Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Many still missing
  Area hospitals may have seen the last of the injured survivors. Rescue teams said most of the injured were brought in within an hour of the collapse. Dozens of worried relatives are searching for the missing.7:20 a.m.
• Survivors, witnesses tell of escapes, rescues at bridge collapse
  Quick response by fire and police crews, and passersby, helped keep the death toll down. For many, their safety was a matter of luck.7:25 a.m.
• Emergency plans pay off
  Search-and-rescue units from across the metro area reacted swiftly to the scene. They provided fire, paramedic and water rescue to help with the scene.7:50 a.m.
• Collapse mystifies officials, experts
  Gov. Tim Pawlenty says two state inspections in the past two years found no structural problems with the bridge that collapsed.7:55 a.m.
• Search hampered by river conditions; bridge conditions under scrutiny
  Divers searched the Mississippi River Thursday for bodies still trapped beneath the twisted debris of a collapsed bridge, as finger-pointing began over a report two years ago that found the bridge was "structurally deficient."8:20 a.m.
• As tragic as it was, bridge disaster could have been worse
  One of the most horrifying images from the bridge collapse may have been the sight of a yellow school bus stranded on a section of the bridge. Dozens of Minneapolis school children were returning from a field trip when the bridge fell.8:40 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Missouri's High Court Limits Political Donations
  The Missouri Supreme Court recently reinstated a ceiling on campaign contributions, ending nearly seven months of unlimited donations. Now a question arises: Should candidates have to return any of that money?
• Bush Vows Prompt Aid for Minneapolis
  President Bush is promising a quick federal response to Wednesday's bridge collapse in Minneapolis. From the White House, he offered condolences to the victims. First Lady Laura Bush will travel to Minneapolis Friday.
• Witnesses Say Minneapolis Bridge Just Buckled
  Rescue workers in Minneapolis resume a search for victims and survivors after the I-35 West bridge in Minneapolis collapsed into the Mississippi River Wednesday night. The concrete and steel bridge buckled suddenly at the height of rush hour traffic.
• Lead Paint Prompts Mattel Toy Recall
  Mattel, maker of Fisher-Price toys, will recall almost 1 million plastic preschool toys made in China because their paint contains excessive amounts of lead. The recall involves such popular characters as Elmo and Big Bird.
• China Tries PR to Answer Product-Safety Fears
  The Chinese government has been caught in a bad press cycle, with news of tainted toothpaste and contaminated pet food making international headlines. But Chinese officials are fighting back and learning the art of spin.
• As Morning Comes, A Bridge 'Is Just Gone'
  At the scene of the I-35 West bridge collapse in Minneapolis, what you don't see is almost as impressive as what you do see. The bridge "just doesn't exist." On any given day, 140,000 vehicles passed over the bridge
• Miami Teens Lobby for Friends Facing Deportation
  A group of Miami teenagers is visiting Capitol Hill this week to lobby members of Congress. They're friends of two young men whose family is about to be deported back to Colombia after overstaying their visas.
• River Bridges Pose Design Challenge, Engineer Says
  A bridge in Minneapolis that collapsed was in the midst of repairs, but had passed recent safety inspections. A University of Minnesota engineer says that building a span to cross a river poses distinctive design challenges.
• Officials Pledge Probe of Bridge Disaster
  Officials in Minnesota are still trying to understand how a bridge could simply give way and collapse. Mayor R.T. Rybak and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty both vow a full investigation of the disaster on the I-35 West bridge.
• Was Enough Money Spent on Bridge Maintenance?
  Could a lack of maintenance funds have contributed to the collapse of the I-35 West bridge in Minneapolis? That's one of the questions likely to arise as the disaster is investigated.
• Congresswoman Addresses Bridge Disaster
  Rep. Betsy McCollum, a Minnesota Democrat, represents St. Paul in Congress. It's likely some of her constituents were directly involved in the collapse of the I-35 West bridge. She talks about the impact of the bridge collapse on the community.
• Mayor: We're 'Bracing Ourselves ... for Tragic Stories'
  As many as 30 people remain unaccounted for after Wednesday night's collapse of the I-35 West bridge in Minneapolis. Authorities are confirming just four deaths so far. Dozens of cars remain in the waters of the Mississippi River. Mayor R.T. Rybak says the city is "bracing ... for tragic stories."
• Bridge's Design Will Be a Focus of Post-Mortems
  The Minneapolis bridge that collapsed Wednesday spanned one of the world's great rivers. Any investigation of what went wrong may begin with how the bridge was constructed, with enormous steel trusses and diagonal braces.
• Traffic Reporter Reviews Post-Collapse Commute
  Rush hour is under way in Minneapolis, Minn., where a deadly bridge collapse on Interstate 35 Wednesday night has cut off a major commuting thoroughfare for the city and neighboring St. Paul. How are commuters handling the obstacle this morning?
• Marine Accused of Killing Iraqi to Learn Fate
  Marine Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins, on trial for a plot to kidnap and kill an Iraqi man, could soon learn his fate. A member of Hutchins' squad, Cpl. Marshall Magincalda, was acquitted of kidnapping and murder in the same case.

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