All Things Considered for February 10, 2009 | Minnesota Public Radio News

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Minnesota Public Radio Stories

Mosque leaders deny they recruited youth to fight
Leaders and friends of a Minneapolis mosque deny connection to the recent disappearances of young Somali men from the Twin Cities.5:20 p.m.
Recount judges order count of 23 rejected ballots
The three-judge panel in Republican Norm Coleman's recount trial have ordered that 23 rejected absentee ballots be opened and counted.5:25 p.m.
Joblessness among older workers jumps
Historically, older workers have been less likely to lose their jobs in an economic downturn. But that advantage is eroding.5:50 p.m.
Lone doctor provided relief for thousands in Darfur
Dr. Ashis Brahma was the only man in charge of providing medical attention to thousands of refugees in Sudan's Darfur region. He is Minnesota this week to talk about the continuing refugee crisis around the region.6:20 p.m.
Recalled peanuts found in school inventories
At least 16 schools across Minnesota have found more than 2.5 tons of recalled peanuts in their inventories and are now working to destroy those items.6:28 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

Retailer Turns To Bankruptcy To Stay Afloat
Bowl & Board, a family-owned chain of housewares stores in New England, is trying to stay alive through bankruptcy protection. With the closure of its Brookline, Mass., location, the company hopes it can still keep its other locations going during these tough economic times.
Fallout From Peanut Contamination Hurts Farmers
Salmonella contamination traced back to a Georgia peanut processing plant has sickened nearly 600 people in 44 states. Peanut farmers, who say they had nothing to do with the contamination, are feeling the pinch as people buy fewer peanut products.
Brewery Business Hopping Despite Tanking Economy
Beer sales in the U.S. are going strong despite the lagging economy. Both small breweries and large breweries alike are struggling to keep up with demand as consumers are drinking at home more.
Lack Of TARP-2 Details Pushes Dow Down
The Obama administration unveiled its overhaul of the financial rescue plan, but critical details were missing. Investors weren't pleased and the Dow Jones industrial average fell more than 300 points.
Merrill Toxic Asset Sale May Present Model
Last year, private-equity firm Lone Star Funds bought up nearly $6.7 billion of Merrill Lynch's credit debt obligations at 22 cents on the dollar. Could that be the private model the Treasury Department wants others to duplicate? Simon Johnson, a professor at MIT and a former chief economist at the International Monetary Fund, offers his insight.
Vatican Roiled By Outrage Over Holocaust Denier
A decision by Pope Benedict XVI to welcome four ultratraditionalist bishops back into the Catholic Church — including one who denies the Holocaust happened — has sparked a global outcry from Jews and unprecedented criticism from many Catholics. The outrage is especially intense in the pope's native Germany and in Austria.
Calif. Judges Order Prisoners Released
A panel of federal judges said Monday California must release tens of thousands of prison inmates to relieve overcrowding. The ruling was prompted by several cases in which inmates have died or committed suicide due to poor conditions.
Leavenworth, Kan., Eyes Guantanamo Warily
Leavenworth, Kan., has four big penitentiaries, including the Defense Department's only maximum-security prison. Many view that facility as the obvious choice to house detainees held at Guantanamo Bay. Some town leaders are against the transfer, but others see economic opportunity.
Expert: Ahmadinejad's Tone Shifts As Election Nears
In a speech Tuesday, the Iranian president said the country is prepared to talk with the new Obama administration, in an atmosphere of "mutual respect." Hamid Dabashi, a professor of Iranian studies at Columbia, says the speech was essentially a campaign address.
Roset Melamed, An Iranian Beauty Queen
The Tehran that Roset Melamed remembers is not the same one in the news today. A former Miss Iran, Melamed spent her youth ice skating and learning martial arts. Nothing prepared her for a revolution that would make her feel unsafe in her own neighborhood.