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

• Poll Shows Public Wants Compromise... Up to a Point
  Overwhelmingly, Americans see the country as divided, and value political leaders who try to bridge the gap. But the public also finds compromise much tougher on the toughest issues of the day, according to a poll by the Pew Research Center.
• 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.
• 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.
• Rafe Esquith Offers His Fiery Teaching Methods
  Rafe Esquith has taught kids from some of the toughest neighborhoods in Los Angeles. His book, 'Teach Like Your Hair's On Fire,' outlines the methods he's found to be successful.
• When the State of the Presidency Isn't So Hot
  On Tuesday night, President Bush will address his first Congress run fully by Democrats, and he'll do so with his polling numbers at a low ebb. Previous presidents have also had to address Congress at difficult passages in their tenure.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

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