Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Bioenergy could bring new life to shuttered mill
  There may be hope for a shuttered lumber mill in Grand Rapids. The Ainsworth wood plant has been closed since 2009. Now, a Michigan-based company has signed a purchase agreement for the 120-acre site. Company officials have been tight-lipped about their intentions, but some industry experts predict it could become part of an emerging bioenergy industry.6:40 a.m.
• Normal temperatures expected this weekend
  Above normal temperatures are expected to dominate the weather into the weekend and next week, as temperatures average several degrees above normal and we see frequent sunny skies. Little chance for precipitation through next Wednesday.6:55 a.m.
• DFLers face pent-up demand for spending requests
  As Democrats prepare to take control of the Minnesota Legislature, interest groups have started lining up with funding wish lists for the 2013 session. There's a pent-up demand for spending after a series of budget deficits and two years of Republicans in charge.7:24 a.m.
• Fruits and vegetables will have one less food safety test starting in January
  To discuss what it means for food safety when this program ends, is Fred Pritzker, a Twin Cities attorney who specializes in foodborne illness. He joins MPR's Cathy Wurzer by phone.7:46 a.m.
• William Alexander: Winning National Book Award 'surreal'
  William Alexander's debut novel "Goblin Secrets," received the Young People's Literature Prize. The fantasy story is about a boy in search of his brother, set in a world where acting is illegal unless you are a goblin.8:24 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Petraeus Testifies At Closed Congressional Hearings
  The subject of the hearings on Capitol Hill is the CIA's role in the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Friday's hearings are former CIA Director David Petraeus' first public appearances since he resigned over a sex scandal.
• Everyone 'Has To Participate' To Avoid Fiscal Cliff
  Steve Inskeep talks to Democratic Sen. Patty Murray about going over the fiscal cliff. As the head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Murray helped the Democrats maintain their Senate majority. She has said that if Republicans do not agree to let tax cuts expire for those making over $250,000 per year, the country should go over the fiscal cliff.
• A 'Splendid Table' Set With Mama Stamberg's Relish
  In yet another installment of a long-standing NPR tradition, Susan Stamberg sneaks her (in)famous family recipe for cranberry relish on the air. This year, she talks to Lynne Rossetto Kasper, host of The Splendid Table — who isn't fooled for a second.
• Heavy Rotation: 5 Songs Public Radio Can't Stop Playing
  Every so often, an NPR station discovers a song that it can't stop playing. In this edition of Heavy Rotation, download music from R&B king Avant, dance-rock trio Yeasayer, folk up-and-comers Shovels & Rope and The Stray Birds, and pop singer Robert Francis.
• In California, 'Republican' Is Becoming A Toxic Label
  This year, the number of registered Republicans in the state dipped below 30 percent of voters. Some GOP candidates are even re-registering as independents to avoid having "Republican" next to their names. But analysts say change might have to come on a national level before it reaches California.
• Want To Help Sandy Victims? Send Cash, Not Clothes
  Lots of people and companies are making donations to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy, but food and clothing aren't always the most helpful things. Most charities would prefer money so they can target help to the greatest needs.
• It's Legal To Sell Marijuana In Washington. But Try Telling That To A Bank.
  Voters in Washington and Colorado just approved measures legalizing marijuana for recreational use. But businesses that want to sell marijuana in those states will face a problem: No bank wants to do business with them.
• FHA Faces Shortfall From Mortgage Losses
  The next victim of the foreclosure crisis could be the Federal Housing Administration. The agency is on the verge of burning through its cash reserves and will eventually ask for taxpayer assistance, according to Rep. Spencer Bachus, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. The FHA insures many of the nation's low-down-payment mortgages.
• Shortage Of Nintendo's New Wii U Expected
  Linda Wertheimer talks to Daisuke Wakabayashi, who covers the tech industry from Tokay for The Wall Street Journal, about the new Wii U videogame console, which hits the market this weekend. Many stores, however, have already sold out of pre-orders.
• Honda Begins Production Of Business Jet
  Honda, which has long aspired to launch off the road and into the skies, is one step closer to that goal. It has started production on its HondaJet. It's a twin jet engine aircraft, being assembled in North Carolina, aimed at the business market. Industry insiders call it the "Honda Civic of the skies."

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