Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• New Argento work honors his late wife
  The Washington National Cathedral hosts the premiere of a major, new work by Minneapolis composer Dominick Argento on Sunday. It's the first music the Pulitzer Prize winner has written since his wife's death two years ago and he lost the will and energy for composing.4:50 p.m.
• Senate dismisses transportation chief Molnau
  The Minnesota Senate has voted to dismiss state transportation chief Carol Molnau.5:15 p.m.
• Minnesota's budget deficit nearly $1 billion
  Minnesota's projected budget deficit nearly tripled Thursday, growing to $935 million and making spending cuts tougher to avoid.5:40 p.m.
• The reasons behind the deficit
  Thursday's report that state government is facing tough times is a result of many Minnesotans also facing tough times. MPR's Tom Weber traces the connection between consumers and the state's budget.5:44 p.m.
• $1 billion is bad enough -- deficit could get worse
  The state's new budget forecast numbers are based on economic expectations that could easily fail to pan out -- and could lead to even more dire conditions.5:48 p.m.
• Water contaminant PFBA not as toxic as previously thought
  The chemical was found in the drinking water of more than 143,000 residents.6:15 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Delay in Muslims' Citizenship Process Leads to Suits
  Twenty-five Muslims are suing the Justice Department and immigration officials, accusing them of stalling their citizenship applications with unreasonably prolonged background checks. The lawsuit says the plaintiffs have been waiting two to five years for their applications to be processed.
• Army Improves Care for Injured, Study Says
  A series of articles in the Washington Post exposed squalid living conditions and poor care for some soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. A new report says the Army is now doing many things well — but it may not be able to keep up with the growing number of injured soldiers.
• Republicans Face Uphill Battle in Congress Races
  Though most of the focus this political season has been on the White House, a number of congressional seats are up for grabs. Melissa Block talks with Amy Walter, editor-in-chief of the daily online political briefing Hotline. This year, 29 Republicans — and six Democrats — are retiring from the House.
• Bush Presses Turkey to Leave Northern Iraq
  Turkey is coming under increasing pressure to end its offensive into northern Iraq, as President Bush urged the Turks to "move quickly, achieve their objective and get out." Defense Secretary Robert Gates delivered the same message to the government in Ankara.
• Pew Poll Holds Good News for McCain, Obama
  A high percentage of white Democrats would support John McCain, according to a new poll from the Pew Research Center. The survey also contains both good and bad news for Sen. Barack Obama, who has taken the lead among Democratic primary voters.
• Kenyan Pact May Bring an End to Violent Unrest
  Kenya's political rivals have signed a power-sharing agreement aimed at ending weeks of bloodshed sparked by a disputed presidential election in December. More than 1,000 people died in the unrest; more than a quarter-million were displaced. The deal creates a prime minster post for opposition leader Raila Odinga.
• Musician Buddy Miles Dies at 60
  Buddy Miles, a drummer who played with Jimi Hendrix and sang in the claymation commercials featuring the California Raisins in the 1980s, has died. He was 60. Miles had been suffering from congestive heart failure.
• Border Fence Project Riddled with Problems
  A pilot project to test a "virtual fence" along the U.S.-Mexico border has been riddled with technical problems. Completion of the project's first phase will be delayed by at least three years. The virtual fence pilot project covers 28 miles of the border, south of Tucson.
• L.A. Sees Spike in Outbursts of Gun Violence
  Los Angeles police are still searching for the man who fired into a crowd of children and adults at a crowded bus stop Wednesday. Eight people were shot, and several suffered serious wounds, leading authorities to express amazement that no one was killed.
• In Texas, Clinton's Hopes Rest with Hispanics
  For Hillary Clinton to win the Democratic presidential nomination, she will have to win Texas. And to win Texas, she will have to win in San Antonio, where her large advantage among Hispanic voters must come into play, the way it did when she won California on Feb. 5.
• Elusive Knuckleball Gives Pitcher Chance at Majors
  After the discovery that pitcher R.A. Dickey lacked a key ligament derailed his major league career, he learned how to throw the unconventional pitch known as a knuckleball. Now, Dickey has signed as a prospect for the Seattle Mariners.
• McCain Backs Iraq Commanders, Citing Vietnam
  On the campaign trail in Ohio and Texas this week, Sen. John McCain reiterated his support for the troop surge in Iraq. He says military commanders, not Washington politicians, should dictate the timing of any troop withdrawal. McCain says his view is rooted in his generation's Vietnam experience.
• Slump, Costs, Put Vallejo on Brink of Bankruptcy
  A San Francisco suburb that has been hit hard by the sagging housing market is on the verge of going broke. Officials in Vallejo, Calif., will decide whether to declare bankruptcy this week, as they face big increases for police and fire protection — and sagging tax revenues.
• Letters: Radio Host Bill Cunningham
  Melissa Block and Robert Siegel read listeners' comments about yesterday's program. The vast majority of e-mails were in response to Siegel's interview with controversial Cincinnati radio talk-show host Bill Cunningham.
• Bush's Prods to Congress on FISA May Work
  President Bush has called once again for the House to adopt a Senate bill on foreign intelligence — and by noon, Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer was saying the House would take up a bill next week. Whether the bill includes the retroactive legal immunity for phone companies that the president demands was not immediately clear.

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