All Things Considered for April 9, 2008 | Minnesota Public Radio News

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Minnesota Public Radio Stories

Banking is still personal in some places
Many analysts attribute a strong and healthy financial industry in South Dakota to a strong agriculture economy and small community banks.4:49 p.m.
Americans keep buying more stuff than ever
MPR's Nanci Olesen speaks with sociologist Juliet Schor about why Americans keep buying goods regardless of how much they own.4:53 p.m.
Central Corridor's funding fight could send project to the back of the line
The Central Corridor management committee urges governor and Legislature to agree on funding for the project before adjournment.5:20 p.m.
Critics take aim at climate change recommendations
The final report of the Minnesota Climate Change Advisory Group isn't even out yet, but it's already coming under fire.5:24 p.m.
Conversation with Rep. John Kline about Iraq hearings
A conversation with Minnesota's 2nd District congressman John Kline. He joined us to talk about the testimony Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker delivered to lawmakers this week regarding the Iraq War.5:39 p.m.
St. Paul threatens legal action against banks that own vacant houses
The city of St. Paul is threatening to sue a handful of banks that own a large share of vacant homes in the city. City officials say many of the houses shuttered by foreclosure don't meet building codes and are creating a public safety hazard.5:52 p.m.
Backers of the Asian Pacific Cultural Center try to regroup
A ten year long dream for Asian Americans in Minnesota has received a major setback. One of the projects vetoed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty this week in the bonding bill was the Asian Pacific Cultural Center.5:56 p.m.
Self portraits in the Facebook age
With digital cameras now almost as common as cell phones, in part because they are built into cellphones, people are taking lots of pictures. And they're taking pictures of themselves.6:23 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

Wind Farm Buffets Family, Town Relations
Clean wind energy sometimes comes at the cost of preserving rural vistas. Choosing between the two has divided residents — and even father and sons — in one upstate New York community.
Ex-Subprime Brokers Help Troubled Homeowners
During the housing heyday, Wall Street demand for subprime loans created a big opportunity for mortgage brokers to rack up piles of fast money in a thinly regulated industry. But some brokers have found a new calling: helping homeowners through housing nonprofits.
In 'Bonk,' Mary Roach Explores Science of Sex
After tackling the science of death and theories of the afterlife, Mary Roach takes on the nitty gritty of sexual research. Her latest book takes a curious, funny look at what we do and don't know about coital mechanics.
Why Risk Models Failed to Spot the Credit Crisis
Financial institutions struggling with the subprime mortgage mess all say they conducted "stress tests" to ensure the health of their investment portfolios. But many failed to appreciate the limitations of their risk management models.
Al-Qaida Planner Masri Believed Dead
A key al-Qaida figure has died, U.S. intelligence officials say. The man known as Abu Obeida al-Masri, an Egyptian, was suffering from hepatitis. He may have orchestrated two of the terrorist network's most recent plots.
Singers Try Out for Minor-League Glory
Across the country, minor-league baseball fans are auditioning to perform the national anthem at games. The Potomac Nationals of Woodbridge, Va., recently held tryouts, where more than 40 people competed for a future spot in the stadium spotlight.
Family Affair: Childcare in Post-Katrina New Orleans
Day care services in New Orleans have been among the slowest segments of the local economy to rebound since Hurricane Katrina devastated the city in 2005. Many parents have taken it upon themselves and formed their own childcare groups.
New House Member Speier: A Survivor
Thirty years after she was left for dead outside the Jonestown compound in Guyana, Jackie Speier has won a special House election in California. Speier was shot five times in an ambush that killed her boss, U.S. Rep. Leo Ryan, and four others.
LegiStorm Chief Defends Disclosure-Form Move
Jock Friedly, founder of the Web site LegiStorm, says he's providing a public service by posting the financial disclosure statements of House and Senate employees who make more than $110,000 a year. Friedly explains why he's making the records available online.
Olympic Torch Draws Heat in San Francisco
San Francisco braces for big street protests as the Olympic torch makes its way through the city. Demonstrators are angry over China's recent dealings with Tibet. The Bay Area is home for scores of Tibetan exiles.