All Things Considered for April 2, 2012 | Minnesota Public Radio News

Monday, April 2, 2012

Minnesota Public Radio Stories

Small grocery store fills gap in W. Minn. 'food desert'
In rural areas across Minnesota, thousands of residents live in communities without a major grocery store. That can create a real challenge for low-income residents who end up spending more time and money on their food. In Big Stone County, small grocers are helping fill the gap.4:45 p.m.
Neighbor: Crash 'devastating' for close-knit Kerber family
The Minnesota family that lost five members in a crash in Kansas on Sunday is close knit and well respected, a neighbor says.5:20 p.m.
New Vikings stadium funding deal expands gambling
Negotiators working on a Vikings stadium struck a deal over the weekend that may settle questions about charitable gambling and whether it can help pay for a stadium.5:51 p.m.
Vitamin D and sun safety: What's the best way to get daily dose?
We know that the sun is a great source of vitamin D, but given the risks of sun exposure, can humans get enough vitamin D elsewhere?5:56 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

Syrian Government Agrees To Withdraw Forces
United Nations Peace Envoy Kofi Annan says April 10 is the date the Syrian government has agreed to end its assault and pull troops from major cities. Audie Cornish talks with Tamara Cofman Wittes about this development in Syria. Wittes left the State Department in January, where she was the deputy special coordinator for Middle East transitions, and deputy assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs. She now directs the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution.
Syrian Exiles Seek To Spread Word On Internet Radio
New Start Radio is an Internet radio station that was launched by a brother and sister team who fled their Syrian homeland. The station's reports come mostly from citizen journalists in hot spots around Syria.
Martin's Parents Plan To Sue Homeowners Group
The attorney for Trayvon Martin's parents has already promised to file a civil lawsuit against the homeowner's association where the unarmed teenager was killed.
Fixing The Cutting Edge: Innovation Meets Table Saw
When you think of new technology, table saws don't generally come to mind, but more and more inventors are trying to make them safer — and David Butler is one of them. His Whirlwind safety brake can stop a blade in less than a second and fits onto any existing saw.
America's First Celebrity Robot Is Staging A Comeback
Before IBM had Watson, Westinghouse had Elektro. The Ohio manufacturer built the 7-foot-tall robot as a showpiece for the 1939 World's Fair. Now, more than 70 years later, a replica of the once-famous machine is preparing to embark on a national tour.
Health Insurers Move Ahead, With Or Without Individual Mandate
With all the attention focused on the Supreme Court hearings on the fate of the Affordable Care Act, it might seem that the future of all reforms to the health care system is in the balance. But some in the insurance industry say many changes are already in motion.
N.H. Parents On Their Own In Abuse, Neglect Cases
New Hampshire has eliminated funding for representation of indigent parents charged with abuse or neglect of their child — leaving many such parents to navigate the legal system on their own. Child advocates fear that ongoing budget pressures will push other states to follow suit.
Olympic Sprinter Runs Track, College Prep Program
Sprinter Alainn Pompey has a busy schedule to say the least. Not only is the 400 meter specialist training for her fourth appearance at the Summer Olympics, she's also heading up the Armory College Prep program at the New Balance Track and Field Center in Manhattan. The program serves more than 200 underprivileged students a year and helps them get into college. When Pompey isn't running the track, she can be caught teaching, modeling, writing, coaching and consulting.
Gold Miners Dig Deep — To The Ocean Floor 
Next year, an Australian company plans to start drilling deep underwater off the coast of Papua New Guinea to extract deposits rich with copper, gold, silver and zinc. The firm says the operation is much less messy than mining on land, but some scientists worry about the impact on deep-sea life.
Rush For 1940 Census Data Jams Archives' Website
Robert Siegel talks with Susan Cooper, head of publicity for the National Archives, about Monday's system crash as the result of people trying to access their own family's history from the 1940 Census data as it was released.