Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Paper press endorsements
  Newspaper editors talk about their endorsements of gubernatorial candidates.6:50 a.m.
• Poll: Kennedy gains, but Klobuchar still running strong
  Minnesota's U.S. Senate race was expected to be one of the more competitive races in the country. It hasn't turned out that way so far.7:20 a.m.
• South Dakota governor's race seems to favor incumbent Republican
  It's not easy for Democrats to be elected governor in South Dakota. In the history of the state, only four Democrats have sat in the executive chair and recent polls show it's not likely to happen this year.7:25 a.m.
• Silly superstitions
  Cathy Wurzer talked with Morning Edition's arts commentator about the super-natural side of the arts.8:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Patriot Guard Riders Comfort Returning Vets
  A funny thing happened to Army Spc. Jeremiah Sullivan after his recent return from Iraq. He and his fiancée were abruptly circled by a motorcycle brigade, gathered to welcome the soldier home.
• After Fighting in Iraq, Political Activism at Home
  Nick Miccarelli, 24, served as a National Guardsman in Iraq. Now he's fighting on a political front at home, working on one of the most hotly contested congressional races in the country. His story is part of the Generation Next series.
• Can a Baby Be Too Fat?
  Putting on pounds quickly is normal for a baby, but putting on too many pounds too quickly is not. And it can take an expert's eye to know the difference.
• Kids Learn to 'Red Light' Bad Food
  On a non-stop circuit of birthday parties, sports events, holidays, and grandma's special treats, kids often find themselves bombarded with unhealthy food. A weight-control program in Stanford, Calif., has come up with a "traffic-light" system to help kids make better choices about what to eat and when.
• Montana Town Suffers from Asbestos Contamination
  The town of Libby, Mont., was rocked seven years ago by news that hundreds of its residents had died or been sickened by exposure to asbestos. The asbestos was a byproduct of a mine operated by W.R. Grace and Company. The company and seven former executives have been charged with concealing the health risks associated with the mine. Their trials have been delayed, but cleanup continues.
• Bush Voices Support for Rumsfeld, Cheney
  While out on the campaign trail, President Bush has publicly said he intends to keep Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Vice President Dick Cheney in their posts through the end of his term. It was just one more move by the president to shore up support for Republican policies ahead of midterm congressional elections.
• Park Service Maps the Great Plains Fire History
  Land managers now realize that fire plays a critical role in a healthy landscape. In some forests, the heat is needed to germinate seeds. Fire also can manage invasive plants. To better understand its role, the National Park Service is mapping the fire history of the Great Plains.
• Parents Search for the Season's Hot Toys
  From Tickle Me Extreme Elmo to Sony's new game system, it's time for determined parents to fight for their right to the hot toy of the holiday season.
• Republican Machine Works to Turn Out Iowa Vote
  Getting Republican voters to the polls is one tactic the GOP is using to try to turn the political tide that's running against the party. In Iowa, as in other states, the Republicans are targeting voters that the party thinks would vote for their candidates. The Democrats are doing the same thing, but with less discipline.
• CVS Plans Merger with Drug-Plan Manager
  One of the nation's biggest drugstore chains is merging with a big manager of drug-benefit plans. If completed, the combination of CVS and Caremark would control more than a billion prescriptions every year.
• Man Questioned About Deadly California Wildfire
  Authorities in Riverside County, Calif., are holding a "person of interest" in connection with a wildfire last week that killed five U.S. Forest Service firefighters. The man was arrested Wednesday on charges stemming from two earlier wildfires.
• Prize-Winning Novelist William Styron Dies at 81
  Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist William Styron died Wednesday after a long illness. He was 81. Styron won the Pulitzer for The Confessions of Nat Turner.
• Homeowners Refinance to Generate Cash
  A new Freddie Mac study shows an increasing number of homeowners have refinanced their mortgages to take equity out for cash. In the third quarter of this year, nearly nine out of 10 loans that were refinanced resulted in an amount at least five percent higher than the original mortgage balances.
• Police Chief Steps Down Over Heavyweight Memo
  The police chief in Winter Haven, Fla., sent out a memo titled, "Are You a Jelly Belly?" He wanted his officers to consider whether they needed to get in better shape. Of course the memo reached the public, and the Winter Haven police department became the focus of jokes about fat cops and doughnuts. The chief says he just wanted to inspire his cops to do something. They did. They complained about the chief and forced him to resign.
• Letters: Troop Deployment and Corrections
  Many people responded with thanks for our visit with soldiers deploying from Texas to Iraq. Also, we offer corrections on stories about shingles, Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) and poet Carl Sandburg.

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