Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Author: Life can get in the way of a well-planned death
  Geoff Herbach's new novel, "The Miracle Letters of T. Rimberg," tells a story in a very different and potentially controversial way. Most of the story is presented as suicide notes written by one man.4:20 p.m.
• A month ago, a deal left for dead; what changed?
  Many experts say the deal would more easily win approval under the administration of President Bush than his successor's.4:49 p.m.
• What should we know about Delta?
  What do Northwest customers need to know about Delta Air Lines, as Delta announces its plans to acquire Northwest?4:53 p.m.
• Passengers have mixed reaction to the merger
  News of the Delta-Northwest deal was greeting travelers at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Monday night and Tuesday morning.5:16 p.m.
• What the CEOs are saying
  Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Moylan joined "All Things Considered's" Tom Crann to discuss the Northwest-Delta deal the first day after the annoucement.5:19 p.m.
• Labor unions unhappy with Delta deal
  Airline executives today sketched out terms of Delta's acquisition of Northwest Airlines. But the course the merger takes is also in the hands of the people who fly the planes, carry the luggage and pour the coffee.5:24 p.m.
• Loss of NWA headquarters - what does it really mean?
  Delta's acquisition of Northwest means the company's headquarters are slated to move from Eagan to Atlanta. Delta officials say, for now, they will keep some executive offices here and say they are committed to retaining significant jobs, operations and facilities in Minnesota. It's not yet clear what that means.5:46 p.m.
• Financial analyst provides perspective on Delta, NWA deal
  The day after Delta and Northwest announced Delta's acquistion of Northwest, the stocks of the two companies dropped by more than 5 percent.5:49 p.m.
• What does the Delta-NWA deal mean for consumers?
  Any of us who fly for pleasure, or especially business, have many questions on the proposed Delta-Northwest deal.5:55 p.m.
• In the Loop: A eulogy for Northwest Airlines
  Northwest has not always been a flyers' favorite. But it is a fixture in the travel memories of millions of Americans -- especially those of us here in the Midwest. If the deal with Delta goes through, Northwest will lose its name and its Twin Cities headquarters. Minnesota Public Radio's "In The Loop" asked listeners to write their own "eulogies" to the carrier we've come to know so intimately. Terri Bly, of Mendota Heights, took up the call.6:16 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Clinton's Candidacy: An Established Brand
  A presidential campaign can often resemble a business, with each candidate acting as CEO. If this were the case, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign would be an "established brand" — one that has name recognition but struggles to seem fresh.
• Methane Plants: China's Clean Energy Alternative
  China is the world's largest producer of coal — and its largest consumer. Engineer Huang Shengchu promotes reducing reliance on this dirtiest of fossil fuels by capturing a byproduct, methane, and using it to produce power. Methane power plants are one of the country's best tools in fighting climate change.
• Katie Couric, CBS and the Future of Network News
  Katie Couric's early exit from CBS News appears almost imminent, but her departure signals more than a personal failure to win ratings; it's the unraveling of the idea of a "big three" in network news.
• McCain Calls for Suspending Federal Gas Tax
  Republican presidential hopeful John McCain called for a temporary lifting of federal fuel taxes in order to cut gas prices during the busy summer driving season. "The effect will be an immediate economic stimulus" for families and businesses alike, McCain says.
• Letters: Japanese Health Care; Calls to the Cloth
  Listeners comment on Japan's universal health care, in one case questioning its mental-health coverage, and on an interview with two Roman Catholic seminarians on the eve of Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United States.
• Taiwan Takes Fast Track to Universal Health Care
  About 10 years ago, Taiwan created a national health care system from scratch by adopting good ideas from other countries. Patients say they're satisfied and never go into debt for medical care. The government, however, is borrowing to finance the system.
• Government Failures in Oversight Appalling
  With a number of recent reports documenting federal agencies' failures, Daniel Schorr decries government laxity, saying he's never seen "such deep-rooted negligence."
• Hedge Funds Suffering Economic Hangover
  Hedge fund managers are keeping up appearances, holding their festive annual conference in the Cayman Islands. But not everyone attending is sanguine about what the future might hold.
• Toumani Diabate Takes a Solo Turn
  By most accounts, Diabate is the world's greatest living player of the kora, a 21-string West African harp. Now, his new album finds the Malian master musician alone with the instrument — and defining the state of his art.
• Northwest Pilots Oppose Delta Merger
  Delta and Northwest's merger would create the world's largest airline in terms of traffic. But there is still a lot to be worked out. Regulators and shareholders need to be convinced. And Northwest's pilots union is saying it will do everything it can to block the deal.

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