Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• U of M doctors hear actor Charles Keating's commentary on aging
  There's a new show on aging opening at The Guthrie Theater. It's called "I and I: The Sense of Self." It's a one-man show starring British actor Charles Keating. Keating says the idea for the reading came from the University of Minnesota's Dr. Jon Hallberg, a commentator for MPR.8:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• NFL Star Sean Taylor Dies After Shooting
  Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor dies a day after he was shot in the leg after an apparent break-in at his home. He never regained consciousness after losing a great deal of blood. Taylor was 24.
• Lawmakers Lobby to Bring Iraqi Translators to U.S.
  Congress is opening the door to America a little wider for Iraqis who served as translators for the U.S. military. Thousands of Iraqis risked their lives in those jobs. Congress boosted the number of visas authorized from 50 to 500 a year, and there are bills to expand that number up to 5,000.
• Mississippi's Lott to Resign by Year's End
  Republican Sen. Trent Lott announces that he's resigning by the end of the year after 35 years in Congress. Though he didn't spell out what he'll do next, he says he still likes the legislative process. His departure will come in time to avoid stricter ethics rules that go into effect Jan. 1.
• Retailers Test Toys to Ensure Safety
  With holiday shopping underway, there's growing concern about the safety of imported toys after reports of lead-tainted toys from China. To retailers, that means a lot of money is at risk in the form of lost business or lawsuits. So they are testing products before they hit the shelves.
• Bush Makes Push for Mideast Peace
  Officials from more than 40 nations gather in Annapolis, Md., for the start of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. The summit is the Bush administration's first initiative in seven years. Analysts urge President Bush to use his full influence to help bring about peace.
• NFL's Miami Dolphins Fail to Break Losing Streak
  If adversity makes you stronger, the Miami Dolphins are as strong as they've ever been. The only team that ever had a perfect season is close to perfection of a different kind. They haven't won a single game. And then, last night, the Dolphins lost their 11th straight game to Pittsburgh.
• Christmas Price Index Surges
  The annual PNC Christmas Price Index shows a rise in the cost of Twelve Days of Christmas. Soaring gold prices push the five golden rings up 21 percent. Eight maids-a-milking will be more expensive, thanks to the rise in the minimum wage. Total price tag for all items in the Twelve Days: $7,800.
• Wyoming GOP Takes Role in Picking President
  The Wyoming Republican Party moves its caucus up to Jan. 5 (two days after Iowa) with the idea of finally making a difference in presidential politics. The state has never been much of a player. The nation's least populated state is not known for getting Republican candidates to visit — until now.
• Falling Home Sales May Stifle Urban Revitalization
  The dramatic dip in home sales is a precondition for people considering buying downtown. The two groups that were repopulating cities — empty-nesters and young professionals — are now increasingly likely to stay put in the suburbs.
• Mayors Confer to Blunt Impact of Housing Crisis
  A new report by the U.S. Conference of Mayors forecasts more home foreclosures in 2008. So mayors have set priorities to get constituents to contact lenders, halt neighborhood deterioration that comes from vacant homes, and urge the mortgage industry to restructure loans.
• McDonald's to Battle Upscale Coffee Retailers
  First, McDonald's upgraded its drip coffee. And this month McDonald's says it will start making lattes and cappuccinos. The world's largest restaurant chain says its fancy coffee drinks will cost 50 cents less than Starbucks. But McDonald's franchise owners don't want to pay for the new equipment.
• Ads Give Dunkin' Donuts National Appeal
  Dunkin' Donuts' advertising campaign "America Runs on Dunkin" is created out of a sentiment among customers that they wanted to buy a good, simple product. Brand guru Leslie Bielby says the campaign expands the retailer's appeal.
• Pakistan's Musharraf to Step Down as Army Chief
  Pakistan's President Gen. Pervez Musharraf is saying farewell to his troops. His stepping down as chief of the army doesn't mean he's leaving power though. The embattled U.S. ally intends to remain president, a job he acquired in a coup in 1999.
• Citigroup Gets Bailout from Abu Dhabi Fund
  Citigroup announces a $7.5 billion investment from the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. Earlier this month Citigroup CEO Charles Prince resigned after announcing the bank faced up to $11 billion in losses. The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority is now the single largest shareholder in Citigroup.
• Russians in Germany Tempted to Go Home
  Russia is trying to lure back some of its former citizens who fled as the Soviet Union was collapsing in the early 1990s. Moscow is planning to spend $100 million over the next five years to help Russians come home. Some who moved to Germany from Russia say it's tempting.

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