Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Weather with Mark Seeley
  University of Minnesota Climatologist Mark Seeley talks about our January thaw and looks ahead to the weekend forecast.6:50 a.m.
• If NWA merges, what can travellers expect?
  What can passengers count on if Northwest Airlines merges with Delta?7:20 a.m.
• Bloomberg backers seek support of Minnesota IP
  Members of Minnesota's Independence Party will meet later this month to decide whether to join a national organization that wants New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg to run for president.7:25 a.m.
• When furniture becomes sculpture - and vice versa
  There's an old joke about a gallery visitor sitting down to rest weary feet, only to be sternly told to get off the sculpture. There will be no such confusion at the Functional Sculpture exhibit at Carleton College in Northfield.7:50 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• At Home, at War: Tahmima Anam's 'Golden Age'
  Tahmima Anam grew up mostly in the West, but tells the story of the Bangladesh war for independence in her first novel, A Golden Age. The inspiration? Her grandmother, who lived through those tumultuous times.
• Baltimore Blames Lender for Wave of Foreclosures
  A mortgage crisis in Baltimore has cost the city millions in lost property taxes. City leaders are suing lending giant Wells Fargo for the mess, saying that a wave of foreclosures has cost the city millions in lost property taxes and public investment. They're alleging that the company targeted black borrowers for credit on unfair terms.
• The IRS May Issue Apologies — in Cash
  National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson, an independent voice at the IRS, suggests in her annual report to Congress that the agency should issue apology payments. The payments would only be issued when the agency excessively burdens or harms taxpayers.
• Upcoming Michigan Primary Focus of GOP
  Michigan is next on the presidential campaign calendar with its primary on Jan. 15. For the Democrats, it's not a contest since they've avoided campaigning in the state because Michigan moved its primary to January in violation of party rules. There is no such reticence on the Republican side.
• Hillary Clinton Turns to Nevada for Votes
  Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton makes her first big swing through Nevada, which holds caucuses next week. Now that New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has dropped out of the race, Clinton has set her sights on Nevada's large number of Hispanic voters.
• Colombian Rebels Free Two Female Hostages
  Colombian rebels free two high-profile hostages, handing them over to emissaries of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. The hostages were former Colombian congresswoman Consuelo Gonzalez and Clara Rojas, an aide to Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt.
• Connecticut School Bans Cookies, Ice Cream
  An elementary school in Connecticut has banned the sale of cookies and ice cream. The principal says that kids were throwing away lunches, and heading straight for dessert. The students are still screaming for ice cream. But all they'll find in this cafeteria is fruit and yogurt.
• Environmentally Friendly Goods Buzz at CES
  A big theme at the Consumer Electronics Show is environmentally friendly products. Some of the latest gadgets boast using less packaging, recycling metals, and putting a message on phone screens that tells consumers to unplug the power pack once the phone is fully charged.
• Edmund Hillary, First Atop Everest, Dead at 88
  Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person to stand atop Mount Everest, died in Auckland, New Zealand. He was 88. Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, his Sherpa guide, were the first to conquer the world's highest mountain in 1953.
• Sierra Mountain Snow to Ease California Drought
  A recent blizzard in the Sierra Mountains brings hope to drought-stricken California. The blizzard bolsters the mountain snowpack, which serves as vast reservoir during the dry months by gradually letting its water drain into the San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers.
• GOP Debate in South Carolina Polite
  Republican presidential hopefuls are courteous on Thursday during a South Carolina debate exploring the economy, foreign policy and the legacy of Ronald Reagan. That state holds the first southern primary. No GOP candidate has won his party's nomination without carrying South Carolina.
• Calculating Mutual Fund Returns
  As investors' 2007 mutual fund statements start rolling in, the hard work of calculating portfolio returns begins. The biggest mistake people make is not keeping a handle on how well their portfolio is performing.
• American Express Hit by Slowing Economy
  One of the country's biggest credit card companies says the slowing economy is hurting its business. American Express says credit card charges began to tail off in December. It's also warning Wall Street that its profits will be lower as more cardholders fail to repay their debts.
• Bush Presses for Peace in the Middle East
  President Bush ends his visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories by describing basic principles of a peace agreement: establish Palestine as a homeland for the Palestinian people, just as Israel is a homeland for the Jewish people. He wants the two sides to agree within a year.
• U.S. Improves Anbar by Partnering with Iraqis
  Anbar province is one of the biggest successes in the U.S.-led war in Iraq: security is greatly improved and there's talk of the area being handed back to the Iraqis. The improvement has everything to do with a relationship with the people.

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