Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• State moving too quickly on bridge replacement, some pols say
  The Minnesota Department of Transportation will release the preliminary design of the new I-35W bridge on Tuesday, but those who were expecting the bridge to include a light rail line, a pedestrian walkway or a bike path may be disappointed.7:20 a.m.
• Demand for youth programs outstrips availability
  From the Great Depression to today, the debate over youth programs continues, and so does the demand.7:25 a.m.
• The bands get the lyrics
  Our project looks at the creative process of writing music, through the eyes of a lyricist and three different bands. We hear from the three bands -- The Roe Family Singers, The Owls, and Matt Wilson -- as they get the lyrics from writer Stephen Burt, and begin shaping his words into songs.7:50 a.m.
• Xcel Energy assessing power outages after storm
  Thousands of Xcel Energy customers lost power because of overnight thunderstorms. MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with Xcel Energy spokeswoman Mary Sandok.8:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Lethal Heat Waves Threaten Urban Residents
  In recent years, many big cities have suffered epidemics of fatal heat stroke, and scientists predict more-frequent heat waves. But global warming isn't the only factor. Big cities also create their own heat.
• McCain Cites Difficult Decisions in History and Iraq
  Sen. John McCain's newest book, Hard Call, is about the difficult decisions that have been made throughout history by figures including Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill and Harry Truman. McCain has made some hard calls of his own, including his firm support for the Iraq war.
• From Guns to Cereal, Military Dominates Pakistan
  Sixty years ago, Pakistan was born when British India was split in two. Pakistan's military emerged as the guardian of the young Muslim state and soon turned to the United States for aid. The army continues to dominate Pakistan, from its government to its economy.
• Markets Start to Calm After Cash Injections
  The specter of a credit crunch looms over the world's financial markets, but investors' fears have begun to settle. The European Central Bank pumped more money into the financial system Monday, and investment bank Goldman Sachs put $3 billion into one of its troubled hedge funds.
• Central Banks and the Moral Hazard of Bad Bets
  The Federal Reserve injected $62 billion into the banking system last week, and $2 billion Monday, in the hope of calming credit worries. The next step to help the economy: to lower interest rates, says Bob Rose, executive editor of Smart Money.
• Home Mortgage Problems Could Spread
  A Federal Reserve survey found that nine of the nation's 16 largest banks, which accounted for more than half of all home loans, upped their lending criteria for things such as adjustable rate mortgages, often offered to borrowers with weak credit.
• Comic-Book Store Owner on Trial for Nude Images
  The trial of Gordon Lee, owner of Legends Comic Book Store in Rome, Ga., centers on whether he willfully gave a comic depicting nudity to a child. For Halloween, he handed out free comics instead of candy. One of them had two drawings of painter Pablo Picasso in the nude, his genitals exposed.
• Sea Ice to Hit a Record Low in Arctic
  Measurements taken this month by the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center show that sea ice is about 30 percent below average. The level of sea ice is an important factor in climate change.
• Toothpaste Made in China Recalled
  A company that distributes toothpaste to hotels says it will recall the product — made in China — because it contains a chemical used to make antifreeze. Also, toymaker Mattel is due to announce a second recall of its Chinese-made toys because they contained lead paint.
• Gasoline Prices Ease, as Average Nears $2.75
  It is getting cheaper to fill the gas tank. The Energy Department says gas prices tumbled nearly 7 cents a gallon in the last week to a national average of about $2.77. The average price of gasoline has fallen nearly 45 cents a gallon in the last 12 weeks.

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