Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Library closings may be just the beginning
  The Minneapolis Library Board has approved a 2007 budget that will include closing three libraries and will keep the Central Library closed on Mondays.7:21 a.m.
• Minnesota tops the nation in high school achievement, but problems remain
  Nearly 93 percent of the state's residents over age 25 have high school diplomas.7:42 a.m.
• Iraq war dominates U.S. Senate race
  Minnesota's major party U.S. Senate candidates each offer a different approach to dealing with the war in Iraq.7:45 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Protecting the Spineless from Extinction
  That fly zapper? Put it away. The next bug you swat may be endangered. The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation works to protect insects that you might not think need saving.
• Gathering Poems from Sandburg's 'Great Period'
  Carl Sandburg received one of his two Pulitzer Prizes for a 1950 compilation of his poems. A new collection focuses on the Midwestern poet's early works, what the editor calls Sandburg's "great period."
• CDC Recommends Shingles Vaccine, Citing Risks
  Shingles is a viral disease most common among older adults. A group of expert advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending everyone age 60 and older get a new vaccine against shingles. The CDC's Dr. Rafael Harpaz says the disease can be extremely painful. "It can last for months and sometimes even years. It can be really life-shattering."
• N.J. Court Clears the Way for Same-Sex Marriage
  New Jersey's legislature has six months to either grant gay couples the right to marry, or come up with another civil-union type system, after the state's highest court ruled Wednesday that homosexual couples are due all of the rights accorded to heterosexual couples.
• Virginia Senate Race Too Close to Call
  The hotly contested U.S. Senate race in Virginia between Sen. George Allen and Democratic challenger James Webb looks likely to turn on the votes of independents in northern Virginia.
• U.S. Balances Relationships with Pakistan, India
  Pakistan initially declined to allow a plane carrying an American commander the use of its airspace for a trip to India. The incident illustrates both the level of tension between India and Pakistan and Pakistan's limitations as an ally.
• Letters: Deford on Tag, 'Generation Next'
  Many listeners were delighted by Frank Deford's commentary Wednesday. Frank ridiculed school bans on games like tag, because they are physically and emotionally hazardous. Some listeners were less delighted with a story in our series "Generation Next" featuring video game marketer Brendan Docherty.
• Sgt. Killed in Iraq Was Driven to Protect Others
  The Army has announced that Alaska's 172nd Stryker Brigade will finally be headed home by Christmas. But five men in that unit won't be returning home. They were killed during their extended tour of battle. The first to die was Sgt. Eugene Alex.
• New Options for Soothing Arthritis Pain
  Osteoarthritis is one of the nation's leading causes of disability, affecting approximately 20 million adults. There's no cure, but there are new treatments for easing pain, such as a lubricating fluid and an implant that cushions joints.
• Federal Reserve Holds Steady on Interest Rate
  The Federal Reserve's interest rate policymakers met and, once again, decided to leave a key interest rate alone. Short-term interest rates will remain at 5.25 percent.

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