Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Workers sickened at pork plant still wait for compensation
  More than a dozen workers, like Miriam Angeles Perez (pictured), who contracted a rare illness at a southern Minnesota meat-processing plant, are caught up in a complex and sometimes slow-moving workers' compensation system.4:50 p.m.
• Dr. James Dyck on the pork workers' neurological illness
  More than 20 employees at Quality Pork Processing in Austin, Minn., were diagnosed two years ago with a neurological disease that health officials later found resulted from breathing in tiny bits of pig brains.4:55 p.m.
• Legislative break gives candidates time to campaign
  Six legislators remain in the crowded gubernatorial field. Those four DFLers and two Republicans are using their days off to travel the state, court party delegates and try to make some news.5:20 p.m.
• U of M launches effort against sexual violence
  A panel of University of Minnesota officials gathered Wednesday to discuss a schoolwide effort to combat sexual violence against women. The discussion was inspired by a crime two weeks ago, when a female student reported she was kidnapped and assaulted by several men.5:25 p.m.
• Workers sickened at pork plant still wait for compensation
  More than a dozen workers, like Miriam Angeles Perez (pictured), who contracted a rare illness at a southern Minnesota meat-processing plant, are caught up in a complex and sometimes slow-moving workers' compensation system.6:20 p.m.
• Gov. Pawlenty hosts his first Facebook town hall
  MPR's Tom Crann talks to technology reporter Jon Gordon, host of Future Tense from American Public Media about how politicians use social media to connect with voters.6:26 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• The Villages: Florida's Disney World For Retirees
  At the massive central Florida retirement community of 80,000 residents, the lines blur between public and private, civic and commercial, real and fictional. There are no residents under age 19, everything is golf-cart accessible — and it's all owned by one developer. But the residents like it — it allows them to retire to a life free of irritation.
• Plan Would Help Subsidize Access To Broadband
  In addition to expanding Internet access to rural areas, the National Broadband Plan is aiming to make access more affordable for those in low-income communities. The FCC recommends subsidizing monthly Internet costs, as well as training people in how to use a computer and the Internet.
• Strains Of Love Across Pakistan-India Border
  An Indian tennis ace and a Pakistani cricket star confirmed plans to marry, sparking protests and a media frenzy. Such "cross-border" couples are not common, and it is not easy for them. History has left a bitter residue between India and Pakistan. There is still much suspicion and rivalry.
• Where To Worship? Church Reviews Go Online
  As Easter approaches, some people may turn to friends for advice about where to worship. But for people settling into a new community, reading online church reviews is a useful option. Still, some critics say the reviews can be too superficial, or even hateful.
• Refugee All Stars: From Sierra Leone To New Orleans
  Emerging from the refugee camps of Sierra Leone's civil war, the Refugee All Stars have seen their fair share of hard times. But, as Banning Eyre finds on their latest album, Rise And Shine, the group's focus is on spreading a positive message of peace.
• U.S. Bishops Quietly Reinstate Accused Priests
  In the past few years, Catholic bishops have been reinstating some priests accused of sexual abuse. One watchdog group has identified about a dozen clergy who have been accused, arrested or sued for abuse and returned to ministry.
• Donors Meet On Haiti Aid
  Donors from around the world are meeting at the U.N. to discuss reconstruction aid for Haiti, which is seeking $3.8 billion in pledges to cover the next 18 months. It's been more than two months since an earthquake killed more than 200,000 people and destroyed the country's infrastucture.
• Legal Group Seeks U.N. Funding For Haiti Work
  The International Development Law Organization is among the groups seeking funding at Wednesday's conference on Haiti. Karen Widess, a lawyer with the Rome-based IDLO, has come up with a proposal for legal reform in the country. She offers her insight.
• California Seeks To Expand Black Bear Hunting
  California's Department of Fish and Game is proposing changes to expand where and how black bears can be hunted. But not everyone agrees that this is a good idea.
• World's Largest Banana Museum Forced To Split
  Ken "the Banana Man" Bannister has collected more than 17,000 pieces of family-friendly, banana-related items since 1972. The city wants to kick his museum out of property it owns, so Bannister has put the collection on eBay.

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