Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• College endowments better than last year, but still down
  Endowments at most Minnesota colleges declined by millions of dollars over the past year, but many colleges say the picture isn't as grim as it appears.7:20 a.m.
• Sid Hartman releases CD of old sports interviews
  Longtime Star Tribune sports columnist Sid Hartman has released a new CD called "Sid Hartman and his Close Personal Friends--The Lost Tapes." The CD includes Hartman's interviews through the years.7:40 a.m.
• Minnesota musicians keep concertina tradition alive
  Minnesota is a sort of living history museum for a member of the accordion family called the concertina.7:45 a.m.
• Farrell: Twin Cities housing market "repairing"
  MPR chief economics correspondent Chris Farrell expects to see more evidence that the Twin Cities housing market is "repairing" when the National Association of Realtors releases data on existing home sales Tuesday. But he does not expect the change to be dramatic.8:25 a.m.
• Schell's brewery in New Ulm to mark 150th anniversary
  The second-oldest family owned brewery in the U.S. has survived the ups and downs of the business since the Civil War.8:45 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• In Afghanistan, U.S. Success Depends On Karzai
  There are many hurdles in Afghanistan as President Obama deploys thousands of additional U.S. troops. In the first of a five-part series, we look at one of the biggest challenges: the government in Kabul. Will President Hamid Karzai reduce corruption and provide better services for his people?
• Who Said, "Let It Snow?" Not Retailers, Travelers
  A huge weekend snow storm played havoc with travelers and shoppers. Stores closed early while airports and train stations experienced delays or cancellations. That left travelers scrambling to find a way out of town, and retailers wondering how to make up for lost business on what would normally be the busiest shopping weekend before Christmas.
• Bookstore Night in Buenos Aires Encourages Reading
  In Argentina over the weekend, Buenos Aires held its annual Noche de las Librerias — Bookstore Night. The city closes a main avenue, and places sofas and chairs where cars and trucks normally idle. People with books from the many bookstores lining the avenue, lounge in the seating and a festival atmospherel replaces traffic.
• Cleric's Funeral Turns Into Anti-Government Protest
  Hundreds of thousands of mourners attended the funeral Monday of Iran's Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, who died Sunday at age 87. Montazeri was considered the spiritual leader of Iran's reform movement. His funeral turned into a huge anti-government protest. Farnaz Fassihi, of The Wall Street Journal, talks to Renee Montagne about the protests.
• Kids Taste A Sweeter Veggie, White House Style
  A nationwide after-school program partners with local chefs who teach kids to cook tasty but nutritious meals, aiming to make healthy eating cool. A group of 9-and 10-year-olds from the D.C.-based program got an up-close look at the first family's garden and kitchen.
• Online Retailers Benefit From Snowy Weekend
  It was the final weekend before Christmas, and stores in many parts of the country were crowded. But shoppers also flocked to store Web sites, because much the East Coast was buried in snow. Many shopping malls were closed or shoppers simply didn't want to go out on the roads.
• Web Sites Encourage Don't Buy, Rent
  Renting a tuxedo or bowling shoes isn't unusual. There are now consumer Web sites that offer Netflix-style services in which people can rent everything from movies to toys to clothing.
• Christmas Decorations Are Mobbed Up
  Shopkeepers in Portici, Italy, are banned from putting up holiday decorations. The mayor there is fighting the mafia. The Wall Street Journal reports for years an organized crime syndicate has been selling holiday decorations to shopkeepers in Portici at inflated prices.
• Health Overhaul Bill May Pass Senate By Christmas
  The health care overhaul bill has passed its toughest Senate test, overcoming delay tactics by the GOP to pass 60-40 early Monday. The bill would extend coverage to more than 30 million Americans who don't have it now. It's the first of three times Democrats will have to muster all 60 members of their caucus to get the bill passed over unanimous GOP objections.
• Senate Rushes To Get Health Overhaul Bill Passed
  Senate health care legislation has taken another step forward. Democrats had enough votes to keep Republicans from being able to filibuster. It was an incredibly hard-fought vote, and senators are on track to vote on it Christmas Eve.

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