Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Some voters disappointed in legislators, state of state
  Before Gov. Mark Dayton delivers tonight's state of the state speech, some Minnesotans were asked to assess the government's performance. Many were there is still unhappiness over the situation at the state Capitol.3:35 p.m.
• Johnson Controls deal to preserve St. Louis County schools leaves voters confused, angry
  Today, thanks to a voter-approved bond referendum, construction of two new schools and upgrades to three others are nearly complete in St. Louis County. The $78 million reconstruction project was directed by the very same company that pitched the consolidation — Johnson Controls. And fallout from the deal is leaving a bitter aftertaste.4:52 p.m.
• Q&A: Rep. Erik Paulsen
  Minnesota's Rep. Erik Paulsen, R-District 3, spoke with MPR News about a number of developments, including the President's push to improve trade and create jobs.5:16 p.m.
• Senate panel approves voter ID amendment
  A Minnesota Senate panel today approved a Republican-backed constitutional amendment to require citizens to show a photo identification in order to vote.5:51 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Congress Close To Extending Payroll Tax Break
  Congressional Republicans have backed away from a showdown with President Obama over a popular payroll tax holiday.
• Obama Hails Master Lock For Bringing Jobs Home
  President Obama traveled to Wisconsin on Wednesday. He toured the Master Lock plant, which has recently brought manufacturing jobs back to the US from China. The plant is running at full capacity for the first time in more than a decade.
• GE Exec.: Outsourcing Doesn't Mean Lost US Jobs
  Robert Siegel talks with John Rice, vice chairman of General Electric and president and CEO of GE Global Growth and Operations. Rice is in Washington for part of his company's four-day summit — "American Competitiveness: What Works."
• Scientists Debate How To Conduct Bird Flu Research
  Scientists working with bird flu recently called a 60-day halt on some controversial experiments. The unusual move has been compared to a famous moratorium on genetic engineering in the 1970s. Key scientists involved in that pause on genetic research disagree on whether today's furor over bird flu is history repeating itself.
• Letters: On Aleksey Igudesman And Hyung-ki Joo
  Melissa Block and Robert Siegel read emails from listeners about violinist Aleksey Igudesman and pianist Hyung-ki Joo.
• Why Romney's Shaggy Dog Story Won't Die
  Will the tale about Mitt Romney strapping the family Irish setter to the roof of his car actually hurt him with voters?
• Pekingese 'Malachy' The Top Dog At Westminster
  Robert Siegel talks with David Frei of the Westminster Kennel Club, and David Fitzpatrick about Tuesday's Best in Show winner at the club's 136th annual dog show. Fitzpatrick is the handler of the winning dog Malachy, a Pekingese.
• Hundreds Dead In Honduran Prison Fire
  Melissa Block talks with Jason Beaubien about a deadly fire that engulfed a prison in Honduras on Tuesday night, killing more than 350 inmates. It's unclear how the fire started, but the Central American country has a problem with overcrowded prisons and riots among gang members.
• Settlement Reached In Conn. Immigration Raid Case
  The federal government will pay $350,000 as part of a landmark settlement with 11 men caught up in an immigration raid in New Haven, Conn., in 2007. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided homes in a predominantly Latino neighborhood without warrants or consent. The settlement puts government entities on notice that they must follow the law.
• Audits Are Under Way At Apple Supplier Foxconn's Plants
  Audits of working conditions are under way at Foxconn's manufacturing plants in China, a key link in Apple's supply chain of iPhones, iPads and other devices. The effort will include visits to at least three sites, "each with more than 100,000 workers," says Auret Van Heerden of the Fair Labor Association.

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