Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• On diplomacy
  Tonight Minnesota Public Radio's newest show, In The Loop, will explore the idea of diplomacy. Much of the diplomatic news these days is tied to North Korea, Iran, and the Middle East. But it's also hard to miss the show of political diplomacy in the nation's capital, and here in Minnesota, for that matter. On both levels, the voters left a Republican executive with a Democratic legislature. In an excerpt from tonight's program, host Jeff Horwich considers how long their promises to get along will hold up, and whether a little help might be in order.6:45 a.m.
• Twin Cities lags competing communities in transit effort
  Even with the approval by Minnesota voters to dedicate all of the motor vehicle sales tax revenue to transportation, other cities get a bigger piece of the transit pie.7:20 a.m.
• Minnesota is testing ground for auto technology
  Testing technology that allows cars to alert commuters about driving dangers.7:23 a.m.
• Isabel Allende
  Tonight Isabel Allende will take the stage of the Fitzgerald Theater to talk about her new novel, Ines of My Soul. The story is drawn from the real life escapades of Spain's first conquistadora, and is set, like so many of Allende's books, in her home country of Chile. In fact, as Kerri Miller reports, llende believes that if she'd never been exiled from Chile, her life would have taken a very different path.7:49 a.m.
• Saving small town history on film
  Lots of small towns have amateur historians; you may know them as the folks always ready with a story of the old days. In the western Minnesota town of Milan, Billy Thompson went a step further in preserving his community's history.7:55 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• McCain Plots Course to the White House
  The 2006 election is gone. But 2008 is just around the corner. Arizona Sen. John McCain is the early Republican presidential frontrunner. He has given two addresses to conservative groups.
• As Memories Slip Away, It's Still a 'Wonderful Life'
  Ken Morganstern was diagnosed with early-stage Alzeheimer's disease five years ago. Since then, his memory has gotten worse -- and he has lost some of the stories of his own life. But he hasn't lost the idea of who he is.
• From Leslie Nielsen to Ken Burns: The Best in DVDs
  From Leslie Nielsen to Ken Burns, there's something for everyone in John Ridley's DVD selections. Cozy up this weekend with a film noir classic, a classic documentary or a slapstick comedy so funny that it became a cult-classic.
• Senate Approves Nuclear Deal with India
  The U.S. can now ship civilian nuclear fuel and technology to India. The plan passed through the Senate easily Thursday night. It was a victory for President Bush. But critics say the deal sets a dangerous precedent, by rewarding a nuclear power that has refused to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
• Terrorism Suspicion Hangs Over Pakistan's ISI
  India has accused Pakistan's powerful intelligence agency, the ISI, of planning the Mumbai train bombings that killed almost 200 people this past summer. Meanwhile, a leaked British defense ministry memo alleges that the ISI has been indirectly helping al-Qaida.
• Boehner and Blunt to Lead House Republicans
  House Republicans choose John Boehner of Ohio to be their minority leader in the next Congress. Roy Blunt of Missouri was elected as the party's whip. Blunt beat out John Shadegg of Arizona.
• 'Dark Energy' Thought to Fuel Universe Expansion
  Astronomers have new evidence from the Hubble Space Telescope that a strange force was present in the universe billions of years ago. The force is called "dark energy." It's forcing the universe to expand at an ever quickening pace.
• Sudan Says it's Ready to Accept U.N. Troops
  Sudan has agreed in principle, to allow a joint African Union and U.N. peacekeeping force into its conflict-ridden region of Darfur. Sudan has previously opposed the presence of U.N. troops in the country.
• President Bush Arrives in Vietnam for APEC Summit
  President Bush arrives in Vietnam, the second stop on a three-nation Asian tour that started in Singapore and takes him to Indonesia on Monday. Vietnam has one of the fastest growing economies in the world. The president is in the country to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit with leaders from 21 nations.
• The New James Bond Bets on a New Attitude
  James Bond first appeared on the big screen 44 years ago. Up until today, the 20 James Bond features have been as predictable as the shaken-not-stirred martini preference of their protagonist. Now, with Casino Royale, the hero with a thousand smirks has been given a shrewd, and largely successful, attitude adjustment.
• Influential Economist Milton Friedman Dies at 94
  Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman died Thursday at the age of 94. He is famous for pioneering ideas about free markets and individual freedoms.
• Rep. Rangel Ready to Take on the Mantle of Power
  New York's Charles Rangel will be the chairman of the House Ways and Means committee when the Democrats take control of the Congress in January. Rangel talks about his ascent to the chairmanship with Steve Inskeep.
• College Football Titans Collide
  In college football this weekend, it's the No. 1 team versus the No. 2. when Ohio State hosts its great rival, the University of Michigan.
• Senate Holds Hearing on Civil Rights Enforcement
  Criticism of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division came to a head Thursday when the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the division's activities.
• Corporate Sponsorship for the Golden Gate Bridge?
  As long as you can remember, that famous San Francisco bridge was called the Golden Gate. Now the name could be changing. Despite toll collections, the bridge is losing money. So officials are considering corporate sponsorships. It could eventually be the Wells Fargo Golden Gate Bridge. Or the Wal-Mart Golden Gate Bridge. Or the Wendy's Golden Gate Bridge, or the McDonald's Golden Arches Bridge. Officials insist they'll do something tasteful.

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