Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Health care law helps businesses provide coverage for early retirees
  Employers that provide health insurance to early retirees can begin applying for money next month under the new federal health care law. That program aims to encourage employers to continue providing health care benefits to employees that retire early.4:49 p.m.
• Few new ideas on budget as deadline nears
  With less than five days remaining in the legislative session, few new ideas emerged today at the State Capitol on how to solve a nearly $3 billion budget deficit.5:15 p.m.
• Former Gov. Arne Carlson: Pawlenty lacks leadership
  Former Republican governor Arne Carlson railed against Gov. Tim Pawlenty's handling of the state's budget crisis in remarks made Wednesday.5:19 p.m.
• Fong Lee family seeks another chance to try Mpls. officer
  The family of Fong Lee was back in federal court Wednesday asking for another chance to try the Minneapolis police officer who shot and killed Lee in 2006.5:48 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Floods Wreak Havoc On Nashville Music Scene
  Flooding in Tennessee last week took more than 20 lives and wrought billions in property damage. In Nashville, it also took a toll on the city's musical heritage and infrastructure. This includes hundreds of the city's musicians and the treasured instruments they'd stored at Soundcheck, which was under 3 feet of water.
• David Cameron: A 'New Era' In British Politics?
  At 43 years old, Britain's new prime minister, David Cameron, is the youngest person to hold the job in almost 200 years. He comes from an economically privileged background and attended Eton, the private school of Britain's elite. Considered more of a pragmatist than an ideologue, he has tried to reform and modernize the Conservative Party. Cameron has promoted environmental issues, he acknowledges gay rights and civil partnerships, and his self-proclaimed goal is to rid his party of its reputation as the "nasty party."
• Britain's Evolving Relationships With Europe, U.S.
  When President Obama spoke by phone with U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron on Tuesday, he invoked the special relationship between the U.S. and Britain. Britain is also a member of the European Union, but not the eurozone. Robert Siegel talks to columnist Jonathan Freedland of the Guardian newspaper about how the Conservatives and their junior partners -- the Liberal Democrats -- view those relationships.
• Spain's European Identity Shaken By Debt Crisis
  Spaniards face the prospect that their country is slipping into a second European tier, scorned by its neighbors and by the bond markets, which aren't convinced the country will demonstrate budget discipline.
• Newark Mayor Re-Elected On Strong Crime Record
  Cory Booker was re-elected Tuesday night to a second term with a 59 percent majority. The victory came in the midst of tumultuous political and economic times in part because of his successful effort to reduce crime. Murders are down by nearly 60 percent since Booker took office, and in March, the city had its first murder-free month since 1966.
• A View From Newark, N.J., On Election Day
  Mayor Cory Booker had everything he needed to win: money, ads, an Internet campaign and celebrity endorsements. But what does a candidate do when he has none of these? He yells at people. Out of speakers. From the top of a truck. NPR's Robert Smith was also in Newark, N.J, on election day, what some consider to be the loudest day of the year.
• The Difficulties Of Measuring The Oil Spill
  Oil companies fighting the blowout off Louisiana say they have no idea how much oil is flowing into the Gulf of Mexico. But marine scientists say there are well-established methods for measuring the flow from a situation like this, either using commercially available instruments or by analyzing videos of the source. The U.S. Coast Guard has video of the gusher, but they have not been made public. The Coast Guard admits its figure of 5,000 barrels a day is just a rough estimate.
• As Oil Continues To Gush, Despair Grows In Gulf
  Off the coast of Louisiana, the oil leak is still not under control. Oil continues to flow into the Gulf at a rate of 200,000 gallons each day. And at the mouth of the Mississippi River, globs of oil are now washing ashore.
• Panel: Defects May Have Contributed To Oil Spill
  The investigation into the Gulf oil spill by a House subcommittee reveals that the well failed an important test just 20 hours before the explosion, and that there were at least four significant problems with a key safety device that prevented it from working properly after the explosion.
• Arizona Law Targets 'Ethnic Studies'
  On the heels of the state's highly controversial immigration law, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has signed a new bill targeting "ethnic studies" classes in public schools. The law prohibits schools from offering classes "designed primarily for students of a particular ethnic group" -- or that "advocate ethnic solidarity." Michele Norris talks to NPR's Ted Robbins about the new law.

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