Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• The life of Frank Stanton
  A remembrance of legendary CBS Newsman Frank Stanton, who died Christmas eve.6:52 a.m.
• Early childhood education could get major funding boost
  Advocates of early childhood education are optimistic that the upcoming legislative session will include a major funding boost for programs that prepare children for school.7:21 a.m.
• Tsunami recovery efforts two years later
  Thousands of people are marking the two-year anniversary of a tsunami that hit in the Indian Ocean by holding vigils on Tuesday. The disaster claimed more than 230,000 lives. The recovery effort continues in many communities. MPR's Cathy Wurzer checks in with one man with Minnesota ties who has helped in Sri Lanka.7:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Two Years On, Tsunami Recovery Is Lagging
  The Asian tsunami of 2004 killed more than 170,000 people in the Indonesian province of Aceh alone, washing away tens of thousands of homes, schools and businesses. Two years later, reconstruction is under way, but serious challenges in housing and infrastructure remain.
• Appeals Court Upholds Saddam Death Sentence
  Iraq's highest appeals court upholds the death sentence for Saddam Hussein from his trial for the 1982 killing of 148 Shiites in the city of Dujail. The chief appeals court judge said Saddam must be hanged within 30 days.
• Writer Tina Fey on Leading the Way in TV Comedy
  Tina Fey, the first female head writer of Saturday Night Live, talks about her status as a ground breaker and role model.
• Juanita Castro Plots an Independent Path in Exile
  Fidel and Raul Castro's sister Juanita, 73, has lived in Miami for decades. She is critical of her brothers' government -- she hasn't seen Fidel since 1963 -- and of the Cuban exile community in Florida.
• Detroit Suffers Through Auto Industry Realignment
  Big losses and intense competition from Japanese automakers prompted major restructuring at Ford and General Motors in 2006. Plant closings were announced and union workers were offered buyout packages as sales of profitable SUVs plummeted.
• Immigration Policy Likely to Shift in Congress
  Immigration is an issue that could be treated differently when the Democratically controlled Congress is seated. Democrats and their Republican allies in both the House and Senate are drafting legislation to tackle the issue after an earlier immigration bill stalled in the Republican-controlled Congress.
• National Security Will Top Democrats' Agenda
  Democrats take control of the House and Senate next week. That means they will be in charge of all the committees in Congress. And some of the most closely watched committees are likely to be those with oversight of national security issues, including the war in Iraq.
• Deep Discounts Dent Holiday Shopping Profits
  Retailers offered many products at a sharp discount this holiday season. The strategy attracted buyers but put a hefty dent into profits. Retail analyst Kurt Barnard talks with Renee Montagne about the shopping season.
• Islamists in Somalia Retreat After Ethiopian Attacks
  In Somalia, Ethiopian forces are supporting local government forces in their battle against Islamists. Ethiopian jets have attacked Somalia's two major airports, and there are reports that Islamist fighters have pulled back from the front.
• Israel Attempts to Bolster the Palestinian President
  Israel has agreed to remove some of the military roadblocks hindering Palestinian travel in the West Bank. The gesture is aimed at boosting moderate President Mahmoud Abbas in his struggle with the rival Palestinian group Hamas.
• Colo. Hispanics Fight for Rights to the Taylor Ranch
  Residents of Colorado's San Luis Valley have battled for more than four decades over the 77,000 acres known as the Taylor Ranch. Local Hispanic residents claim a birthright to the land, even though it is technically owned by a private party.
• 'Dreamgirls' Generates Oscar Buzz as Balloting Begins
  The annual Oscar race begins with the mailing of ballots. This year's best picture field is looking a little thin, with Dreamgirls the latest to generate buzz.
• James Lawson: An Advocate of Peaceful Change
  For more than 50 years, the Rev. James Lawson has taught and practiced the principles of non-violent resistance. The Vanderbilt University professor talks with Steve Inskeep about how those principles apply in a time of war.
• Hoping for Another New Year
  The hope of a cancer patient at the new year is to see the next one. Beyond surviving, though, the hopes of the new year for a cancer patient aren't all that different than they are for everyone else.
• Army Base Looks Forward to a Baby Boom
  Babies are coming to Tennessee's Fort Campbell. The hospital on the Army base says it's preparing for a baby boom. Currently, about a dozen babies are born each day on the base. That number is expected to grow to a record 250 births in June, nine months after the 101st Airborne Division was welcomed home. Wartime baby booms are not a new phenomenon. The base had a big one back in 1992. They called it Operation Baby Storm.

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