Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Living with ALS, Part IX: Bruce Kramer contemplates the season
  Some of us mark time by major life changes or events. The same is true for Bruce Kramer and his family, who will never forget the moment two years ago this month when he was diagnosed with ALS.6:45 a.m.
• Don't see the appeal of biking in winter? Maybe you should try it
  A handful of bikers have a beautiful world to themselves.6:54 a.m.
• Opinions vary widely on how to control guns, if at all
  Dozens of gun owners responded to an inquiry into what they thought should be the legislative reaction to the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary. Some said a ban on "assault weapons" would be ineffective, while others said there should be a ban. Yet others said teachers should be allowed to carry weapons at school.7:20 a.m.
• Unlike Decker case, most officer killings solved quickly
  When a law enforcement officer in Minnesota is shot and killed, it rarely takes more than a day for investigators to find the killer. Often it takes only a few hours, or the suspect is killed at the scene. The killing of Cold Spring Police Officer Thomas Decker is the first fatal shooting of a Minnesota law enforcement officer since 1970 that was not solved within a few days, an MPR News analysis has found.7:40 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Sen. Warner: Gun Laws Alone Won't Solve Problems
  Following the school massacre in Newtown, Conn., some staunch supporters of gun rights have shifted their tone and appear open to new action on gun control. One of them is Democratic Senator Mark Warner of Virginia. He talks to Steve Inskeep about his position.
• Grieving Town Wants Action To Curb Gun Violence
  President Obama's comments on gun violence Wednesday, and whether laws restricting access to assault weapons should be tightened, were followed closely in Newtown, Conn. Funerals and memorials for the victims of last week's mass shootings continue.
• The Paradox And Mystery Of Our Taste For Salt
  Many health experts say we should eat less salt, but that's not easy. Salt is added to almost everything that we cook or bake. Are we born with a taste for that much salt, or do we just like what we've always eaten? Scientists say it's some of both.
• 'Zero Dark Thirty': Taking Bin Laden Down
  Director Kathryn Bigelow and screenwriter Mark Boal last teamed up on the Oscar-winning The Hurt Locker, set during the Iraq war. The hunt for Osama bin Laden is the subject of their new drama, Zero Dark Thirty.
• South Korea's New Leader Promises Moderate Path
  South Korea will have its first female president, following Wednesday's close presidential election. Park Geun-hye says she will be open to better relations with North Korea, but she leads a conservative party known for its hardline with Pyongyang.
• Maya Expert: The 'End Of Times' Is Our Idea, Not The Ancients'
  "The Maya never, ever, said anything about the world ending at any time — much less this year," says an archaeologist who helped translate the ancient culture's hieroglyphs. Still, David Stuart says, he often gets emails from people who want more details about the end of days.
• In A French Village, Protection From The Apocalypse
  Friday marks the end of the Mayan calendar — and the end of the world if you believe doomsayers. But a rumor circulating online says the village of Bugarach, population 200, will be spared. That has the village bracing for an influx of believers.
• Toyota Camry, Prius Downgraded On Crash List
  Toyota's 2013 Camry received a crash-test rating of "poor" from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. This is a big change from last year when the 2012 model received top marks from the group. This time the organization implemented a more stringent frontal crash test. Toyota's 2013 V was also scored as "poor."
• Persistence, Bribes Got Wal-Mart Into Mexican Town
  Wal-Mart has expanded rapidly in Mexico. A report this week delves into how corruption played out in a town, where Wal-Mart was determined to build a supermarket near some ancient pyramids. Steve Inskeep talks to David Barstow, of The New York Times, about his continuing investigation into Wal-Mart's troubling business practices in Mexico.
• Donations Must Be Made By Dec. 31 For 2012 Taxes
  This time of year, appeals from charities can pile up in mailboxes. As part of the 12 Days of Tax Deductions, Morning Edition examines the charitable contribution deduction.

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