CPB gives MPR emergency grant to fund bridge coverage

CPB just gave Minnesota Public Radio an emergency $25,000 grant "for costs related to coverage of the collapse of the interstate bridge in Minneapolis last night," the corporation reports. MPR has provided continuing, multiplatform coverage of the catastrophe since it happened at 6:05 p.m. central, Wednesday (timeline).

It's got a pulse

Like Vermont Public Radio's new weekdaily Vermont Edition, the program's theme has a bit of the unexpected, the network says. In the MP3 of the theme, you'll hear the usual insistent throb of newscast themes going back to the early BJ-Leiderzoic Era, but this one sounds more like James Brown's pulse instead of James Lehrer's. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, based in Vermont, did the theme. That's Grace on organ. VPR launches the noon newscast Aug. 13 with former NPR journalist Jane Lindholm as host.

New blog covers Colorado public media

Critics of Colorado Public Radio recently launched the Colorado Public Radio blog, which aims to cover all public and community stations in the state but applies special scrutiny to the Denver-based network of NPR news and classical music stations. Frances Koncilja, a former CPR board member who resigned this spring and publicly complained about a lack of transparency and inclusion at CPR, contributes to the blog.

Elmo, Big Bird and other toys recalled

More than a million Chinese-made Mattel/Fisher-Price products, including Sesame Street character toys, are being recalled because their paint may contain toxic levels of lead, Bloomberg and other media reported. The 83 designs are listed on the Consumer Product Safety Commission website. Sesame Workshop said it "will develop more stringent procedures" to hold licensees to safety standards. The products had been sold since May, Mattel's news release said. Pictured: one of the Sesame Street character toys on the CPSC website.