Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Seifert gives up leadership post, ponders run for governor
  Minnesota House Minority Leader Marty Seifert of Marshall says he is stepping down as GOP caucus leader and considering a run for governor in 2010.5:19 p.m.
• A list of candidates for governor
  A long list of candidates from each major party has announced or expressed interest in running for Minnesota governor in 2010.5:23 p.m.
• Experts suspect more people driving without insurance
  Insurance experts suspect a growing number of Minnesota drivers don't have vehicle insurance, but they can't be sure, because the state stopped checking years ago.5:24 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Buying The Farm: A Good Bet For Rural Retirees
  People who have invested in Midwest farmland in this recession, instead of 401(k)s, may have made a wise choice, according to one economist. Dan and Lorna Wilson of Paullina, Iowa, are counting on their 640 acres to fund their retirement.
• Look At That Puppy! But Be Careful What You Say
  It's sometimes said that people grow to look like their dogs. Commentator Julie Zickefoose hopes that isn't true, but she has a public service announcement for people who might be tempted to comment.
• Corruption Undermines Afghan Self-Governance
  In western Afghanistan, U.S. Special Forces are working to help villages govern themselves; that includes helping them fight corruption. A recent example, in which local officials are complicit in kidnappings and ransom demands, illustrates the challenges they face.
• New Revelations In Deadly Afghan Airstrikes
  The U.S. military has been investigating the incident last month in which U.S. planes killed Afghan civilians. Initial findings suggest U.S. forces didn't follow procedures for the use of air power.
• Reagan Statue Unveiled In U.S. Capitol
  A statue of President Reagan is unveiled in the Capitol Rotunda in the presence of former first lady Nancy Reagan and House Speaker Pelosi. The unveiling ceremony was poignant and sweet, but was not without its political moments.
• Egyptians Look For More Than Rhetoric From Obama
  Cairo, the Egyptian capital, is gearing up for President Obama's visit and his much-anticipated address Thursday to the Muslim world. If Obama wants to win over Muslims, he will have to win over Egyptians first. But many have a wait-and-see attitude toward the U.S. leader's outreach.
• Obama Claim On U.S. Muslim Numbers Examined
  In an interview this week, President Obama called the U.S. "one of the largest Muslim countries in the world." But some fact checking reveals that the U.S., in fact, has 6 million Muslims, making it No. 34 worldwide.
• Two Arab Novels Reviewed
  Reviewer Alan Cheuse takes a look at three newly translated novels Leaving Tangier by Tahar Ben Jelloun and The Novel by Nawal El Saadawi. He says Jelloun's characters are as alienated and disturbed as any in contemporary literature. Cheuse calls The Novel "beautiful if flawed."
• As Slump Drags On, Retirement Dreams Slip Away
  Many people look forward to retirement with hopes of spending more time with their families and on their hobbies. But as the stock market and the job market have headed south, some people near retirement age are having to push that date off a bit.
• Texas Horse Could Be World's Largest
  Cheryl Davis' horse Remington may turn out to be the world's tallest horse. Davis, of Princeton, Texas, hopes to get Remington into the Guinness Book of World Records as the tallest living horse, but she has had difficulty measuring him because she can't hold him and he wants to eat everything.

The Dinner Party Download™

A fast, funny digest of the week's most interesting news, cuisine, cocktails and culture.

Services

• Hourly Newscast
• HD Radio
• iPhone App / Mobile
• E-mail newsletters
• RSS feeds
• Podcasts
• Submit your photos
• Videos
• Weather
• Most e-mailed stories