Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Author: Life can get in the way of a well-planned death
  Geoff Herbach's new novel, "The Miracle Letters of T. Rimberg," tells a story in a very different and potentially controversial way. Most of the story is presented as suicide notes written by one man.4:20 p.m.
• A month ago, a deal left for dead; what changed?
  Many experts say the deal would more easily win approval under the administration of President Bush than his successor's.4:49 p.m.
• What should we know about Delta?
  What do Northwest customers need to know about Delta Air Lines, as Delta announces its plans to acquire Northwest?4:53 p.m.
• Passengers have mixed reaction to the merger
  News of the Delta-Northwest deal was greeting travelers at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Monday night and Tuesday morning.5:16 p.m.
• What the CEOs are saying
  Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Moylan joined "All Things Considered's" Tom Crann to discuss the Northwest-Delta deal the first day after the annoucement.5:19 p.m.
• Labor unions unhappy with Delta deal
  Airline executives today sketched out terms of Delta's acquisition of Northwest Airlines. But the course the merger takes is also in the hands of the people who fly the planes, carry the luggage and pour the coffee.5:24 p.m.
• Loss of NWA headquarters - what does it really mean?
  Delta's acquisition of Northwest means the company's headquarters are slated to move from Eagan to Atlanta. Delta officials say, for now, they will keep some executive offices here and say they are committed to retaining significant jobs, operations and facilities in Minnesota. It's not yet clear what that means.5:46 p.m.
• Financial analyst provides perspective on Delta, NWA deal
  The day after Delta and Northwest announced Delta's acquistion of Northwest, the stocks of the two companies dropped by more than 5 percent.5:49 p.m.
• What does the Delta-NWA deal mean for consumers?
  Any of us who fly for pleasure, or especially business, have many questions on the proposed Delta-Northwest deal.5:55 p.m.
• In the Loop: A eulogy for Northwest Airlines
  Northwest has not always been a flyers' favorite. But it is a fixture in the travel memories of millions of Americans -- especially those of us here in the Midwest. If the deal with Delta goes through, Northwest will lose its name and its Twin Cities headquarters. Minnesota Public Radio's "In The Loop" asked listeners to write their own "eulogies" to the carrier we've come to know so intimately. Terri Bly, of Mendota Heights, took up the call.6:16 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Disney Animator Ollie Johnston Remembered
  Ollie Johnston, 95, was the last surviving member a core innovative film animation team dubbed the "Nine Old Men" by Walt Disney. Johnston worked on classics like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Fantasia and Cinderella.
• Peru Questions Yale on Inventory of Artifacts
  A former Peruvian first lady's criticism of Yale University and the government of Peru for a tentative agreement to return Incan artifacts led to a review of Yale's inventory. Now, the Peruvian government wants to revise the deal.
• E-Filing Cuts Need for the Midnight Postal Run
  Many post offices across the nation have done away with extended hours on tax day — as more and more people file tax returns electronically. In Lawrence, Kan., postmaster Judy Raney is closing up shop at the regular time Tuesday: 5:30 p.m.
• No Cash for Philadelphia Poll Workers
  Philadelphia poll workers won't be receiving Election Day cash handouts — traditional "walking around money" donated by campaigns — for next week's Pennsylvania primary. Democratic Party leaders in the city say decisions the campaigns to forgo the tradition may affect turnout.
• Ethical Questions Follow Stem Cell Advances
  Scientists have solved one ethical dilemma by finding a way to make the equivalent of human embryonic stem cells without destroying human embryos. But a new ethical dilemma is looming. It may be possible to derive eggs and sperm from the stem cells. Will a child someday be born to a parent who started life as a stem cell line?
• A Texas Maize Platter Fit for a Pope
  In Yonkers, N.Y., on Saturday, Pope Benedict XVI will receive five platters of staple foods representing world cultures. The presentation is rooted in a Slovenian tradition in which distinguished guests are greeted with bread and salt. A maize platter is traveling all the way from El Paso, Texas.
• Mergers Help Airlines, Not Consumers
  The merger of Delta and Northwest has a powerful foe in Congress. James Oberstar, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, says it will lead to other mergers that will mean higher fares and fewer choices for consumers.
• Can Airlines Still Turn a Profit?
  Darryl Jenkins, former executive director of the Aviation Institute at George Washington University, discusses with Melissa Block how mergers will allow airlines to turn a profit, even with soaring fuel costs.
• Hedge Funds Suffering Economic Hangover
  Hedge fund managers are keeping up appearances, holding their festive annual conference in the Cayman Islands. But not everyone attending is sanguine about what the future might hold.
• Government Failures in Oversight Appalling
  With a number of recent reports documenting federal agencies' failures, Daniel Schorr decries government laxity, saying he's never seen "such deep-rooted negligence."
• Letters: Japanese Health Care; Calls to the Cloth
  Listeners comment on Japan's universal health care, in one case questioning its mental-health coverage, and on an interview with two Roman Catholic seminarians on the eve of Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United States.
• Trust Guides Bank's New Orleans Rebuilding Effort
  After Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans' Liberty Bank loaned money to many of its loyal, longtime customers despite their lack of records. The bank lost $1.5 million, but its president's good-faith policy is paying off. Last year, the bank posted its most profitable year. Alden McDonald is invested in bringing people back to his bank and his city.
• Northwest Pilots Oppose Delta Merger
  Delta and Northwest's merger would create the world's largest airline in terms of traffic. But there is still a lot to be worked out. Regulators and shareholders need to be convinced. And Northwest's pilots union is saying it will do everything it can to block the deal.
• Methane Plants: China's Clean Energy Alternative
  China is the world's largest producer of coal — and its largest consumer. Engineer Huang Shengchu promotes reducing reliance on this dirtiest of fossil fuels by capturing a byproduct, methane, and using it to produce power. Methane power plants are one of the country's best tools in fighting climate change.
• Toumani Diabate Takes a Solo Turn
  By most accounts, Diabate is the world's greatest living player of the kora, a 21-string West African harp. Now, his new album finds the Malian master musician alone with the instrument — and defining the state of his art.

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