Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Possibly severe flu season reaching heights in Minn.
  Fourteen southern Minnesota hospitals announced Wednesday they are implementing visitor restrictions in order to protect patients and staff from flu.5:20 p.m.
• Turned down for a job? Software may be the reason
  If you've been turned down for a job in recent years, it might have been courtesy of the company's hiring software. The software systems winnow down a pool of job applicants before a human -- namely, a hiring manager -- ever lays eyes on candidates' resumes.5:25 p.m.
• ProPublica on Minnesota's 'Grandma Brigade'
  The "Grandma Brigade" is a grassroots politicking effort going on in Minnesota that is feeding up to the national Democratic Party. PRoPublica reporter Lois Beckett speaks with MPR News about the group.5:54 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Obama's New Treasury Secretary Pick Should Be Able To Hit Ground Running
  The Obama administration has long hinted that White House chief of staff Jack Lew was the president's choice for the next Treasury Secretary. An announcement is expected as soon as Thursday. Scott Horsley talks with Melissa Block about the likely pick.
• Colorado Shooting Hearing Ends With Chilling Photos, No Defense Witnesses
  In the weeks before the attack, James Holmes took photos of the Colorado movie theater where 12 people were killed and dozens more wounded in last summer's mass shooting, prosecutors revealed Wednesday at a court hearing in Colorado.
• Thanks, But No Thanks: When Post-Disaster Donations Overwhelm
  It happens after every disaster. People want to help, but their donations often turn out to be a burden. Newtown, Conn., for example, was so inundated with gifts, it asked people to stop sending them. Instead, disaster aid groups are trying to figure out a better way to channel good intentions.
• Canada's Indigenous People Rally For Rights Around 'Idle No More' Initiative
  An indigenous protest movement is shaking Canadian politics. Idle No More is against a bill that native people say threatens their treaty rights. One chief is almost a month into a hunger strike.
• 'A Life In Friendships' Is A Life Well-Lived
  Susanna Sonnenberg's life has been full of interesting women, and in a new memoir she tells their stories. Reviewer Meg Wolitzer says that She Matters: A Life in Friendships is a beautifully written book about the bonds, and the boundary issues, between women.
• Baseball Hall Of Fame Shutout A Ringing Verdict On Sport's Steroid Era
  Mike Pesca talks to Melissa Block about the Baseball Hall of Fame nominations. No inductees were named on Wednesday and ties to performance-enhancing drugs kept top players like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens out of the running.
• Ohio Town Reels As Rape Case Accusations Fly
  Steubenville, Ohio, is divided over the alleged rape of a 16-year-old girl. Two high school football players have been charged, but images spread via social media have sharply divided the town. Some argue that other players were also involved and have accused local authorities of a cover-up.
• Buyback Program Gets Some Guns Off Mexican Streets
  In Mexico City, the government is offering cash, new bikes and computers for guns. The mayor says the buyback program is taking dangerous weapons out of commission. But mayors of some cities overrun by drug traffickers say law-abiding citizens need guns for protection.
• U.S. Ranks Below 16 Other Rich Countries In Health Report
  Americans are sicker and die sooner than their counterparts in comparable nations. No single cause can account for the difference, but improving medical care will only help so much, as disparities can be traced to dietary choices, drugs and alcohol, guns, and even cars.
• National Cathedral Hopes To Set Example By Performing Same-Sex Marriages
  The Washington National Cathedral, the massive and iconic church in the nation's capital where inaugural prayers are hosted and presidents are laid to rest, will now hold same-sex marriages. Melissa Block speaks with Rev. Gary Hall, dean of the Cathedral, about the change in policy.

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