Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Pawlenty proposes budget up 9.3 percent; $1.4B more for schools
  The governor uses a projected $2 billion surplus to make priority investments in education, energy and health care. DFL legislative leaders say Pawlenty's budget falls short in several areas, but they call it a good starting point.5:16 p.m.
• School funding bump pleases many, but not the strings attached
  Under the governor's budget, all public K-12 schools would get a 2 percent funding boost per student in each of the next two years, and Pawlenty would tie some additional spending to school performance.5:20 p.m.
• On health care, Pawlenty stops short of his election-year plan
  Health care spending is one of the fastest growing segments of the state budget. During the next biennium, it's projected to increase by more than 18 percent.5:24 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Rumored FCC Payola Settlement Angers Critics
  Last year, the Federal Communications Commission promised to pick up Elliot Spitzer's investigation into payola. But rumors around Washington and the music industry suggest that the FCC is dropping the investigation and settling with broadcasting companies.
• Supreme Court Limits Judges' Sentencing Ability
  The Supreme Court has ruled against part of California's sentencing laws, saying that a jury trial requires judges to sentence people based only on the factors that have been determined by a jury — not on factors determined by the judge. The state may have to re-sentence thousands of prisoners.
• Business Group Criticizes Bush's Energy Ideas
  President Bush is expected to make big promises Tuesday in his State of the Union address about conserving energy and breaking America's oil addiction. But business leaders and environmental groups say the Bush approach isn't likely to be tough enough.
• Salsa Slight Shows City's Fractured Relations
  A Los Angeles resident witnessed an incident at a South Central deli last week. He says it's a microcosm of the tensions that African-Americans and Latinos are facing in Los Angeles.
• An NFL Mark: Two Black Coaches in Super Bowl
  Super Bowl XLI will make history. Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith and Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy are great friends — and both are black. It will be the first time two African-American head coaches have led their teams to the Super Bowl.
• New Orleans Residents Hold Forum on Rebuilding
  An Internet-linked gathering allows displaced New Orleans residents to discuss how they'd like their city to recover. Participants focused on neighborhood stability, education, affordable homes and rent, roads, transit, utilities, health service and other vital public services.
• Daughter's Death Doesn't Derail a Peace Activist
  Israeli investigators are questioning border police who were in a clash with Palestinians when a 10-year-old girl was slain. The girl's father, a militant-turned-peace-activist, says his daughter's death makes him want to work harder for a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
• Bush Eyes a Shift on Insurance and Taxes
  President Bush may be about to touch one of the true "third rails" of politics: the deductibility of employer-provided health insurance. This weekend, he announced he will propose in the State of the Union that all Americans be allowed to deduct the cost of health insurance premiums.
• Super Bowl Raises Indiana-Illinois Border Tensions
  In parts of Indiana and Illinois, Chicago Bears fans and Indianapolis Colts fans have to share a border. The conflict has come to the forefront as the teams and their fans prepare for Super Bowl LXI. Michele Norris talks with Eric Turner, of WDAN radio in Danville, Ill., and Ron Shepard, mayor of Clinton, Ind.
• Liberal and Conservatives, In the House
  As part of our Crossing the Divide series, Melissa Block brings together the far left and the far right for a conversation with members of Congress Carol Shea-Porter and Bill Sali. Shea-Porter is a liberal Democrat from New Hampshire. Sali is a conservative Republican from Idaho.
• Early Presidential Field Relies on the Web
  Jumping into the presidential fray over the weekend, Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York used her campaign Web site to screen a surprise announcement video. Campaign tactics are changing as the presidential field fills with major contenders a full year before the first events.
• 'California Way' Provides Model for Bipartisanship
  "The California Way" is what Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger calls the bipartisan cooperation that led to a productive year of groundbreaking legislation and an on-time budget. Schwarzenegger said the approach should be a model for the nation. But how deep is this new cooperation?
• Campaigns Stay on the Web — and On-Message
  The Internet is changing the way presidential hopefuls connect with voters. It also allows candidates to bypass the press corps — and disseminate a tightly controlled message.
• In Iraq, Violence Comes with Concession from Sadr
  Two bombings in a Shiite district of Baghdad leave more than 90 Iraqis dead. Nearly 30 American soldiers were killed during the weekend in a series of incidents. On the political front, supporters of radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr end a boycott of government and parliament.
• Bipartisan Group Stakes Out Middle Ground on Iraq
  A bipartisan group of senior senators announces that they will offer a resolution of their own regarding the U.S. mission in Iraq. The lawmakers say they are seeking a middle course between President Bush's troop buildup and proposals to begin withdrawal.

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