Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• I-35W bridge engineer to lead Stillwater bridge project
  Construction of the new $680 million bridge that will span Oak Park Heights and St. Joseph, Wis., is expected to begin in 2014, and take about three years to complete.5:20 p.m.
• English-only measure still divides Lino Lakes
  In a first-grade class at Lino Lakes Elementary School, a circle of students, most of them white, sing children's songs in Spanish. The class is part of a fledgling but popular Spanish-immersion program at the school. It's also a small island of linguistic diversity in a community where, a year and a half ago, officials made it clear that only English would be the language of city documents.5:35 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Races Expected To Be Close In Alabama, Mississippi
  Alabama and Mississippi hold Republican primaries on Tuesday. It appears to be a tight, three-way race in each state between Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, and Rick Santorum. Melissa Block talks with Mara Liasson about the races.
• Tea Party Spawns New Effort Against Voter Fraud
  As part of a new campaign, dozens of citizen groups around the country are searching voter registration lists, looking for problems. Critics say the effort is part of a campaign to suppress the votes of minorities, students and others who tend to vote Democratic.
• U.S., WTO Pressure China On Rare Earth Minerals
  The U.S., Europe and Japan have announced plans to file a new case against China at the World Trade Organization. Manufacturing companies around the world accuse China of inflating the price of certain "rare earth" minerals by limiting their export. China produces 95 percent of the minerals.
• Cruising Over Colombia In A Plane From Another Era
  DC-3 planes transported American troops in World War II. One of them hangs in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington. Yet this aircraft is still in daily use and is the most reliable means of transport in remote parts of Colombia.
• Nike Kicks Up Controversy With 'Black And Tan' Shoes
  One of Nike's latest sneaker creations — dubbed by retailers "The Black and Tan" — is rolling out just in time for St. Patrick's Day. To many Americans the "Black and Tan" is the half stout, half pale ale drink. But to the Irish, it was a brutal paramilitary group employed by the British in the early twentieth century to put down Irish revolutionary fighters. Robert Siegel and Melissa Block have the story.
• Lewis McChord Base Has History Of Troubles
  Melissa Block talks with Martin Kaste about the long list of troubles at Joint Base Lewis McChord. The base is home to the soldier that allegedly went on a rampage in Afghanistan, killing 16 civilians.
• Connecticut Considers Letting Health Aides Give Medicines To Homebound
  The state legislature is now mulling a change to allow trained home care aides to administer medications to Medicaid patients while working under a nurse's supervision. If the proposal becomes law, it could save the state a bundle.
• Senate Democrats Battle Over Court Nominees
  Faced with persistent GOP opposition to President Obama's appointments, Majority Leader Harry Reid plans this week to press the point by bringing 17 judicial nominees to the floor.
• Renowned Fixture Of Austin Streets Dies
  An Austin, Texas, icon has died. Leslie Cochran was a cross-dressing peace activist and homeless advocate. Many say Cochran was the epitome of the slogan, "keep Austin weird."
• Cotton Mather's 'Kontiki,' The Album That Won't Go Gently
  The 15-year-old album went out of print, but big-name fans pushed for a reissue and a reunion gig.

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