All Things Considered for April 17, 2009 | Minnesota Public Radio News

Friday, April 17, 2009

Minnesota Public Radio Stories

'Paris 36' aims to recapture the good and bad of depression-era France
A new film opening in the Twin Cities this weekend recreates the joys and crises of Paris between the world wars. "Paris 36" is the story of a theater struggling to survive in the tough economic and political atmosphere of the 1930s.4:50 p.m.
Prize-winning Irish poet inspired by native seacoast
Poet Mary O'Malley comes from Connemara, a craggy, windswept area of the West of Ireland. It's where the rocks meet the sea, and life moves to the rhythm of the ancient Irish language. And she brings that sensibility, and that place, to her poetry.4:54 p.m.
St. Charles evacuation order lifted
Residents began trickling back into the southeastern Minnesota town Saturday morning, after city officials lifted an evacuation order prompted by a large fire at a local meat-processing plant.5:20 p.m.
Red River crests again, on the way down
The Red River reached its second crest Thursday, at 34 feet and residents in some parts of the valley may be past the worst of the flooding.5:23 p.m.
Audit recommends ending ethanol subsidies in Minn.
Minnesota's Legislative Auditor said the state should consider ending its ethanol subsidy. But with the industry suffering a brutal downturn, key lawmakers say there's no way that idea will pass.5:50 p.m.
Director takes us to a 'School Play' in new film
You might have fond memories of being in a school play when you were young. Those memories can seem idyllic. But in reality, that experience is more high stakes than you might remember. Tom Crann spoke with Rick Velleu, a St. Paul native and director of a documentary film that chronicles some of these experiences.6:20 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

Take That! High-Tech Ways To Fight Off Pirates
Most merchant ships aren't allowed to carry cannons — unless they're water cannons. These high-tech super squirters are part of a growing market in pirate repellants, ranging from slippery foam that coats ship decks and stairs to beams of piercing sound.
'Twelve Heads': A Mexican Murder Ballad
Members of the Texas band The Krayolas have long been known around San Antonio as purveyors of boppy garage rock. But amid increasingly gruesome drug-related murders in nearby Mexico, the band is making waves with its new song "Twelve Heads in a Bag."
Casting 'A Chorus Line,' Step By Heartwarming Step
A jazzy new documentary recalls Michael Bennett's tribute to Broadway's unsung gypsies; Bob Mondello says it's a moving, if sometimes jumbled, collection of riches from past and present. (Recommended)
Citigroup's Profit Greeted With Skepticism
Ending a five-quarter losing streak, Citigroup reported profits of $1.6 billion during the first three months of 2009. But there were questions about how the banking giant achieved the positive results.
Where Does Mexico Get Its Guns?
President Obama is one of many people quoting an estimate that 90 percent of the guns used in Mexican drug crime come from the United States. The statistic has been called a myth by gun supporters. Robert Farley of Politifact.com reviews the figures.
Immigrants In U.S. Sending Less Money Home
Immigrants often send money to family back home, but the recession is taking a toll on those remittances. Robert Meins, a remittances specialist with the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington, D.C., offers his insights.
When Roosevelt Went To Trinidad
President Obama spent Friday in Trinidad and Tobago. He's there for a meeting of leaders from Latin American and Caribbean countries. Obama is the second U.S. president to visit the tiny nation. FDR once inspired a song by a local calypso musician.
Car Deals Abound With Drop In Demand
The recession has sapped demand for cars. Overall vehicle sales were down 37 percent in March from the same period last year. Despite prices for many vehicles that are lower than they've been for years, customers have not rushed into showrooms.
Novelist Obejas Captures Cuba In 'Ruins'
Havana-born writer Achy Obejas returns to her native city with a novel called Ruins. It's a bittersweet portrait of Cuban life in the mid-1990s.
British Face Challenges In Forging New Identity
Throughout its history, Britain built an empire, and with it, a sense of Britishness. Forces threatening the common identity include Scottish and Welsh nationalism, an influx of immigrants and membership in the European Union.