Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• MnDOT unveils design of 35W bridge
  MnDOT formally awarded the bridge reconstruction contract to Flatiron, and unveiled the winning design.7:20 a.m.
• A critique of the 35W bridge design
  Tom Fisher, dean of the University of Minnesota College of Design, has some good things to say about the design of the new 35W bridge. He also says the bridge will be the beginning of a new approach to infrastructure across the nation.7:24 a.m.
• Artist stitches together cultures
  One young Minneapolis artist is creating new work that brings the worlds of high art and street art together.7:47 a.m.
• The quest for the perfect bagel
  A bagel may be just breakfast bread for most Minnesotans. But for some transplants, a truly great bagel is something to be prized. Local food bloggers complain that they've given up on the Great Minnesota Bagel Search, tired of what one writer called the "tire-sized things" bagel chains put out. A new Minneapolis cafe featuring homemade bagels might offer them new hope.7:53 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Manatees Could Leave Florida's Endangered List
  Florida wildlife managers want to take manatees off the state's endangered list. Critics say the proposal is based on politics, not science: So long as the manatee is listed as endangered, developers face limits on their plans to build and expand marinas.
• Mukasey Backs Special Courts for Terror Suspects
  Attorney General nominee Michael Mukasey is among those in the legal community who have called for creating special national security courts to try terrorism suspects. Backers of the idea say it would make it easier to try cases involving sensitive classified evidence.
• Random Tax Audits Return to the IRS
  The Internal Revenue Service began selecting thousands of taxpayers for audits this month — even though the IRS has no reason to think they have underpaid their taxes. It's part of the IRS' National Research Program.
• Poll: Republican Voters Cool to Free Trade
  A new poll shows that a sizable majority of Republicans believe free trade is bad for the U.S. economy. By reputation, the GOP is the party of open commerce across borders. But lately, Republicans more closely mirror Democrats on the issue — a shift that could put GOP presidential hopefuls on the spot.
• 'Newsday' Pulitzers Pilfered and Sold on eBay
  Three gold Pulitzer Prize medals won by Newsday, the New York newspaper, have been sold by an auction house for more than $15,000. The newspaper's staffers thought the awards were safely locked away. But the paper received a tip that the public service awards were listed on eBay.
• Iraqis Seeks Restitution from Blackwater USA
  An Iraqi government report calls for the U.S. government to sever ties with the private security contractor Blackwater USA. It also wants the company to pay $8 million in compensation to the families of each of the 17 people killed last month by Blackwater guards in Baghdad.
• Europeans Win Nobel Prize for Physics
  The 2007 Nobel Prize in physics will be shared by two Europeans who discovered the physics that allows computer hard drives to compress large amounts of data. The prize was awarded to Albert Fert of France and Peter Grunberg of Germany.
• Map-Making Firms Rumored to Sell for Billions
  Two map-making companies — one based in Belgium, the other in Chicago — produce the digital maps used by Internet sites like Mapquest.com. The same maps also are used in GPS navigation systems. The companies are the focus of billion-dollar buyout offers.
• Foreign Priests Get Help Preaching in English
  The American Catholic Church has relied on priests from abroad to fill vacancies caused by the dwindling number of U.S.-born priests. But American parishioners often have trouble understanding the priests' foreign accents. A program in Texas is helping priests preach with better English pronunciation.
• Recent Reports Suggest a Recession Is Likely
  David Wessel, economics editor for The Wall Street Journal, discusses the possibility of a recession. Though he concedes that it is difficult to predict when a recession will hit, he has little doubt that the U.S. economy will suffer one soon enough.
• Sprint CEO Leaves as Bad News Arrives
  Sprint, the third-largest cell phone company in the United States is under pressure from investors and customers. The company ousted Chairman and CEO Gary Forsee. The news comes as Sprint announces that it expects a loss this quarter, and subscribers continue to defect to other networks.
• California Student Reflects on Myanmar
  Commentator Hanna Ingber Win, who lived in Myanmar in 2003, is familiar with the ruling junta's tactics. She has been watching the military crackdown from her computer, wondering whether she would have the courage to defy the regime and smuggle news to the outside world.
• Three Groups Oppose Myanmar's Government
  Opposition movements from Africa to Russia and beyond are making news about their struggle. Bridget Welsh of the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University says the monks protesting in Myanmar are one of three opposition groups protesting there.
• Supreme Court Weighs Third Parties' Fraud Liability
  The U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments in a "do-or-die" case for investors trying to recover losses in fraudulent cases. At issue is whether third parties, like insurance and accounting companies, and banks, can be held liable for scheming with companies that deceive stockholders.
• Thompson to Make Debut at GOP Debate
  Republican presidential candidates are preparing for today's debate, which — with the participation of former Sen. Fred Thompson — will bring all nine candidates together in one forum. The event begins at 4 p.m. ET in Dearborn, Mich.

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