Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Neither side budging in Wisconsin union fight
  Republican backers of Gov. Scott Walker's plan to eliminate collective bargaining rights for most public employees are trying to move the explosive proposal closer to reality, even as Democrats remained on the run and protesters filled the halls of the Capitol for a second week.3:19 p.m.
• Lack of housing forcing high volume of sex offenders into metro neighborhoods
  Many released sex offenders find housing in the Twin Cities -- specifically in north Minneapolis and east St. Paul, and it's become a concern for some of the people who already live there.3:24 p.m.
• Latest snowfall puts Twin Cities closer to record-setting winter
  Snow continued to fall in the Twin Cities today, adding to the more than 12 inches that fell overnight Sunday and early Monday, according to the National Weather Service.4:53 p.m.
• Neither side budging in Wisconsin union fight
  Republican backers of Gov. Scott Walker's plan to eliminate collective bargaining rights for most public employees are trying to move the explosive proposal closer to reality, even as Democrats remained on the run and protesters filled the halls of the Capitol for a second week.5:19 p.m.
• Lack of housing forcing high volume of sex offenders into metro neighborhoods
  Many released sex offenders find housing in the Twin Cities -- specifically in north Minneapolis and east St. Paul, and it's become a concern for some of the people who already live there.5:24 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Buffalo's Muslims Battle Stereotype After Murder
  When Muzzamil "Mo" Hassan killed his wife two years ago, journalists and others jumped to the conclusion that the death might be an honor killing. But it wasn't — and the Muslim community wanted to make sure others knew the truth.
• Baltimore Police Look To Media To Find Missing Teen
  Foul play is suspected in the case of a North Carolina teen who disappeared while visiting family in Baltimore in December. Police there say they have no physical evidence to help them find Phylicia Simone Barnes, now 17, and that their best bet is to keep her — and all other missing persons — in the national media.
• Money For Mentors: Portland Program Sees Success
  Fifteen million troubled kids who need a mentor don't have one, according to The Mentoring Group. In Portland, Ore., Friends of the Children tries to bridge that gap through paid mentors. Anthony Blackmon credits the program for giving him confidence to pursue his dream in music.
• Rising Cocoa Prices May Leave Chocolate Fans Bitter
  Political unrest in Ivory Coast has led to a cocoa bean export ban pushing cocoa prices to a 30-year high. Large chocolate-makers say it could affect consumers — either through price increases or smaller packaging. But a small artisan chocolatier says cocoa is exotic and chocolate should be a decadent luxury.
• Protests Escalate In Libya
  Libyan protesters claimed control of the country's second largest city, Benghazi, and anti-government unrest and violence spread to the capital, Tripoli. Moammar Gadhafi's regime appeared to be preparing a new major assault in the capital in an attempt to crush unrest.
• A Libya Primer
  The unrest in Libya has thrust the major oil supplier into the global spotlight. Dirk Vendewalle, a professor at Dartmouth College and author of A History of Modern Libya, discusses the developments.
• Fat State Stretched Thin: Tenn. Covers Gastric Bypass
  Like many state Medicaid programs, Tennessee covers bariatric surgery for the morbidly obese but doesn't pay for diet counseling. Critics argue that investing in prevention could save money for the strapped program, but the state's chief medical officer says there's no proof that's true.
• The Revolution Will Be Tweeted
  Andy Carvin (@acarvin), senior strategist for NPR's social media desk, discusses his recent work on Twitter. He's been tweeting about protests in Egypt and Tunisia, now Libya and Bahrain. Carvin has sought multiple sources on the ground and reported on the minute-by-minute revelations.
• Mobile Payments Challenge Credit Cards
  Over the past decade, Americans have been writing fewer checks and using more and more plastic. But now, some are predicting the demise of the credit card, paying by smartphone could elbow out giants such as Visa and MasterCard.
• U.K. Papers' Paywalls A Test Of Relevance
  Conventional wisdom says readers are only willing to pay for online news that fuels their passion or helps them make money. Across the Atlantic, however, a pair of leading daily newspapers — The Times and The Sunday Times -- have ignored that conventional wisdom, putting up an ironclad digital paywall and testing whether they can remain relevant while telling readers they can no longer enjoy a free ride.

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