Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• South Dakota power plant worries Minnesota residents
  Utility companies plan to build or expand dozens of coal power plants in the U.S. One plant in eastern South Dakota has raised concerns downwind in Minnesota.4:50 p.m.
• Governors tour flooded Red River Valley
  Flood preparations are finished in Fargo-Moorhead, and people are waiting for the river to crest in the next day. The governors of Minnesota and North Dakota toured the area Tuesday, saying the flood fight appears to be well in hand.5:18 p.m.
• Committee defeats marriage amendment
  Ending more than a year of gridlock, a Senate committee today finally held a hearing on -- and then voted down -- a controversial bill that would put the definition of marriage on November's ballot as an amendment to the state constitution.5:23 p.m.
• Police make arrests in Uptown killing
  Minneapolis police have two people behind bars and are searching for three others in connection with last month's fatal shooting in the Uptown neighborhood.5:48 p.m.
• Batter up! Twins season begins in Toronto
  The Minnesota Twins open their season tonight on the road in Toronto. After a third-place finish in the AL Central division last year, the Twins made attempts to beef up their hitting in the off season and hope the acquisitions will help them compete with the world champion Chicago White Sox. Lavelle Neal covers the Twins for the Star Tribune and he joins us now.5:53 p.m.
• "Selling Democracy: Films of the Marshall Plan."
  The phrase "selling democracy" could be used to describe the Bush administration's foreign policy in the Middle East. A new retrospective at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis looks at a similar U.S. effort in Europe after the World War II. The Economic Recovery Plan there became known as the "Marshall Plan," named after the wartime General and later Secretary of State George C. Marshall. The wide-ranging Marshall Plan even included a film-making arm. The new retrospective at the Walker is called "Selling Democracy: Films of the Marshall Plan."6:19 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• States Move to Protect Legendary Band Names
  Three states now have laws on the books that would stop bands from performing under such iconic names as the Platters, Coasters, and Drifters, among others, unless they include at least one member of the original recording group. Tribute bands are not affected. Ten other states are considering similar legislation. But who owns the rights to a name?
• Facing Long Odds in Texas, DeLay Opts Out
  Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay plans to give up his seat, one week after one of the Texas Republican's top aides pleaded guilty in the corruption investigation of lobbyist Jack Abramoff. In addition to a tough battle for re-election, DeLay is facing corruption charges in Texas.
• Ga. Illegal Hires Case Pends in Supreme Court
  This month, the Supreme Court will hear arguments about whether a suit against Mohawk Industries, a large carpet manufacturer, should be allowed to proceed. Plaintiffs say Mohawk hires illegal immigrants at its north Georgia plants, which depresses wages in the region.
• Disavowed Sinn Fein Member Shot to Death
  A former senior member of the Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein has been found dead. Denis Donaldson, expelled by the party in December after admitting he spied for Britain, had been shot in the head. Melissa Block talks with Gerry Moriarty, Northern Ireland editor for the Irish Times.
• Senate Seeks to Shorten Debate on Immigration Bill
  Republican senators are trying to reach a compromise on immigration to muster the 60 votes needed to defeat a possible filibuster. Opponents say the main proposal, to allow illegal immigrants to stay in the United States if they've worked here for six years, amounts to an offer of amnesty.
• French Students Take to Streets Against Job Law
  Swarms of French demonstrators take to the streets in protest of a new law that would make it easier to fire workers younger than 26. The protests draw hundreds of thousands of people. Some of the protesters attack police, who respond with tear gas and paint bullets.
• On DeLay's Home Turf, Reaction Is One of Surprise
  News that Rep. Tom DeLay has decided to give up his House seat leaves many in the veteran Republican's hometown of Sugar Land, Texas, scratching their heads. With the primaries already come and gone, few voters think the timing of the former House Majority Leader's announcement is anything other than puzzling.
• Gauging Effect of DeLay's Resignation on Elections
  What effect will Rep. Tom DeLay's resignation from Congress have on his fellow House Republicans who are running for re-election -- and on Democrats trying to cast Republicans as part of a culture of corruption on Capitol Hill? Melissa Block talks with Stuart Rothenberg, editor of The Rothenberg Political Report and a columnist for Roll Call.
• 'Battle for Peace' in Iraq Echoes Vietnam
  Robert Siegel talks with Gen. Tony Zinni, the former head of Central Command. Zinni has been highly critical of the Bush administration's approach to the war and the subsequent occupation in Iraq. Nonetheless, he says, the United States needs to stay in the country because withdrawal could be catastrophic, worse than the U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam. Zinni is the author of The Battle for Peace: A Frontline Vision of America's Power and Purpose.
• Hip-Hop to the Nth Degree: Hyphy
  Hyphy is a rap style out of the suburbs of San Francisco, defined by its fast pace and intricate wordplay. It's now getting national attention, as rapper E-40 has an album in Billboard's top 100. Youth Radio's Tapan Munshi explains.
• In Taylor Trial, a Hope to Avoid Past Snafus
  As the Special Court in Sierra Leone hears the case against Charles Taylor, court officials are looking at other recent examples to avoid past mistakes. International law experts say they are hoping the trial won't drag on too long, as was the case against Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic, who died before his case came to a ruling. The challenge, they say, is to maintain order and avoid courtroom antics such as those plaguing the trial against Saddam Hussein in Iraq.
• Outside Embroiled Iraq, Ex-Pats Wait in Jordan
  One effect of the war in Iraq -- and the widespread violence that has ensued -- is that many Iraqis have fled to neighboring Jordan.
• Soldiers Seek an Elusive Escape in Shakespeare
  Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, is home to a multinational taskforce that conducts humanitarian and counter-terrorism operations across the Horn of Africa. For seven months last year, commentator Marine Major Adam McKeown was stationed there. A reservist, McKeown is an English professor at Adelphi University when he is not serving. While in Djibouti, in addition to his regular duties, McKeown offered a fully accredited Shakespeare class to more than 24 of his fellow service members. He says the class discussions provided less distraction from the war than he thought they would.
• Capitol Police to Press Case Against Rep. McKinney
  U.S. Capitol Police are seeking charges of simple assault against Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) after an incident last week between McKinney and an officer at a security checkpoint. Police say the officer, not recognizing McKinney, asked her to stop and then touched her; they scuffled and she struck him in the chest with a cell phone. McKinney says she is a victim of inappropriate touching and racism.
• Thai Premier to Step Down, Citing Impasse
  Although his party won a majority in snap elections two days ago, Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra announces that he will step down. The move is designed to break a political impasse resulting from the opposition's demands that he leave office.

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