Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Obama inspires black Minnesotans
  You have to wonder what Martin Luther King would say. Forty years after Dr. King's death, for the first time, a black man has a real shot at the White House. What does Barack Obama's candidacy mean to African-Americans in Minnesota?5:23 p.m.
• MLK Day job fair draws thousands
  Economists and politicians are worried about the economy. Minnesota's state economist said last week that the state is in a recession. Congress is debating a possible stimulus package. What do these uncertain economic times mean for African-Americans?5:51 p.m.
• Grandma's Marathon defending champ killed in Kenyan violence
  Grandma's Marathon organizers in Duluth, Minn., reported Monday that two-time men's champion Wesly Ngetich was killed during ongoing violence in Kenya.5:55 p.m.
• Pawlenty announces human rights office for St. Cloud
  St. Cloud is getting a state human rights office.6:20 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Obama Leads Polls Ahead of Pivotal S.C. Primary
  A debate Monday night in Myrtle Beach, S.C., features Democratic presidential hopefuls Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards. Five days before the Democratic primary in South Carolina, Obama leads in polls, having overtaken Clinton's early substantial lead. Black voters are expected to cast half or more of the ballots in Saturday's primary.
• A Widow's Story of Losing Her 'Two-Legged Buck'
  Commentator David Greenberger tells us a story that was related to him by Helen Carver about her late husband. Greenberger travels and records the stories of older people.
• Insurers Try to Calculate Risks of Climate Change
  Before Hurricane Katrina came along, U.S. insurers didn't consider climate change when they assessed the risk of events like floods. Now they're factoring in a changing world, and it's costing consumers in places like New Orleans.
• Global Markets Drop on Fears of U.S. Recession
  It was a horrible day for stock investors around the world, the single worst day for losses in many places since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Investors everywhere spoke of a fear that the U.S. is heading for a much deeper recession than previously thought — a recession that might hurt economies around the globe.
• Activists Seek Crackdown on Aging Nuclear Plants
  Environmental activists want the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to stop allowing aging power plants to stay open — unless the agency beefs up safety inspections. They say the government should start at Oyster Creek in New Jersey — the oldest nuclear plant still in service.
• Florida Falls Short in Restoring Felons' Voting Rights
  Shortly after he was elected a year ago, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist pushed through changes that make it easier for released felons to get their civil rights restored. But only 45,000 of about 950,000 people eligible have had their voting rights restored. The ACLU and other groups have launched a campaign to try to help.
• Antebellum Town a Record of Black Experience
  While many African-American communities in the South dissolved after the Civil War, the residents of Flat Rock, Ga., clung to the land of their ancestors. Today, the town is working to preserve its history as a rare, surviving example of the black experience.
• Atlanta MLK Ceremony Dips Into Presidential Politics
  "Action — not words" was the unofficial theme of Monday's commemoration of the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. at Ebenezer Baptist Church, attended by hundreds of dignitaries. Two former Arkansas governors were there: Mike Huckabee and former President Bill Clinton.
• Passionate Politics Prompt a Warning to Democrats
  The Congressional Black Caucus Institute is hosting a Democratic Presidential Primary Debate on Martin Luther King Day. Commentator Mary Curtis, a columnist for the Charlotte Observer, says that while she's pleased to see so much excitement about this presidential race, too much "passion" could have unexpected consequences for the Democratic Party.
• S.C. Primary to Test Place of Race in Politics
  Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have recently started to insert the issue of race into their presidential campaigns. The South Carolina primary, with 60 percent black voters, will be a test of whether their strategies paid off.
• GOP's Giuliani Hopes for a Breakthrough in Florida
  Florida is next on the Republican presidential program, and all of the big names are arriving ahead of the vote a week from Tuesday. But one major GOP contender has been working the state all month, counting on a breakthrough there to overcome the influence of the early contests: former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.
• Examining the Presidential Nominating Process
  Political commentators EJ Dionne of the Washington Post and David Brooks of the New York Times talk with Melissa Block about the state of play in the presidential nominating process.
• Candidates Should Consider Their Kids in Military Matters
  Commentator and military father Frank Schaeffer wants the candidates to consider their own children as possible service members in future military interventions.
• The Sounds of Finnish Musical Experiments
  In the 20th century, Finland became a progressive, cutting-edge technological society. Its music, though little-known, followed suit: Relentlessly innovative, much of today's best music from Finland pushes the past firmly into the future.
• In Search of 'The Perfect Scent'
  In his new book, The Perfect Scent, Chandler Burr follows the developments of two perfumes: one by actress Sarah Jessica Parker; the other by French perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena. Burr is perfume critic at The New York Times.

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