Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Probation officers 'build a better mousetrap'
  Probation officers frustrated by a complicated state computer system created their own search engine for criminal records.6:41 a.m.
• Dangerous weather hit parts of Minnesota
  University of Minnesota Climatologist Mark Seeley reviews the week in the weather with MPR's Cathy Wurzer.6:55 a.m.
• Some fear cop lawsuit will hinder diversity goals
  The discrimination lawsuit filed by five African American police officers against the Minneapolis police department is raising serious questions about diversity and equality on the police force.7:21 a.m.
• Duluth considers changes in new rental ordinance
  Duluth is reconsidering a recently passed ordinace that places restrictions on student rentals.7:25 a.m.
• Diablo Cody movie nominated for three Golden Globes
  Based on the strength of her first movie, "Juno," a former Twin Cities blogger is now considered one of the most sought-after screenwriters in Hollywood. Diablo Cody, who wrote much of her screenplay in a Target cafeteria, is a Golden Globe nominee and there is Oscar buzz around the movie, too.7:54 a.m.
• Senate rejects Klobuchar's attempt to limit farm payments
  The U.S. Senate on Thursday rejected Minn. Sen. Amy Klobuchar's amendment to limit farm bill payments.8:24 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Iraqi Children's Week Passes Unmarked for Many
  The Iraqi government estimates there are 4 million orphans in the country, but only 700 are living in institutions. The streets are filled with children, and survival is a constant struggle. But some are still making time to go to school.
• The Day the Show Didn't Go On
  Ron Kroenke tunes pianos for a living. But when he stopped by a nursing home to work, he inadvertently made the residents unhappy. That's when a lady named Rose managed to say just the right thing.
• Greenspan: Recession Odds 'Clearly Rising'
  Global forces beyond the Federal Reserve's control helped fuel the bubble that led to the current housing meltdown, former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan said Thursday. In an NPR interview, Greenspan also said that the odds of a recession are "clearly rising."
• MLB Report: Illegal Drug Use Widespread
  Nearly 90 former and current Major League Baseball players were linked to banned performance-enhancing drugs, including stars Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte. A report by former Sen. George Mitchell says there was "a collective failure" in the sport to deal with steroids.
• Fans React to MLB Report, Few Surprised
  Many fans of professional baseball say they're not all that surprised by findings of widespread use of illegal performance-enhancing drugs. Fans around the country speak out about the use of steroids in baseball, which has been whispered about as early as the 1980s.
• Film Version of 'Kite Runner' Faithful to Book
  Children in Afghanistan are at the center of The Kite Runner, the film adapted from the bestselling book by Khalid Hosseni. Like the novel, the film breaks into two parts: childhood friendship and betrayal in pre-war Afghanistan, then how that relationship changes in adulthood.
• 'Atonement', 'Gangster' Up for Golden Globe
  Atonement, the drama about love and war, garners seven nominations for a Golden Globe award, the most of any film. Also up for best drama are the films American Gangster and No Country for Old Men. The awards will be presented in January on NBC.
• Western States to Share Colorado River Water
  Seven Western states and the federal government agree to conserve and share scarce Colorado River water. More than 30 million people are affected. The agreement also gives the states the right to build water projects for each other.
• Democratic Debate in Iowa Good Natured
  The Democratic presidential candidates met for a good natured exchange of views in the final Iowa Debate before the caucuses Jan. 3. The debate did not appear to do any damage to the three top contenders and it gave the others a valuable 90 minutes of Iowans' attention.
• Giuliani Looks Beyond Early Primary States
  For months, Republican presidential candidate Rudolph Giuliani has been the front-runner. But recent polls show former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee surpassing him. Now Giuliani trails his rivals in the early voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

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