Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Junot Diaz and 'The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao'
  While most authors strive for clarity, Junot Diaz says he wanted to create a story that would be difficult to grasp. The New York Times described his new novel as "Mario Vargas Llosa meets "Star Trek" meets David Foster Wallace meets Kanye West."3:00 p.m.
• St. Paul officials: What does Pawlenty have against us?
  Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed a bonding bill Monday afternoon, but not before cutting $208 million worth of projects from the bill. The governor used his line-item veto authority to take down more than 50 projects, many of them in St. Paul.5:20 p.m.
• Foreclosure counselors in high demand
  The number of foreclosure counselors working on the front lines of the mortgage crisis is about to expand. Here's a glimpse of what they do.5:24 p.m.
• St. Paul Mayor Coleman on Governor's line item veto cuts
  On Monday Governor Tim Pawlenty approved $717 million in borrowing for projects around Minnesota. Before he did so, though, he used his veto pen to trim $208 million from the bonding package.5:50 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• The Day Beer Resumed Flowing, Legally
  April 7 marks the 75th anniversary of the official beginning of the end for Prohibition. On the date in 1933, legal beer production resumed in the United States, sparking celebration among brewers and imbibers alike. Historian William Rorabaugh, author of Alcoholic Republic, puts the event into historical context.
• 'Martyr' Videos Shown in British Terror Trial
  Martyrdom videos prepared by several Muslim men accused of plotting to bomb trans-Atlantic flights in 2006 were played in a British court last week. In the videos, the suspects describe why they allegedly intended to carry out attacks. Sean O'Neill, crime and security editor for the Times of London, has been following the case.
• Israeli-Palestinian Talks Sour over Settlements
  Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas raises new objections with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert over new Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Since they last met in November, Israel has built more then 2,000 new units, despite pledges to freeze construction, an Israeli watchdog group reports.
• Petraeus Expected to Urge Troop Strength Freeze
  The situation in Iraq will be front and center on Capitol Hill Tuesday as Gen. David Petraeus, the top military commander in Iraq, and Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador in Baghdad, begin two days of testimony. Petraeus is widely expected to recommend a temporary freeze in U.S. troop reductions.
• Mich. Police Bust Up Party Promoted on Facebook
  Police in East Lansing, Mich., used tear gas to disperse thousands of out-of-hand partygoers near the Michigan State University campus at an event promoted as Cedar Fest on Facebook. Police are trying to determine whether the Facebook party organizers can be held accountable.
• Letters: King's Humanity; Iraq War Awareness
  The 40th anniversary coverage of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination and a veteran's commentary urging Americans to stay focused on the war in Iraq stirred strong feelings among listeners.
• A Memorable 'Story of Forgetting'
  Alan Cheuse reviews Stefan Merrill Block's debut novel The Story of Forgetting, which intertwines three narratives — of memory, loss and fantasy — in a family coping with early-onset Alzheimer's disease.
• Clinton's Controversial Top Strategist Quits
  Mark Penn steps down as chief campaign strategist for Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) over conflicts between his PR business and his candidate's interests. But many within the Clinton camp blamed Penn for Clinton's precarious position in the Democratic primary contest. Mara Liasson discusses the story with Michele Norris.
• Commuter Concerto Helps Writer Net Pulitzer
  For his Pulitzer-prize winning feature story, Gene Weingarten of The Washington Post convinced world-class violinist Joshua Bell to play beautiful music in a Metrorail station to gauge commuters' reaction.
• Manufacturers Push Biodegradable Plastic Bags
  In response to a grassroots legislative movement to phase out non-biodegradable plastic shopping bags, manufacturers are developing bags that will break down from prolonged exposure to oxygen or water. But environmental groups are unsatisfied, saying it still takes months for the bags to deteriorate.
• In Paris, Olympic Torch Inflames Protesters
  Crowds of anti-China protesters — many chanting "free Tibet" — blocked the Olympic torch relay through the streets of Paris. Eventually, the torch was extinguished and transported by bus, which may hold implications for the torch's arrival in San Francisco Wednesday.
• A Starling's Disarming Charm
  Commentator Julie Zickefoose, who raises orphaned wild birds, has mixed feelings about starlings, the portly black birds with squeaky songs and messy nests. But one bird managed to charm her with its mimicry — temporarily — one spring.
• The Obama Franchise: Harnessing Activists' Energy
  If Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign were a business, it would be a franchise: It has grown fast, harnessing the energy of independent operators — activists around the country — allowing good ideas to come from grassroots places.
• 'Portnoy's Complaint'? Self-Love and Self-Loathing
  Nearly 40 years ago, funny, smart, neurotic Alexander Portnoy burst onto the public stage. Philip Roth's fictional hero was racked by guilt — promoted by an over-protective, self-sacrificing mother and by an obsession with, er, loving himself too much.
• 'Washington Post' Takes Six Pulitzer Prizes
  The Washington Post won six Pulitzer prizes, including the public service medal for exposing shoddy treatment of America's war wounded at Walter Reed hospital, and the breaking-news award for coverage of the Virginia Tech massacre.

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