All Things Considered for November 5, 2009 | Minnesota Public Radio News

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Minnesota Public Radio Stories

Pawlenty wants constitutional amendment to limit spending
Gov. Tim Pawlenty on Thursday called for an amendment to the state Constitution that would cap state spending at an amount equal to what is raised by revenue.4:20 p.m.
Masks for health care workers in short supply
The Centers for Disease Control says health care workers should wear a specific kind of facemask designed to protect them from the H1N1 virus and state officials are scrambling to respond to federal guidelines as Minnesota's supply of the masks is running out.4:23 p.m.
Minneapolis tapping Mississippi River for power, again
Hydropower helped turn Minneapolis into a 19th century industrial giant, and the city is turning to the river again for power.4:49 p.m.
Brainerd: When is a recovery a recovery?
The Brainerd area once boomed with lake home construction, and manufacturing companies offered some good paying jobs. But both of those industries have taken major employment hits. Now there may be signs of a recovery, but it depends on whom you ask.4:52 p.m.
Witness says he forged 10,000 documents for Tom Petters
The treasurer of the company at the heart of an alleged $3.5 billion Ponzi scheme run by businessman Tom Petters says he forged some 10,000 documents while working for Petters.6:19 p.m.
Brainerd: When is a recovery a recovery?
The Brainerd area once boomed with lake home construction, and manufacturing companies offered some good paying jobs. But both of those industries have taken major employment hits. Now there may be signs of a recovery, but it depends on whom you ask.6:23 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

Defining 'The Enemy' In Afghanistan
Before American commanders and policymakers settle on what to do next in Afghanistan, they need to agree on whom they are fighting. Gen. Stanley McChrystal says Afghanistan presents "a uniquely complex environment" — with three insurgencies to battle.
With Election Dispute Over, The Pressure Is On Karzai
In Afghanistan, a runoff election was called off this week, handing incumbent President Hamid Karzai a second term. Many Afghans are adamant that Karzai deliver change this time around, and his Western partners have plans to set benchmarks he will have to meet.
Rare Disease Treated Using Gene Therapy
French scientists report that two boys treated with gene therapy for a rare but fatal genetic disease have shown improvements. These results mark a high point for the field of gene therapy. Shown here, the area of the brain that was treated.
Examining U.S. Goals in Afghanistan
President Obama says the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan is to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-Qaida in Pakistan, and also to prevent al-Qaida from having any safe havens in Afghanistan. To that end, there are 68,000 U.S. troops, more than one-third of them combat brigades, in Afghanistan. They are mostly along the border with Pakistan and in the south.
The High Financial, Human Cost Of War
In the eight years since the invasion of Afghanistan, the U.S. has spent $156 billion on the war there. But that figure only includes the Defense Department's price tag. The human cost has been high, too. The Pentagon says that since 2001, more than 900 U.S. servicemembers have been killed.
Susan Rice: Stopping Al-Qaida Critical To U.S.
Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., says al-Qaida and its extremist allies are enemies of the U.S. in Afghanistan. She says the Taliban not only is allied with al-Qaida, but poses a threat to the Afghan government.
Gauging Progress Of Afghan War
The U.S. is making progress in Afghanistan in places such as Helmand Province, but a shortage of troops may be hindering some of the work. There is also a long way to go in creating more Afghan soldiers and police, and ensuring the Afghan government provides services to the population.
How Capable Are Afghan Security Forces?
The overall performance of the Afghan army is reasonably satisfactory, says Ronald Neumann, who served as U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan from 2005 until 2007. Neumann says there have been problems with training, and it is important not to push Afghan forces into combat too soon.
Afghanistan 'A Theme Park Of Problems'
Patricia DeGennaro, senior fellow with the World Policy Institute, who worked in President Hamid Karzai's office in 2008, says the West is much more focused on a war effort in Afghanistan than it is on civilian governance efforts. Former Afghan Interior Minister says though Afghanistan is "a theme park of problems," Afghans know they can live with one another.
U.S. Public Opinion Split On Afghanistan
The U.S. public is divided on Afghanistan, says Andrew Kohut, president of the Pew Research Center. Earlier in the year, he says, majorities supported keeping troops in the country until Afghanistan is stable. More recently, however, only 50 percent said troops should stay, Kohut says.