about Israeli involvement in a massacre during the 1982 Lebanon war, the filmmaker did so anyway, in part to dissuade teenagers from going to war. To Folman's surprise, it was embraced by the Israeli government.
• Indian Or Not? Fritz Scholder's Art And Identity
  Fritz Scholder was only part Native American so when he created his "Indian" series in the 1960s, he made a lot of people mad. Now, Scholder is the subject of three exhibitions across the country — including "Fritz Scholder: Indian / Not Indian," at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian.
• Who Says You Have To Like A Character?
  The title character of Elizabeth Strout's Olive Kitteridge is a confused and vindictive wife and mother in a small town on the coast of Maine. She's not at all likable — but that doesn't mean Melissa Bank doesn't love her.
• Retailers Seek Hope In Post-Christmas Sales
  Retail sales have been weak this holiday season, but store owners have another chance to move goods. With Dec. 26 falling on a Friday, stores are trying to create a three-day weekend to celebrate shopping. The day began with early-morning door-buster sales and deep discounts.
• Inaugural Crowds May Turn D.C. Into Parking Lot
  Estimates that as many as 5 million people will descend on Washington for the presidential inauguration have been dismissed, but the city is still preparing itself for a large turnout. City Administrator Dan Tangherlini offers insight into how officials make their predictions.
• Wind Farms Could Bring Wyoming Ranchers Windfall
  Landowners in the Cowboy State are banding together to form "wind associations." These ad-hoc groups are providing leverage for farmers who are looking to use their land to profit from new wind farms. Wind energy could provide the ranchers with a more stable source of income.
• Cost Of Yankees Acquisition Examined
  There appears to be no economic slowdown in the front office of baseball's New York Yankees. Earlier this week, it capped a $423.5 million spree by signing coveted first baseman Mark Teixiera. Sportswriter Stefan Fatsis says the Yankees reduced last year's payroll by more than $88 million, giving the team budget room. "They have massive cash flow," he says.
• China Hits Peak Period For Quake Survivor Suicides
  China has one of the world's highest suicide rates, and it could get higher still. Seven months have passed since the country's massive earthquake in May, and experts say this is the peak period for suicide attempts. Some alarming trends are emerging.
• U.S.-China Ties Pose Tricky Proposition For Obama
  On issues such as halting global warming to stopping the spread of weapons of mass destruction, President-elect Barack Obama will need China's cooperation. But in other areas, China is a competitor. Obama faces challenges in managing this complex relationship.
• Letters: 'Little Rascals,' Chapel, Pinter, Yo-Yo Ma
  Listeners commented on the stories on The Little Rascals, The Old Bethel Chapel, Harold Pinter and Yo-Yo Ma.

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