Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Lawmaker seeks to curtail hunters' use of lead bullets
  A Minnesota lawmaker will propose legislation to restrict the use of lead bullets by hunters. Hunting groups say government regulation is an overreaction to an unproven problem.7:20 a.m.
• Some predictions for the arts world in 2009
  What will 2009 bring in the arts world? Morning Edition arts commentator Dominic Papatola shares his thoughts.8:25 a.m.
• Where Christmas trees go to die
  Ever wondered where your Christmas tree ends up after you put it on the curb? In the metro area, many of those trees go to one of four locations for Specialized Environmental Technologies, a company that receives old Christmas trees from major waste disposal companies in the area and then recycles them.8:40 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Recalling Castro's Ascension — And CIA Reaction
  Fidel Castro came to power in Cuba 50 years ago today, as dictator Fulgencio Batista fled the island and people poured into the streets to celebrate. U.S. reaction to Castro was mixed, but Castro had supporters inside the U.S. government. Many were in the CIA — the agency that would soon try to overthrow him.
• New Year's Day Marks Milestone In Iraq
  The U.S. formally handed over control of the Green Zone in Baghdad. Since 2003, U.S. forces have operated under a United Nation's Security Council resolution. But that expired at midnight on New Year's Eve, and now American troops are operating under the authority of the Iraqi government. NPR's Lourdes Garcia-Navarro talks with Steve Inskeep about the handover.
• Librarian Nancy Pearl Dips Below The Reading Radar
  There are so many books published these days that it's often hard for readers to plow through everything that's available. That's when Nancy Pearl, librarian extraordinaire, swoops in for the rescue.
• New Year's Day: No Letup In Gaza Air Attacks
  Huge explosions shook Gaza City as Israeli planes bombed three government buildings and the parliament on the sixth day of the Israeli offensive. On the diplomatic side, both Israel and Hamas are resisting international pressure to agree to a ceasefire. NPR's Mike Shuster talks with Steve Inskeep about the situation in Gaza.
• Gaza Conflict May Affect Obama Peacekeeping Vow
  The conflict in Gaza presents a challenge for the incoming Obama administration, which already was facing a packed Middle East agenda. Leslie Gelb tells Steve Inskeep that the question now is whether the situation in Gaza will make it harder for President-elect Barack Obama to keep his campaign promises of active peacemaking between the Israelis and Palestinians. Gelb is a former state and defense department official and president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations.
• Penn State, Southern California Meet In Rose Bowl
  One of college football's most celebrated bowl games gets under way Thursday in Pasadena, Calif., as Penn State and the University of Southern California meet in the Rose Bowl. Christine Brennan, sports columnist with USA Today, tells Steve Inskeep that both teams and their coaches are top notch.
• Car Service Helps Older Adults Stay Independent
  Based on miles driven, people 75 and older have higher rates of fatal crashes than any other group except for 16-year-olds. But many older adults see stopping driving as giving up independence. One nonprofit car service is trying to change that.
• Time Warner Cable, Viacom Reach Deal
  Viacom and Time Warner have settled on a new contract. They had disagreed over fee increases, and Viacom had threatened to pull the plug on its 19 cable channels, including MTV and Comedy Central.
• Oil Prices Keep Dropping Despite Production Cuts
  Oil producers are about to reduce output, and tensions are growing in the Middle East. Such developments usually tend to drive up oil prices, but the global economic recession is becoming so severe that energy consumption keeps falling. Oil prices are down more than 70 percent since last July.
• Slow Sales Mean Big Business For Some Liquidators
  As retailers suffer through a dismal holiday season, some companies that specialize in offloading inventory are seeing green. Consumers have been spending less, leaving more merchandise on store shelves and more warehouses stocked up.

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