Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Bemidji ponders impact of potential loss of LGA
  City leaders across Minnesota are bracing for what's expected to be massive cuts in state aid to cities. In Bemidji, they're just beginning to weigh the implications.4:50 p.m.
• The state budget in your backyard
  A look at the impact of Minnesota's state budget shortfall through the experience of one city -- White Bear Lake.4:54 p.m.
• Coleman's campaign calls first witnesses in recount trial
  The recount trial is underway in a St. Paul courtroom to determine the winner of Minnesota's U.S. Senate election. Rejected absentee ballots are at the heart of the case, said Minneapolis criminal defense attorney Joe Friedberg in his opening statements on behalf of former Senator Norm Coleman.5:20 p.m.
• New map shows speeds of the information superhighway
  There's a new map of Minnesota being prepared and you're invited to participate. It isn't a roadmap, but a map of the state's broadband or high-speed Internet service.5:24 p.m.
• Author Neil Gaiman's spooky book wins Newbery honor
  Local best-selling author Neil Gaiman has received the top prize for children's literature: The John Newbery Medal, for "The Graveyard Book."5:50 p.m.
• Local author's book wins Caldecott Award
  St. Paul poet and children's book author Susan Marie Swanson wrote the book that won this year's prestigious Caldecott Medal for best picture book. The illustrator is Beth Krommes of New Hampshire. The book is called "The House in the Night."5:54 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• City Helps Car Dealers Saddle Up In Rough Times
  Convincing the federal government to bail out the automobile manufacturers has been a tough sell. But for Norco, a small town in southern California also known as Horsetown, USA, it was a no-brainer when a couple of local car dealerships needed help.
• Nature Conservancy Fights Planned Border Fence
  The Department of Homeland Security has completed 90 percent of its controversial 670-mile border fence. But the barrier is running into opposition from conservationists in far southern Texas, where the Nature Conservancy has refused to give up its land.
• 'No Cussing' Founder: Mind Your Dang Language
  A 15-year-old launched a club to encourage his friends to stop cussing around him. He's now spawned a 30,000-member global movement and has made media appearances and written a book. His fame and ideas, though, have made him a target of bullying and harassment.
• Obama Targets Auto Emissions
  President Barack Obama is directing the Environmental Protection Agency to review requests by California and 13 other states to set tighter auto emissions and fuel efficiency standards.
• Calif. Official Weighs In On Obama Order
  Mary Nichols, the chair of the California Air Resources Board, says President Barack Obama's move to direct the Environmental Protection Agency to review requests by California and other states to set tighter auto emissions and fuel efficiency standards is a victory for her state. She says it sets the country on a path to transform domestic auto manufacturing to keep up with the needs of 21st century.
• Who's Calling? It's Your Traffic Report
  Developers at the University of California, Berkeley have created a system that uses GPS-equipped cell phones both to detect traffic jams and to alert drivers of problems in their area. The traffic-warning system may become available nationwide within a year.
• Pfizer To Buy Rival Wyeth For $68B
  The largest drugmaker in the world, Pfizer, has done something unusual for these times. It has agreed to buy rival company Wyeth for $68 billion in cash and stock. Such megadeals are rare these days because few companies can line up the cash.
• Obama Science Adviser On Memoir
  Nobel Prize-winning biologist Harold Varmus, one of President Obama's science advisers, talks about his memoir, The Art and Politics of Science. The book recounts Varmus' journey through science and science policy.
• U.K. Refusal To Air Gaza Appeal Criticized
  A political row has broken out in Britain over plans by some of the country's major charities to broadcast an appeal on behalf of victims of the conflict in Gaza. The broadcasters say they are concerned that they might appear to be seen as taking sides in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
• Chicago Teen Said To Impersonate Officer
  A Chicago teen wearing an officer's uniform walked into a police station Saturday and was assigned to go on patrol. He partnered with another officer for about five hours before he was discovered. Chicago Tribune reporter Angela Rozas talks about what happened.

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