Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• The Johnny Cash of Communism
  He's been called the Red Elvis. The Johnny Cash of Communism. Dean Reed was an American performer wildly popular in many of the world's political hotspots, and yet obscure back here in his homeland. Far from just a crooner, Reed had strong leftist convictions and a knack for fame and attention. He found himself at the center of events around the globe, from Allende's Chile to the USSR. Chuck Laszewski is a reporter from the St. Paul Pioneer Press. He's written a new book about Reed called "Rock 'n' roll Radical: The mysterious life and death of Dean Reed." He spent some time talking to MPR's Tom Crann.4:50 p.m.
• Fans and friends of Kirby Puckett wait and hope
  Fans of Kirby Puckett reacted with shock and sadness to the news of his stroke.5:20 p.m.
• What's next for South Dakota abortion law?
  South Dakota's Governor Mike Rounds signed legislation Monday banning most abortions in the state. The measure is designed as a direct challenge to the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. MPR's Cara Hetland in Sioux Falls talked with All Things Considered host Tom Crann about the new law.5:23 p.m.
• DFLers propose more money to reduce class sizes
  DFL lawmakers have unveiled a $300 million incentive plan to ease classroom crowding in Minnesota public schools. The proposal, announced Monday, would offer additional state money to school districts that keep class sizes below specific targets.5:35 p.m.
• Personal choices contribute to global warming
  Manufacturers make conventional cars that get lots of miles per gallon, and thus emit much less pollution. But most Minnesotans are driving more and bigger vehicles, creating more -- not less -- pollution.5:39 p.m.
• Overview of global warming in Minnesota
  For an overview of the global warming issue, MPR's Tom Crann talked with Peter Ciborowski, an analyst who studies climate change for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.5:48 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• United States Plans to Transfer Afghan Prisoners
  The United States plans to transfer about 600 Afghan prisoners to the custody of the Afghanistan government. The detainees are being held at Guantanamo Bay and at a U.S. air base outside the Afghan capital, Kabul.
• Baseball Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett Dies
  Hall of fame baseball player Kirby Puckett has died. He was 45 years old. Puckett was a well-known and popular player in the 1980s and early 90s. William Wilcox of Minnesota Public Radio talks with Michele Norris about Puckett's career with the Minnesota Twins, where he won the World Series in 1987 and 1991.
• Federal Judge's Ruling Could Affect Silicosis Cases
  Tens of thousands of cases of silicosis have been filed by a few doctors and lawyers across the nation. Defendants say these cases are being manufactured for money, that there is no medical basis for these lawsuits and that the entire process is a fraud. Recently, a federal judge agreed. Part two of Wade Goodwyn's report.
• High Court Upholds Military Recruiting at Colleges
  The Supreme Court has ruled unanimously that colleges must accept military recruiters on campus if the schools want to continue receiving federal funds. The justices unanimously rejected a free-speech challenge from law schools that claimed they should not be forced to associate with recruiters.
• Sentencing Trial Opens for Moussaoui
  Opening statements began today in the penalty phase of the trial of Zaccarias Moussaoui, the only person charged in connection with the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Moussaoui has pleaded guilty to conspiring with al-Qaida to hijack planes and commit other crimes.
• Confidential Sources Keep Reporters Informed
  The threat of espionage charges strikes a personal chord for Daniel Schorr, a senior news analyst at NPR. He shares his discontent about current efforts to put the screws to journalists who rely on confidential sources inside the government.
• Documents Shed Light on Guantanamo Detainees
  Michele Norris talks with Corine Hegland, reporter for the National Journal, about the release of transcripts from hearings of detainees at Guantanamo Bay, which reveal for the first time their names, nationalities, and information about their backgrounds. Hegland talks about the documents reveal, and why it's important.
• Baseball Fans Don't Rush to Embrace Classic
  The World Baseball Classic, a tournament involving teams from North America, Latin America and Asia, boasts a lot of Major League all-stars and potentially intriguing rivalries. Whether fans embrace the event remains to be seen.
• AT&T to Cut 10,000 Jobs if Bell South Merger Approved
  AT&T plans to cut about 10,000 jobs if its plan to acquire Bell South is approved by regulators. Company officials say most of the cuts would come from attrition. Some consumer groups have announced their opposition, saying the proposed merger will recreate the monopoly system of two decades ago.
• The 'Real' Reasons Behind Who Won at the Oscars
  Fresh from watching last night's Academy Awards ceremony, actors Fred Willard and John Michael Higgins give their impressions of who won and why. Willard and Higgins star in the upcoming film, For Your Consideration, a Christopher Guest comedy about a badly made movie that generates Oscar buzz.
• Merger Could Mean Better Services, Analyst Says
  Scott Cleland, a telecommunications analyst and CEO of the Precursor Group, an investor research company, talks with Melissa Block about the possible merger between the new AT&T and Bell South, bringing two of the biggest original Bell companies back together.
• Rep. Tom DeLay Fights For Seat in Texas Primary
  Former House Majority Leader Tom Delay (R-TX) is campaigning vigorously to keep his seat in Sugarland, Texas. Michele Norris checks in with Wayne Slater, Austin Bureau Chief of the Dallas Morning News, about Tuesday's Texas primary and the political prospects of the former majority leader.
• Saudi Strengthens Security in Wake of Attack
  The Saudi government is strengthening security measures in the wake of last week's failed attempt to bomb an oil complex. Officials are concerned that vehicle-bomb tactics used in Baghdad have migrated to Saudi Arabia, where militants have turned their attention.
• Croatian Serb Leader Found Dead in Jail
  Milan Babic, the former Croatian Serb rebel leader, is found dead, apparently by his own hand, in prison at The Hague, Netherlands. Babic, 50, was to testify against another top Croatian Serb at the U.N. war crimes tribunal. He testified against former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic in 2002.
• Despite Surprises, Oscars Wasn't a Big Ratings Success
  Crash pulled a major upset at the Academy Awards, snatching the Best Picture award from front-runner Brokeback Mountain. Despite that surprise, this year's awards show was not a big ratings success. The audience dip makes ABC and the Academy nervous.

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