Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Targeting furniture sales
  Would you consider plunking down $2,000 for a sofa if you couldn't first test how comfortable it is? Minneapolis-based Target is making a big bet the answer for some people is, "yes."6:55 a.m.
• No property taxes for Target?
  According to media reports this morning, Target is looking to cut its costs on a new development project in Brooklyn Park. The corporation is planning a retail, office and housing complex, some say as large as downtown St. Paul, and it may hinge on whether Hennepin County will agree to a tax abatement. The project site falls within Hennepin County Commissioner Mike Opat's district. Cathy Wurzer talked with Commissioner Opat about where the project stands and what Target wants.8:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Sony, Nintendo Stake Different Video Game Bets
  Sony and Nintendo are introducing their new game console platforms within a week of each other. The PlayStation 3 and the Wii represent different strategies for achieving big holiday sales. The stakes are especially high for Sony, whose PlayStation Portable was trounced by the Nintendo DS during the last round of format wars.
• WHO Concerned by Super-TB Strain in South African
  The World Health Organization is worried about a new outbreak of tuberculosis in South Africa. The strain is known as Extensively Drug Resistant Tuberculosis, or XDR-TB.
• Myostatin Therapies Hold Hope for Muscle Diseases
  Mighty Mouse was not just a cartoon. Ten years ago, scientists demonstrated that they could increase an animal's muscle mass by manipulating a protein in mice called myostatin. Now drugs that affect myostatin are being hailed as the best hope yet for people with muscle-wasting diseases.
• Catholic Bishops Discuss Treatment of Church Gays
  This week, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will vote on guidelines for ministering to homosexual Catholics. Some church officials say just talking about these issues is a step forward, while many gay and lesbian Catholics say that if the proposal passes, it will push them away from the church.
• Israeli Prime Minister Visits United States
  Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is on a five-day visit to United States. Olmert plans to meet with top administration officials in Washington, and Jewish leaders across the country.
• RPS Tournament Crowns a Winner
  The World Rock, Paper, Scissors Championship was held over the weekend. Bob Cooper, a sales manager from London, beat 500 other contestants to take the crown. Jason Simmons, interviewed on Morning Edition last week, lost in the first round.
• Afghanistan Works Toward Stability
  The police, courts and national army are institutions that must function well if Afghanistan is to grow into a stable democracy.
• The Iraq Study Group Plots New U.S. Policy Course
  The bipartisan Iraq Study Group meets with top administration officials to discuss the future of U.S. policy in the country. The group is expected to release its full report on the American approach to Iraq in several weeks.
• Seniors Struggle over Medicare Drug Gap Coverage
  Many seniors faced sticker shock in September when their Medicare prescription drug coverage reached its limit. Some saw their medications increase six-fold in price. A look at options for bringing those costs down.
• The Air Guitar Gets a Boost
  A new piece of electronically enabled clothing allows users to make real music while playing the air guitar.
• Mel Gibson Returns with Mayan-Dialect 'Apocalypto'
  Mel Gibson's new movie, Apocalypto, opens on December 8. It has no stars and is performed in a Mayan dialect. So its distributor, Walt Disney Company, faces quite a marketing challenge. Gibson is hoping to generate support for his project through a grass-roots movement among Latino audiences.
• Deaths Mount as Iraqi PM Promises Shakeup
  A bombing on a bus in Baghdad kills 16 and wounds 20, one day after 35 police recruits were killed when two suicide bombers blew themselves up outside a police recruiting station in Baghdad. In the face of such instability, Iraq's Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is promising to shake up his Cabinet.
• The Nation's Capital Gets a New Mayor
  Washington, D.C., has a new mayor-elect: Adrian Fenty. At 35, he's the youngest mayor on record for the city. Fenty is seen as an energetic leader who has made an effort to listen to the city's voters.
• Upheaval Marks Another Election in Bangladesh
  As Bangladesh prepares for elections in January, the two main parties remain bitterly opposed. Protests are interrupting transportation in a nation where violence has become a routine part of the election cycle.
• Los Alamos Lab Adjusts Security After Breach
  Last month, police found classified documents belonging to the Los Alamos National Laboratory in a mobile home near the facility. Now new security rules are taking shape to prevent such security breaches.

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