Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Stimulus funds go to lucky few Internet upgrade projects
  A plan to upgrade broadband Internet service in southwest Minnesota will receive nearly $13 million in stimulus money to build the project. But dozens of other applications in the state were turned down.4:50 p.m.
• Fine arts move to the mall
  The latest experiment in Minnesota's malls is underway at Ridgedale Center in Minnetonka, where they are creating and displaying art in the shopping complex alongside storefronts and food courts.4:54 p.m.
• $16M slated for better biking and walking in the Twin Cities
  Bike routes and walking paths are getting a major overhaul in the Twin Cities.5:15 p.m.
• Going 'Up' with Minnesotan Pete Docter
  Five years of work by a Bloomington native culminates this weekend with the release of the new Pixar movie, called "Up." The film is directed by Pete Docter, who grew up in the Twin Cities suburb. Docter says if you look closely, the movie has some strong Midwestern influences.6:28 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Florida Gov. Crist Revamps Message In Senate Race
  Gov. Charlie Crist trails Marco Rubio, the darling of the Tea Party movement, in the polls. But Crist is trying to convince Republican voters that he is a true conservative and that his easygoing relations with Obama are not a case of bad politics, but good manners.
• Afghan Officials Balk At Live TV Coverage Of Attacks
  Hours of live domestic coverage of Taliban attacks and their aftermath is a new trend in Afghan journalism. But last week, officials announced they were banning any future live coverage of attacks in Kabul. While an agreement has been reached to modify that policy, it's unclear what will happen to journalists who refuse to follow the new guidelines.
• Greek Prime Minister Seeks Curbs On Speculators
  Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou blamed market speculators for part of his country's economic woes and called for action to curb speculation. But he acknowledged in an NPR interview that much of Greece's economic troubles can be traced to its failure to balance its books.
• Consumers In The Dark Over Their Broadband Speeds
  Only 41 percent of Americans know what their home Internet download speeds are. But it's good to know: Speeds typically register 10 percent to 20 percent below the limit consumers pay for. There are easy ways to tell if the connection is slow — and Web sites that can help analyze Internet connections.
• Massacre May Be Turning Point In Mexico Drug War
  The outcry from the late January deaths of 15 young people in Juarez has led President Felipe Calderon to pledge to pump millions of dollars into civic programs in what's become one of the deadliest cities in the world.
• Israeli Tariff Burdens Supplier Of Gefilte Fish
  Israel recently reinstated a large import tax on Asian carp, which has hurt business for one of the largest producers of the fish, Schafer Fisheries in Thomson, Ill. Asian carp is used to make gefilte fish, a Jewish delicacy and staple at many Passover Seders.
• Elis Regina: The Feeling Between The Notes
  In a way, she's similar to iconic figures such as Janis Joplin or Billie Holiday — singers whose recordings define not just a style, but a way of being. Today, young performers talk about being intimidated when they attempt songs Regina made famous. Her work mulls the big questions of life and romance, one magnificent half-step at a time.
• Defense Secretary Gauges Success In Afghanistan
  Defense Secretary Robert Gates flew into Afghanistan Monday on an unannounced visit. Gates is checking progress on the military campaign around the southern Afghan town of Marjah and laying plans for the next big offensive, in Kandahar.
• U.S. Institutes New Tourism Measure
  Last week, President Obama signed into law the Travel Promotion Act, which creates a nonprofit corporation with the task of promoting travel to the U.S. The boy will be funded through a $10 fee charged to foreign visitors who are not required to get visas before visiting the U.S. Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, discusses how the fee will be used.
• Broadband Too Pricey? There May Be Options
  Gone are the days of hisses and beeps. Now, most of us log on to the Internet through silent, fast — and often pricey — broadband connections. But at a time when many families are trying to trim the monthly budget, there may be alternatives to those plans. Omar Gallaga of the Austin American-Statesman offers his insight.

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