All Things Considered for February 26, 2008 | Minnesota Public Radio News

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Minnesota Public Radio Stories

Lecture hall turns to stage for Med students
For the seventh year in a row, the University of Minnesota Medical School has staged an unusual lecture during Black History Month. Instead of professors and physicians, eight professional actors come into the lecture hall to re-enact one of the most infamous medical experiments ever -- the Tuskegee syphilis study.4:45 p.m.
Pawlenty, Republican leaders circle the wagons after gas tax defeat
Gov. Tim Pawlenty is talking tough one day after the Legislature voted to override his veto of a $6.6 billion transportation bill. Pawlenty says the override vote has started a taxpayer revolt that will end on Election Day.5:20 p.m.
Fatal bus crash spurs immigration debate
The bus crash that killed four students last week near Cottonwood has sharpened the debate over illegal immigration in some Minnesota communities.5:41 p.m.
Higher gas tax not playing well in Anoka
An unscientific survey in a district represented by a Republican who voted for the veto override finds drivers upset about the prospect of paying higher gas taxes.5:52 p.m.
Border residents debate gas tax impact
Now that the gas tax is going up, how will Minnesota compare with bordering states, and will the state lose business in border communities?5:54 p.m.
Mike Doughty takes a bite out of the MinneApple with "Golden Delicious"
Former Soul Coughing frontman and Brooklyn singer/songwriter Mike Doughty gets a lot of love from Twin Cities musicheads. Doughty has recorded two records in Minneapolis, including his new CD "Golden Delicious" with the help of Grammy winning songwriter Dan Wilson.6:20 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

Doc Helps Heal New Orleans, One Wound at a Time
Imagine putting $1 million into a small business in downtown post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans. A young doctor did just that. Ajsa Nikolic, a family physician and wound care specialist, started an urgent care clinic last year in a city she almost left.
Democrats Face Off in Crucial Debate for Clinton
Hillary Clinton has lost 11 contests in a row, and even her husband has said the New York senator's candidacy could be over if she loses in Texas and Ohio. That makes Tuesday night's debate between Clinton and Barack Obama more important than ever.
'Doomsday' Seed Vault Opens
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Longyearbyen, Norway, is designed to safeguard more than 2 billion seeds in case of natural or manmade disaster. Norway owns the facility, and the Global Crop Diversity Trust is funding the seed collection.
Economic Double-Hit: High Prices, Low Confidence
Another batch of negative economic reports Tuesday: One showed inflation sharply higher; another found consumers in a glum mood; and a third reported housing prices continuing to fall. Nevertheless, the stock market ended the day up.
Clinton, Obama and NAFTA: A Non-Issue?
Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have traded barbs over who has been more forceful in opposing NAFTA. A talk with experts reveals that the fight might be irrelevant, since NAFTA has had a miniscule impact on the U.S. economy compared with other factors.
FCC Promotes Diversity; Its Methods May Be Dated
Federal Communications Commission members are encouraging more diverse content on the airwaves, minority ownership of commercial broadcast outlets and requirements for locally oriented programming. But with the Internet and niche communications, are the first and the last of those three ideas outmoded concepts?
Senate Vote Focuses on Iraq War Funding
The Senate took a test vote Tuesday afternoon on whether to bring up a bill to end funding for the war in Iraq within four months. It was expected to fail, but most Republicans decided to vote for it and proceed to a debate on the bill. The idea was to try to force Democrats into an uncomfortable corner.
Embattled Pentagon Legal Chief to Step Down
The top lawyer at the Pentagon is leaving his job. William J. Haynes was also nominated by President Bush to be a federal appeals judge, but his appointment was never confirmed by the Senate. Opponents, including a group of retired military officers, said his policies led to the abuse of detainees at Guantanamo Bay.
Long Island Shooting Case Highlights Racial Divide
In this week's New Yorker, staff writer Calvin Trillin writes about the trial of John White, a black man from Long Island convicted of manslaughter for killing a white teenager who came to his home and threatened his son in the summer of 2006.
Loving the Surreal: Two Reality TV Pioneers
Chris Abrego and Mark Cronin oversee a vast reality television empire. Their production company, 51 Minds, is sometimes responsible for 75 percent of the programming on the VH1 cable network. Nate DiMeo profiles the two producers who represent the state of the art of reality television.