All Things Considered for February 12, 2009 | Minnesota Public Radio News

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Minnesota Public Radio Stories

Art Hounds: Week of Feb, 11
"Art Hounds" is a new weekly feature from MPR News. It's a glimpse of what's going on in the regional art scene through the eyes and ears of members of Minnesota's arts community.4:44 p.m.
U of M exhibit celebrates 200 years of Darwin
If you've been looking for a way to observe today's 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, the father of the theory of evolution, it's not too late. A new exhibit opens this evening at the Bell Museum of Natural History at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.4:50 p.m.
Lawyers say jury given improper info about Dru Sjodin's killer
The only death penalty case in Minnesota in nearly a century has entered a crucial phase in federal court in St. Paul.4:54 p.m.
Minn. officials say stimulus will ease budget pain
With the U.S. House and Senate expected to vote soon on a $789 billion economic stimulus bill, officials at the Minnesota State Capitol are still trying to figure out what it means for them. Lawmakers held a meeting this afternoon to discuss how the money could be spent.5:20 p.m.
Conversation leads to controversy between board and band
Tensions are heating up between St. Louis County Commissioners and the county's two Ojibwe communities. County officials are concerned about a loss of taxable land to the bands, and a band leader is accusing some commissioners of bias.5:24 p.m.
Same-sex marriage bill gets renewed attention at the Capitol
A proposal to legalize same-sex marriages in Minnesota is getting renewed attention at the State Capitol, even though one of the bill's authors doesn't expect more than a single hearing.5:50 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

Bill Clinton: Financial Crisis Is 'Cramping' Charity
The Clinton Global Initiative is putting on a three-day conference in Texas this weekend to address some of the world's daunting problems. But because the world has lost trillions of dollars in wealth in the last five months, the former president says, people are donating less to charitable causes.
Lincoln's Manuscripts Reveal A Constant Reviser
Abraham Lincoln changed the way leaders talk to the American people, says author Harold Holzer, editor of In Lincoln's Hand, a collection of the 16th president's manuscripts. Lincoln used simple language to speak to a broader audience, and the documents reflect his efforts to find the right words.
Big, Bad Business: Hollywood's Corporate Villains
Movie critic Bob Mondello says we get the villains that are perfect for our time — and when we're feeling jumpy, Hollywood likes to cast big business as the boogeyman.
Details Still Sparse On Stimulus Bill
The House and the Senate agreed Thursday on a $790 billion economic stimulus package. The deal provides about 35 percent in tax cuts and 65 percent in spending, along with billion in aid to the states, as well as a tax cut for most working families. Few other details are forthcoming, however.
Tax Expert Breaks Down Stimulus Incentives
A significant portion of the economic stimulus package is devoted to tax cuts. Clint Stretch, managing principal of tax policy at Deloitte Tax, says the $400 Make Work Pay Credit that workers would get could give the economy a boost.
Court Rules Against Vaccines-Autism Claims
The U.S. Court of Federal Claims ruled Thursday against families who claimed a link between vaccines and autism. The claimants say they should be compensated under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Doctors are praising the ruling.
Immigrant Detention Centers Face Opposition
The immigration crackdown of recent years has been possible, in part, because the Bush administration has greatly expanded its detention space. This is set to continue in next year's budget, with new centers planned in several states. But some are meeting local resistance.
NTSB: Canada Geese Caused Hudson Splashdown
The National Transportation Safety Board said Thursday Canada geese disabled the two engines on US Airways flight 1549, forcing the aircraft to land in the Hudson River. Carla Dove, a researcher at the Feather Identification Lab at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History, says the information can be used to answer management and engineering questions.
States Have Limited Leeway For Stimulus Spending
The Obama administration wants the economic stimulus money spent fast, and it's relying on states to do much of the spending. But Washington state's stimulus czar says Congress seems to be flagging most of the money for specific uses. That may leave states with less discretion over funds than they had hoped.
Scientists Hope Stimulus Will Give Jolt To Research
Researchers say that labs are suffering and that the ramifications of the economic downturn could be detrimental to the future of science. Give the NIH the money, its acting director says, and in just a few weeks the money can flow out the door and into a thousand labs or more.