Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Art Hounds: Week of March 19
  Each week Minnesota Public Radio News asks three people from the Minnesota arts scene to be "Art Hounds." Their job is to step outside our own work and hunt down something exciting that's going on this weekend.4:44 p.m.
• A gym of their own: Somali girls learn basketball
  In a locked gym on Sunday afternoons in Minneapolis, Somali girls and women are getting together to play basketball. There are no fans or spectators, and they wouldn't have it any other way.4:50 p.m.
• Biden touts stimulus package in St. Cloud visit
  Vice President Joe Biden and several members of President Barack Obama's cabinet visited a bus garage in central Minnesota today to talk about the middle-class benefits from the $787 billion economic stimulus package.5:20 p.m.
• 8.1 percent jobless rate; a glimmer of light?
  The jobless rate in Minnesota rose again in February, hitting 8.1 percent. That's up more than half a percent from the January reading. The state also lost more than 13,000 jobs.5:24 p.m.
• Fargo has less time to prepare for higher flooding
  A new flood forecast for the Red River, projects that flood waters will crest higher and sooner than first thought.5:49 p.m.
• House budget plan increases taxes, cuts spending
  Democrats in the Minnesota House have released a proposal to erase the state's projected $4.6 billion deficit with a combination of spending cuts, accounting shifts, tax increases and a big shot of one-time federal stimulus money.5:55 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Sen. Dodd And The AIG Bonus Loophole
  Sen. Chris Dodd inserted an amendment into a February spending bill that allowed AIG to pay big executive bonuses. But the Connecticut Democrat says he did so at the insistence of Treasury officials. Glenn Thrush of Politico magazine unravels the story.
• Obama Draws Energy From California Swing
  President Obama spent another day in California on Thursday, soaking up support away from the din of bad news in Washington. The president even joked about recharging his batteries during a visit to an electric car plant in Los Angeles.
• Economy Puts Focus On Family Planning
  Planned Parenthood and other family planning clinics are seeing more patients in their waiting rooms — especially older women and many without insurance. Some are looking for help supporting the children they have, while others are afraid of raising a child they say they can't afford.
• Letters: AIG Bonuses, Amish Therapy
  Melissa Block and Michele Norris read from listener responses to a story about AIG bonus payments and the challenges of providing therapy to Amish patients.
• Women Set For NCAA 'Hoops Hysteria'
  This year's NCAA women's basketball tournament is about to get going. The University of Connecticut enters with an undefeated record. Michelle Smith of the San Francisco Chronicle takes a look at the matchups.
• Auto Parts Suppliers Get Federal Help
  The Obama administration will use $5 billion in federal bailout funds to help out struggling auto parts suppliers. The swift decline in auto sales has pushed many parts makers to the brink.
• Oakland Group Seeks More Play In School Day
  Shrinking budgets and strict academic mandates prompted California schools to cut gym classes and cut back on recess time. Now, an Oakland-based nonprofit is trying to put more focus on fitness.
• Buick, Jaguar Top Dependability List
  J.D. Power's latest dependability rankings for cars have Buick and Jaguar at the top. Lexus, which had led for several years, is still in the top five, along with Toyota and Mercury. Automotive columnist Warren Brown offers his thoughts.
• Budget Deficit Now Put At $2 Trillion
  On Friday, the Congressional Budget Office will project that the federal deficit will reach $2 trillion — a higher figure than President Obama predicted. The CBO expects unemployment to hover around 8 percent this year and 9 percent next year. What do the numbers mean for politics?
• House Votes To Tax Bonuses At Bailout Firms
  The House passed a measure that would impose a 90-percent tax on executive bonuses at any company that receives more than $5 billion in federal bailout funds. More "accountability" bills are pending in the House and Senate.
• House Votes To Expand National Service Programs
  The House yesterday passed legislation that more than triples the size of the AmeriCorps program and provides other opportunities for national service. The Senate is expected to pass a similar measure next week. Eric Schwarz, co-founder and CEO of Citizen Schools, talks about how his organization stands to gain.
• Which Pols Got The Most In AIG Donations?
  The Center for Responsive Politics lists the politicians who received the most in contributions from the now-struggling insurer AIG during the 2008 election cycle. No. 1? President Obama (about $104,000) with Sen. Chris Dodd right behind.
• McCain Seeks New Role In Senate
  It's never easy to return to a job after missing out on a big promotion. Sen. John McCain of Arizona is trying to carve out a new role as the loyal opposition.
• China's Stimulus Spending Questioned
  The Chinese government has pledged that citizens will get a full accounting of how nearly $600 billion in stimulus donors is being spent. Critics say much of the package will go to inefficient state-owned enterprises, local bureaucrats and wasteful pet projects.
• Fleecing Medicare: A Case Study
  Here's a recipe for easy cash in tough times: Make a piece of medical equipment for $3,600 and sell it to Medicare patients for nearly five times as much.

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