Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Minnesota Opera has a devil of a good time with 'Faust'
  The Minnesota Opera goes to the devil this weekend for its production of "Faust." In its heyday, Faust was the most popular opera in the world. Minnesota Opera staff say they hope to reveal its modern message through dance.4:53 p.m.
• Minnesota unemployment rises to 6.9 percent
  Minnesota continued to shed thousands of jobs in December, pushing the unemployment rate to 6.9 percent. But, some sectors are still adding jobs. Those were some of the headlines today from the Department of Employment and Economic Development, which released its latest jobs report Thursday.5:20 p.m.
• Were votes counted twice? Maybe
  Minneapolis election judges may be asked to take the stand in Minnesota's U.S. Senate election contest. But many election judges say it's hard to remember what seemed like minor details from a hectic day two months ago.5:24 p.m.
• Cities try to protect police and fire from budget cuts
  As the state faces its biggest budget deficit ever, even some of the core services paid for by public dollars, such as police and fire, are going to get leaner.5:50 p.m.
• Officials, administrators gather to share energy ideas
  As local officials prepare for likely state budget cuts, many of them gathered in St. Cloud Thursday to exchange ideas on how to conserve energy and save money.5:55 p.m.
• A popular presidency: bad for democracy?
  Dana Nelson's book, "Bad for Democracy: How the Presidency Undermines the Power of the People" (University of Minnesota Press, 2008) argues that Americans are too inclined to "super-size" the presidency. She says that's not the way the founding fathers would have wanted it.6:20 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Selling Americans On The Virtuous Recession
  A large credit union in Seattle has started an ad campaign that stresses its nonprofit bona fides. Sprint advertises calling plans that are right "for these times." Does austerity sell? Or is that a ridiculous contradiction?
• N.D. Economy Goes Against The Grain
  While most states are feeling the effects of the national recession, North Dakota has so far escaped relatively unscathed. It continues to have a growing economy, a low unemployment rate and a $1.2 billion budget surplus.
• Michigan Posts Double-Digit Unemployment
  With December's unemployment numbers coming in at 10.6 percent, Michigan gets the dubious distinction of being the first state to go double digits since the 1980s.
• GOP Strategist: Abortion Issue Won't Change Much
  The 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade coincides with the second business day of the Obama administration. Republican strategist Rich Galen says the abortion issue probably won't change much though Democrats control the White House and Congress.
• Accounts Differ On Why Kennedy Dropped Out
  New York Gov. David Paterson's camp says problems involving taxes and a household employee derailed Caroline Kennedy's bid to fill the vacant Senate seat, while her camp says the issue was a personal matter. Her decision to withdraw leaves a full field of contenders for the job.
• New White House Spokesman Takes Podium
  The man who will often be the public face of the Obama administration had his first White House news conference Thursday. Robert Gibbs explained the president's order to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay. He also talked about taking fast action on the economy, and about the first family's adjustment to their new digs.
• Obama's Guantanamo Order Examined
  President Barack Obama has signed an executive order closing the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and what remains of the secret CIA prisons. John Bellinger, former legal adviser to former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, offers his insight.
• Obama Likely To Allow Aid For Abortion Counseling
  The president is expected to issue an executive order revoking a policy that bars international family-planning organizations that offer abortion services or referrals from receiving U.S. aid. The policy was originally issued by President Reagan and then reversed by President Clinton, before being instituted again by President Bush.
• Questions Remain Despite Obama's Gitmo Order
  The president ordered the facility closed within a year, but the new administration doesn't know what to do with detainees there, nor with suspected terrorists detained in the future. He also banned harsh interrogation techniques "for now," leaving the door open for further review.
• Clinton Takes Charge; Special Envoys Named
  Hillary Clinton has taken charge at the U.S. State Department. The secretary of State named George Mitchell to be a special envoy to the Middle East and Richard Holbrooke to be a representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan.
• Volatile Markets? Try Lady Gaga to Calm Down
  Phil Maymin, NYU professor of finance and risk engineering, talks about his research on the correlation between songs with low-beat variance and volatile markets.
• U.S. Envoy Leaves Iraq With Message Of Caution
  Ryan Crocker, the outgoing American ambassador to Iraq, warns that a quick U.S. withdrawal could "run severe risks." Iraq is more stable now than before, he says, but it still needs U.S. security support. He also notes that 2009 will be a key year as Iraq holds elections.
• Peanut Recall Widens In Salmonella Outbreak
  More than 125 products containing ground-up roasted peanuts have been recalled after peanuts were linked to a salmonella outbreak. Officials recount how they traced the source of the outbreak to a plant in Blakely, Ga.
• Merrill's Thain Out At Bank Of America
  John Thain is out at Bank of America. Thain was CEO at Merrill Lynch last fall when it came under great pressure from nervous investors. Over 48 hours, he brokered an emergency deal with Bank of America that kept Merrill from being forced into bankruptcy.
• State Of States Speeches Examined
  How do governors of the 50 states find the right words to talk about their states in such economically bad times? Some of the rhetoric employed this year ranged from the straight-on, no-soft-edges approach to the rhetoric couched in metaphor and illusion.

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