Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Catholic Church a powerful force in marriage amendment debate
  Minnesota law already prohibits gay marriage. But Catholic bishops have made passage of the amendment a top political priority this year, so much so that the Catholic Church is putting a great amount of money and prayer into the effort to pass the marriage amendment.4:50 p.m.
• House passes latest Vikings stadium proposal, amendments
  The latest Viking stadium proposal made it to debate in the Minnesota House Monday afternoon as members prepare for a vote on the bill.5:20 p.m.
• Minn. House passes bonding bill 99-32
  The bill would borrow $496 million for projects including college building upgrades, flood prevention and improvements to the Capitol. The measure is now up for debate in the State Senate.5:24 p.m.
• Internal Minnesota GOP finance probe finds lack of controls but no crime
  An internal investigation by the Minnesota Republican Party into its finances found an ongoing deficit of more than $26,000 left from a conference last fall, questionable payments to contractors, and heavy credit card spending by the former party chairman.5:39 p.m.
• Jump in food need has Minnesota schools looking for ways to help
  New data from the Minnesota Department of Education show a growing number of students rely on the federally-funded National School Lunch Program. The numbers have school officials looking for ways to ensure kids are well-fed and able to learn -- even outside school hours.5:43 p.m.
• Critics of war on invasive carp decry cost, environmental impact
  For about two decades, several species of fish collectively known as Asian carp have crept up the Mississippi River and its tributaries, eating the food native fish need. Millions of dollars are spent to keep these invasive fish from moving into the Great Lakes. But critics say the fight may be too expensive and biologically unsound.5:51 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Germany Faces Backlash Against Austerity Moves
  German Chancellor Angela Merkel has led the push for austerity in Europe. But she is looking increasingly isolated after European elections that brought anti-austerity parties to power.
• With Sarkozy Out, Anti-Austerity Gains Ground
  A Francois Hollande presidency in France might turn Europe away from the German-led austerity approach to debt that has been focused tightly on cutting debt. Hollande has pledged to pursue a pro-growth strategy which has struck a chord with jobless voters.
• French Presidential Election Draws Record Turnout
  Melissa Block and Audie Cornish compare the high voter turnout in France on Sunday to the Greek, German and American voter turnout.
• From Commenter To Columnist: The Atlantic's 'Cynic'
  Yoni Appelbaum, a Ph.D. candidate in history from Brandeis University, was procrastinating on his dissertation. Instead of writing, he would spend his time commenting on a blog under the pseudonym, "Cynic." Eventually, it got him a job writing for that website — The Atlantic.
• These Apps Are Going To The Birds, And People Who Watch Them
  Technology is finally catching up to the ancient pastime of bird watching. Cell phones are already helping bird watchers get the word out on rare sightings and, soon, watchers will also have apps that forecast bird migration and identify birds by their songs.
• Review: 'The Hunger Angel'
  Poet and novelist Herta Muller won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2009 — the year her German-language novel was first published. Now it's been published in English as The Hunger Angel.
• Uphill Climb For Veteran Lugar In Tuesday Primary
  In Indiana, Republican primary voters on Tuesday decide whether to give GOP Sen. Richard Lugar the chance at a seventh term. Polls show him in trouble, with his Tea Party-backed opponent in the lead. But for some, Lugar's perceived strength in the general election will influence their vote.
• Wis. Democrats Vie For Chance To Challenge Gov.
  It's primary Election Day in Wisconsin on Tuesday, where five Democrats are vying for the opportunity to take on Republican Governor Scott Walker in June. The recall stems from massive protests at the state capitol last winter, and many view the election as a referendum on Walker's bill that strips public unions of collective bargaining rights.
• For A Third Time, Putin Returns As Russia's President
  Vladimir Putin was sworn in Monday for a six-year term as president of Russia. In his inauguration speech, Putin said he was committed to democracy. But anti-Putin activists are not convinced and staged protests on the streets of Moscow.
• Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction In 'Bernie'
  Melissa Block talks with Skip Hollandsworth about Bernie — a new film he co-wrote with Richard Linklater. The project started out as a Texas Monthly article Hollandsworth wrote back in 1998 called "Midnight in the Garden of East Texas." At the heart of the story is Bernie Tiede — a 39-year-old soft-spoken assistant at the local funeral home — who admitted to killing an 81-year-old heiress and stealing her money.

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