Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Ten years after devastating tornadoes, communities thriving
  Ten years ago at least five tornadoes ripped through south central Minnesota. The cities of Comfrey and St. Peter were damaged so badly that residents worried their towns would disappear. Instead, they have managed a remarkable recovery.4:50 p.m.
• Auditor to examine allegations against Minn. AG's office
  Minnesota's Legislative Auditor will conduct a preliminary investigation into allegations of misconduct within the office of Attorney General Lori Swanson.5:20 p.m.
• How do changing economic factors affect the state's budget forecast?
  How do indicators suggesting the economy is in worse shape affect the state's budget forecast?5:24 p.m.
• NWA interested in reviving merger talks
  Northwest Airlines is apparently interested in reviving merger talks with Delta Airlines.5:50 p.m.
• Republicans face off for 1st District endorsement
  Republicans in southern Minnesota meet Saturday to endorse a candidate for Congress. But whomever they choose will face a primary election battle before he can run against incumbent U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn.5:53 p.m.
• Students find their calling in the ROTC
  Support for the Iraq war is down, but the number of college students completing Army officer training is on the rise.6:20 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Roundtable: The Week in Politics
  The New York Times' David Brooks and the Washington Post's Ruth Marcus discuss the week in politics with Robert Siegel. On tap: Pennyslvania Sen. Bob Casey's endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama and Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy's call for Sen. Hillary Clinton to drop out of the race.
• U.S. Drawn Deeper into Iraq Offensive
  The U.S. military bombed Madhi Army targets in Basra and Baghdad on Friday, as it was drawn into the Iraqi government's fight against Shiite militias. U.S. commanders say they can't let the Iraqis fail.
• Former Olympian, Activist Debate Beijing Boycott
  International Olympic Committee member Anita DeFrantz — a U.S. rower who missed the 1980 Moscow games because of a boycott — says the Olympic games have forced China to be more open. David Kilgour, a Canadian human rights lawyer and former member of parliament, supports a boycott of the opening ceremonies.
• Rubin Advises Quick Action to Fix Economic Crises
  Citigroup executive Robert Rubin evaluates proposals made by the top three presidential candidates and others to fix the housing and credit crises. The former Treasury secretary is supportive of the idea of renegotiating loans, especially for people whose houses are worth less than their mortgages.
• Post-Saddam, Abuses Still Plague Iraqi Courts
  In Saddam Hussein's Iraq, drummed up charges against political rivals and intimidated judges were the norm. Five years after the U.S. invasion, not much has changed — and the abuse of at least one law has actually worsened.
• Seoul, Pyongyang Resume Adversarial Roles
  North Korea test-fired short-range missiles Friday, signaling its displeasure with plans by South Korea's president-elect Lee Myung-bak to abandon a "sunshine policy." The move is also seen as a rebuke to the United States over an impasse in nuclear disarmament talks.
• It's Davidson, Not Duke, with Hoop Dreams Intact
  North Carolina is filled with perennial college basketball powerhouses. And then there's tiny Davidson College, known more in the state for its academics than its sports prowess. But this year it's Davidson making its mark in the tournament, outlasting even big-name schools like Duke.
• In Basra, Shiites Mount Stiff Resistance
  In southern Iraq, CBS producer Phil Ittner tells Robert Siegel the Iraqi forces are in charge of operations — with U.S. and British forces providing logistical and some air support. So far, progress has been slow, Ittner says.
• Biographer Tracks Mugabe's Decline
  Ahead of Saturday's presidential election in Zimbabwe, Heidi Holland, author of Dinner with Mugabe, explains her theory of how Zimbabwe's leader of 28 years went from hero to deluded dictator.
• Existing Home Sales Are Up Slightly
  The latest figures show an uptick in existing home sales for the first time since July 2007. Is the market beginning to turn around? A real estate agent and a buyer in Tucson, Ariz., looking at homes share their impressions.
• British Face Rising Cost of Living, Credit Crunch
  British borrowers don't have subprime mortgages to blame, but a rising cost of living over the past several years has people like 28-year-old Lisa Evans, with $130,000 on her credit cards, facing bankruptcy as cheap credit evaporates.
• Financing for Private Equity Deals Dries Up
  Private equity firms that want to buy Clear Channel Communications are suing Citigroup and other major banks, saying they've backed out of a deal to finance the purchase. In the current credit crunch, the banks once eager to lend money for private equity deals now appear skittish.
• Europeans Bargain Shop on Rodeo Drive
  The primacy of the euro has luxury stores and chic boutiques along Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles teeming with happy shoppers from Europe. It's a boon for an economy still reeling from the crisis in the housing market.
• Saluting Lonnie Johnson, Original Guitar Hero
  The man credited with playing some of the first recorded guitar solos is today largely forgotten. But a group of Philadelphia-based musicians have just produced a tribute to the early master of blues, jazz and pop.
• A Man and His Mitt: A Love Story
  In a new anthology of baseball essays, sportswriter Stefan Fatsis celebrates his beloved, 31-year-old baseball glove. He talks to Robert Siegel about how he set out to find out about his mitt's history and what he learned along the way.

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