Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Library closings may be just the beginning
  The Minneapolis Library Board has approved a 2007 budget that will include closing three libraries and will keep the Central Library closed on Mondays.7:21 a.m.
• Minnesota tops the nation in high school achievement, but problems remain
  Nearly 93 percent of the state's residents over age 25 have high school diplomas.7:42 a.m.
• Iraq war dominates U.S. Senate race
  Minnesota's major party U.S. Senate candidates each offer a different approach to dealing with the war in Iraq.7:45 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Protecting the Spineless from Extinction
  That fly zapper? Put it away. The next bug you swat may be endangered. The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation works to protect insects that you might not think need saving.
• New Options for Soothing Arthritis Pain
  Osteoarthritis is one of the nation's leading causes of disability, affecting approximately 20 million adults. There's no cure, but there are new treatments for easing pain, such as a lubricating fluid and an implant that cushions joints.
• Republicans Aim to Reverse Negative Poll Trends
  Ken Mehlman, the chair of the Republican National Committee, is focused on raising and spending money in the final weeks before congressional midterm elections. With slumping polls, scandals and a deadly month in Iraq, Republicans find themselves on the defensive.
• L.A. Schools Hire Navy Man as Superintendent
  Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa won a political fight for control over the Los Angeles Unified School District. But while he was out of the country, the school board hired a new school superintendent. The board hired David Brewer, a retired Navy admiral with no experience in education.
• Sgt. Killed in Iraq Was Driven to Protect Others
  The Army has announced that Alaska's 172nd Stryker Brigade will finally be headed home by Christmas. But five men in that unit won't be returning home. They were killed during their extended tour of battle. The first to die was Sgt. Eugene Alex.
• OPEC Tightens Taps to Shore Up Oil Prices
  Although Exxon Mobil Corp. announced profits of more than $10 billion for the second quarter, the price of oil has been dropping. OPEC is looking to shore up a price that has fallen from a $78 high in July to around $61. But the cartel's power is only as strong as its members' resolve to stick to production quotas.
• N.J. Court Clears the Way for Same-Sex Marriage
  New Jersey's legislature has six months to either grant gay couples the right to marry, or come up with another civil-union type system, after the state's highest court ruled Wednesday that homosexual couples are due all of the rights accorded to heterosexual couples.
• Republican Ad Shocks Some in Tennessee
  The Republican National Committee provided the money for a television advertisement running in Tennessee that some say plays to racist fears.
• CDC Recommends Shingles Vaccine, Citing Risks
  Shingles is a viral disease most common among older adults. A group of expert advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending everyone age 60 and older get a new vaccine against shingles. The CDC's Dr. Rafael Harpaz says the disease can be extremely painful. "It can last for months and sometimes even years. It can be really life-shattering."
• Federal Reserve Holds Steady on Interest Rate
  The Federal Reserve's interest rate policymakers met and, once again, decided to leave a key interest rate alone. Short-term interest rates will remain at 5.25 percent.
• Boeing Profits Decline in Third Quarter
  Boeing posted a 31 percent decline in third-quarter earnings Wednesday. Some on Wall Street are concerned that will mean higher costs for Boeing's much-awaited 787 jet.
• Bridge Painter Picks Problematic Color
  A 26-year-old West Virginian thought an old park bridge needed a paint job. So, he bought some color, and got to work. The man chose pink, for breast-cancer awareness month. Well, no good deed goes unpunished. A park official nixed the pink. The man's efforts were appreciated, though. The head of the park service asked him to return in warmer weather, this time with white paint!
• Action Figure Teaches Child to Curse
  If you know how children repeat almost anything, you understand the angst of a North Carolina man. Philip Morton's son has an action figure from what's called the "Elite Operations Role Play Set: Police." It's a talking toy. And according to Mr. Morton, when you take the top cop's nightstick off his belt, the action figure says the "F" word. Toys R Us blames this on a faulty microchip.
• Los Angeles Boy Scouts Learn Copyright Law
  All scout troops award activity patches and merit badges for hiking, forestry and citizenship. In Los Angeles there's now an anti-piracy patch. For scouts to earn the anti-piracy patch, they must first learn the basics of copyright law.
• Virginia Senate Race Too Close to Call
  The hotly contested U.S. Senate race in Virginia between Sen. George Allen and Democratic challenger James Webb looks likely to turn on the votes of independents in northern Virginia.

Resources

• Future Tense®
• Marketplace Morning Report®
• Mark Seeley's WeatherTalk

Services

• Hourly Newscast
• HD Radio
• iPhone App / Mobile
• E-mail newsletters
• RSS feeds
• Podcasts
• Submit your photos
• Videos
• Weather
• Most e-mailed stories

Become a Sponsor