Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Neighbors, businesses spar on future of Grand Avenue
  Many neighbors fear the spread of regional and national chains attracted by Grand Avenue's success will spoil the character that helped make the avenue what it is today.6:46 a.m.
• Despite win, Timberwolves still looking for answers to nagging problems
  Wednesday night's win counts as the Minnesota Timberwolves' first home victory in February and just their second win in nine games. Timberwolves players hope the win will help them turn things around after a few days off for the NBA All Star weekend.6:50 a.m.
• Report: Medical errors linked to 12 deaths in 12 months in Minnesota
  The most common mistakes included finishing surgeries without removing all surgical tools, operating on the wrong body part and letting serious complications develop from bed sores.7:25 a.m.
• The trial of Osama bin Laden
  How would Americans react if Osama bin Laden was captured and put on trial in New York City? A new play opening in Minneapolis Thursday night tries to imagine just that.7:49 a.m.
• Violent reactions to art not unprecedented in history
  Thousands of people in Pakistan rallied Thursday and burned an effigy of the Danish prime minister in a fourth day of protests in Pakistan over cartoons portraying the Prophet Muhammad. The situation got Morning Edition Arts Commentator Dominic Papatola thinking about violent reactions to art.8:21 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Professional Nosiness: 'Overheard in New York'
  Everyone is occasionally guilty of listening in on other people's conversations in public. One person has become a professional at it. Renee Montagne talks to Michael Malice, who runs OverheardinNewYork.com and has co-edited a book based on his Web site's gems.
• Cheney Explains Delay in Disclosure of Hunting Incident
  Vice President Dick Cheney gave his first interview since shooting his friend while hunting. Cheney said the shooting was his fault but that it was best to delay informing the public until all the facts were known.
• Preval Named Winner in Haiti Presidential Election
  Rene Preval has been declared the winner of last week's presidential election in Haiti. The agreement was announced early Thursday by the interim government and Haiti's electoral council. Preval avoided a second vote by getting credit for slightly more than 51 percent of the votes cast.
• U.S. Internet Execs Testify to Congress on China Dealings
  Representatives from Yahoo, Microsoft, Google and Cisco Systems testified on Capitol Hill Wednesday about their business practices in China. A panel of human rights activists also appeared, raising concerns about each of the companies' roles in helping the Chinese government censor and monitor the Internet.
• Getting Past China's Government Firewall
  Steve Inskeep talks to Bennett Haselton, an American software developer who has figured out a way for computer users in China to get around the Chinese government's Internet firewall.
• Last U.S. MASH Unit Handed Over to Pakistan
  Renee Montagne talks to Rear Admiral Michael LeFever, who is in Pakistan overseeing the handover of the very last MASH unit to the Pakistani government. The mobile medical units, made famous by the military TV comedy M*A*S*H, have now been replaced with smaller, more efficient models.
• Snowboard Cross Makes Winter Olympics Debut
  The event of snowboard cross, or SBX, is making its Olympic debut at the Winter Games in Turin. Four snowboarders race down a course at the same time in the event, dodging each other, while darting over challenging terrain. Members of the U.S. team talk about the challenge.
• Hamas to Assume Control of Palestinian Authority
  The militant Islamist group Hamas gains control of the Palestinian Authority this weekend, when parliament convenes for the first time since last month's elections. Steve Inskeep talks with Dennis Ross, fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, about the kind of leverage America has with Hamas.
• House Report on Katrina Details Critical Response Flaws
  A 520-page report from House investigators has found that the government's response to Hurricane Katrina was marred by a long list of mistakes and misjudgments. The committee said the resulting confusion cost lives and prolonged the suffering of Gulf Coast residents.
• House Ethics Committee Tackles Staffing
  For over a year, the House Ethics committee has been mired in one dispute after another. Now for the first time in the 109th Congress, it appears that the ethics committee is poised to resume its activities. On Wednesday, chairman Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA) and Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-WV), met to discuss personnel issues.
• Living in the World of Cancer
  Commentary Leroy Sievers has spent a long career as a journalist covering war, genocide, and natural disasters. Now after decades of observing other people's deaths, he is forced to contemplate the possibility of his own. He's fighting cancer.
• Letters: Cheney Shooting, Muslim Cartoon Controversy
  Steve Inskeep and Renee Montagne read from listeners' letters.
• Plushenko a Front-Runner in Figure Skating Showdown
  American Johnny Weir is in second place heading into Thursday night's long program in men's figure skating. Russian Evgeni Plushenko is in first place and is expected to win the gold medal. Renee Montagne talks to USA Today columnist Christine Brennan.
• Gonzales Looks Back on a Year as Attorney General
  It's been one year since Alberto Gonzales became attorney general. He has had to balance reining in crime and defending the White House against allegations of torture and illegal eavesdropping.
• Spousal Risk of Death Linked to Partner's Hospitalization
  A new study shows that spouses have a higher risk of death when their partners are hospitalized during a given year. That risk increases when their partners are suffering from severely mentally or physically disabling conditions such as dementia or a psychiatric illness.

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