Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• How the blind 'see' the holidays
  The holiday festivities are a time during which lights become the center of celebrations, from candles to Christmas bulbs. For some people, these lights are not easy to see. We introduce you to three of them.6:50 a.m.
• Minnesota Guard unit treats young Iraqi burn victims
  Medics with the Minnesota Guard's 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion stationed in Iraq helpstaff Iraq's only specialty burn center.7:20 a.m.
• It's the economy vs. the environment at hearing for Iron Range power plant
  Many worry about pollution if the Mesaba Energy Project is built nearby. But others at a hearing in Taconite stood to say the region needs the jobs the project could bring to Itasca County.7:25 a.m.
• Northwest and Mesaba discuss a merger
  Northwest and Mesaba look to a merger to give them a more secure financial future. Airline analyst Barbara Beyer examines the potential consolidation.7:50 a.m.
• New sounds inside the Mighty Fortress
  The music heard in many Lutheran churches around the Twin Cities is changing as immigrants join congregations. An exhibit at the University of Minnesota explores the diverse music being mixed with the traditional Lutheran liturgy.7:55 a.m.
• Minnesota Orchestra draws national attention
  The Minnesota Orchestra is garnering national attention. Minnesota Public Radio's arts commentator, Dominic Papatola, explores how this century-old orchestra got there.8:25 a.m.
• Minneapolis loses three public libraries
  Minneapolis Public Library board president Anita Duckor talks about the future of the city's library system, in light of a decision to close three libraries.8:55 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Intense Light Still Best Treatment for Winter Blues
  Lack of sunlight throws many people into the deepest of wintertime blues, known as seasonal affective disorder. Researchers have investigated several treatments to get light back into sufferers' lives, but 30 minutes in front of a special light box remains the most proven medicine.
• Is a Brighter Earth a Better One?
  Humans have spent hundreds of years seemingly intent on turning night into day. But a brighter world affects how we sleep, socialize and possibly even our health.
• U.K. Government Issues Robot Evolution Warning
  The British government is raising a concern that, until now, was mostly left to science fiction. The warning comes from the U.K. Office of Science and Innovation. And it concerns robots. The office says that robots could someday reproduce. And think for themselves. And demand their independence. The British government says this could happen by mid-century. Within the lifespan of many people alive today, robots could be asking for civil rights.
• The Interplay of Opera, Candles and the Court
  The court of Versailles was the place to see the operas of French composers in the 17th Century. But because those operas had to be lit by candles, composers had to factor into their writing just how long the candles would last.
• Italy Works to Ban Overly Slim Models
  The Italian government is working with Italy's fashion industry to ban super-skinny models. The new rules, which are intended to discourage eating disorders, will require models to provide a certificate of good health before they may work the runway.
• Lost Items Keep the Travel Industry Busy
  People lose lots of belongings while traveling. Electronics, animals, money and toys. Countless items are left every year in airplanes, hotels and cabs. How the travel industry handles these loses may surprise you.
• New York Goes Digital with Parking Meters
  The mechanical parking meter is no longer in New York City. The last clock-like meter was carted away from a Coney Island street corner Wednesday. There were once 69,000 of the gear-and-spring operated devices on city streets in the late 1980s.
• Greyhound Attempts to Change Bus Travel's Image
  For many, traveling by bus isn't generally associated with the adjectives "nice" and "clean." But Greyhound is trying to spruce up its service and its terminals so that it can better compete for the travel dollar.
• Letters: Shellac's Source and Jacob Marley's Chain
  Listeners write in this week to correct us on the source of shellac and our Dickens' details. Also, an appreciation on our story of black and white friends in Washington, D.C., and a story about a writer who liked a drink, or two.
• President Bush Acknowledges Iraq Difficulties
  In a year-end press conference, President Bush said Wednesday that the U.S. needs a bigger military. And the president said he knows he'll need to work with Democrats in the new Congress to make progress with his domestic agenda.
• FCC Aids Phone Companies in Drive to Deliver TV
  Federal regulators have given a boost to phone companies trying to move into the cable TV market. The FCC has voted to ban cities from imposing tough conditions on businesses that compete with traditional cable franchises.
• Pentagon Holds Mental Health Treatment Hearings
  The Pentagon's "Task Force on Mental Health" is holding three days of hearings on how well U.S. servicemen and women are being treated for mental health issues when they return from overseas duty.
• Charges Expected Against Marines in Haditha Case
  Criminal charges may be announced Thursday at California's Camp Pendleton for as many as eight Marines in the shooting deaths of 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha last year, including 11 women and children.
• Colorado Blizzard Cancels Flights, Closes Businesses
  A storm dumping snow across Colorado has shut down the Denver airport, where about two feet has fallen so far, and closed roads. It has also forced stores to close, hurting small businesses across the region.
• Recruiting New U.S. Troops a Multi-Year Process
  President Bush said Wednesday that increasing the size of the military is essential to fighting the war on terror. Retired Maj. Gen. Bill Nash tells Steve Inskeep that newly recruited troops wouldn't not be available for any near-term plans to bolster security in Iraq.

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