Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Snow closes businesses, highways in upper Midwest
  Heavy snow driven by wind gusting to 40 mph brought the Fargo-Moorhead area to a halt Tuesday, closing courts, schools, businesses and a major highway.4:48 p.m.
• Fargo-Moorhead shut down by March blizzard.
  MPR's Tom Crann speaks with reporter Dan Gunderson about how Fargo-Moorhead is dealing with the latest winter storm.4:49 p.m.
• Duluth braces as winter storm moves east.
  MPR's Tom Crann speaks with Duluth reporter Bob Kelleher about conditions in the Twin Ports.4:53 p.m.
• Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner forecasts March blizzard.
  March storm hammers northern Minnesota and slows commute around the state.4:55 p.m.
• Transportation funding debate becomes more urgent
  The Federal Highway Trust Fund is nearly broke, and two commissions have suggested increasing the federal gas tax.5:20 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Secretary Gates On Afghanistan Mission, Iraq Exit
  Secretary of Defense Robert Gates tells NPR that at a miniumum, the Taliban must be prevented from retaking power in Afghanistan. He also speculates that Iraq may ask U.S. troops to stay on despite an agreement to have all forces out by the end of 2011.
• Obama's Juggling Of Issues Spurs Concern
  Education was the issue of the day at the White House on Tuesday. A day before, it was stem cells while last week, it was health care. Later this week, it'll be the economy. President Obama says the dire times require him to take on many issues. Others say the economy needs 100 percent focus.
• Lemony Snicket's Musical Murder Mystery
  The popular children's book author turns his attention to a macabre event at the orchestra, complete with music and illustrations. Daniel Handler, acting as Mr. Snicket's mouthpiece, investigates the mystery, starting with the death of the composer.
• Markets Rise On Bernanke, Citi News
  There was rare good news from the stock market Tuesday. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said there's a "good chance" the recession could end this year. Citibank, meanwhile, said it operated at a profit in January and February.
• Recovery-Funded Projects Get Their Own Logo
  Steve Juras, formerly the creative director at Chicago-based Mode Project, helped create the new emblem that will be displayed on projects funded by the stimulus package. Juras says the White House told him it wanted something that wasn't too governmental, that was somewhat retro in feel, and that would give people the sense that progress was being made.
• Missing Mortgage Notes Delay Some Foreclosures
  Many mortgages are not held by banks, but by securitized trusts — complicated arrangements that involve many investors and byzantine legal documents. Homeowner advocates say they're finding a surprising number of improper mortgage documents that can delay foreclosure.
• Looking For A Silver Lining Amid Hard Times
  The owner of an antique shop in Humble, Texas, says his revenues have triples since the economic downturn became the major story. An acupuncturist in Richmond, Va., says hard times mean a respite from noise, and a resident of Rockport, Texas, says bill boards are empty.
• Lawyer: Madoff To Plead Guilty
  Disgraced financier Bernard Madoff was in court Tuesday for a hearing on whether he is aware his lawyer has potential conflicts of interest. Madoff is expected to waive his right to a trial and plead guilty at a hearing Thursday.
• Economy Forces Alaskans To Make Hard Choices
  Residents in remote villages in rural Alaska are struggling with extraordinarily high heating fuel and gas prices, forcing some to make the difficult choice between feeding their families and heating their homes.
• Hostage Tell-All Books Fly Off Shelves In Colombia
  Colombians are enthralled with a new tell-all account by three Americans held hostage by rebels in the country's jungle for five years. They write about their lives and have unkind words for Ingrid Betancourt, the best-known former hostage of all.

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