Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Budget negotiations may focus on tax relief
  Both Democrats and Republicans say they'd like to see more done on the property tax issue.7:20 a.m.
• Higher ed officials say budget proposal doesn't cover inflation
  Pawlenty proposes more than $440 million in new spending for state-supported institutions; that's more than a 16 percent hike above current levels. But officials at the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System say the increase fails to meet basic inflationary costs.7:25 a.m.
• No tax increase, no long term solution for transportation funding
  Minnesota vehicle owners come out pretty well in Gov. Tim Pawlenty's proposed budget. As expected, he does not propose raising the gasoline tax or license tab fees. But some people worried about repairing roads and bridges, and building transit, have some issues with the governor's proposals.7:50 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Petraeus Set for Another Shot at Iraq
  Gen. David Petraeus — poised to become the top commander in Iraq — has been there before. He is well-regarded by fellow officers and military experts, but he faces immense challenges in his latest assignment.
• Phone Scam Hits Migrants' Families in Mexico
  Scammers are targeting the families of Mexicans who are working north of the border. Calls to rural Mexico urge family members to send money for a relative who has had trouble in the United States.
• Running for Office Via the Web
  Web sites are becoming an essential part of the process of running for office. Tuesday, Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York held the first of several "Web chats" with supporters of her presidential ambitions. What's next on the Web for White House hopefuls?
• State of the Union Response: A Brief History
  Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia will deliver the Democratic response to President Bush's State of the Union address. History shows how current events have dictated the tone of the response over the years.
• Hezbollah Protesters Target Beirut Highways
  Roads in and out of Lebanon's capital are blocked by a general strike organized by the Hezbollah-led opposition. It's part of a continuing campaign urging the pro-Western government of Lebanon to resign.
• Bush Eyes Health-Insurance Tax Changes
  Should Americans be able to deduct the cost of health-insurance premiums from their taxes? President Bush is expected to put forward such a proposal in his State of the Union address.
• Best Picture? Five Picks Ahead of the Nominations
  Kim Masters couldn't wait for the nominees to deliver her list of the top five films: The Departed, The Queen, Little Miss Sunshine, Dreamgirls and Babel.
• Ford, Chevy Eye Gas-Electric Market
  After falling behind Japan on hybrid cars, Ford and GM are planning a comeback. They're showing — though not yet selling — combination gas-electric cars with an improvement. You plug them in to charge them. They use even less gas. Ford's car is called the Flexible Series Hybrid Edge. GM gets more to the point with a car called the Chevrolet Volt.
• 'Dreamgirls,' 'Babel' Top Oscar Nominees
  Dreamgirls is nominated for eight Academy Awards, but not for Best Picture. Babel, which is among five nominees for the top film, earns seven nominations.
• U.S. Passport Rule Makes Canada Wary
  Starting Tuesday, with few exceptions, travelers arriving in the United States from all countries will have to show a passport. The new requirement applies initially only to air travel.
• Guerrilla Tactics Drive Iraqi Insurgency
  Will President Bush's decision to send more troops into Iraq trigger a cat-and-mouse game with insurgents? There's ample evidence of a guerrilla war that would tend to counteract the impact of more force.
• Florida Seeks to Slash Property Insurance Rates
  Florida lawmakers pass a plan that could cut property insurance rates as much as 40 percent. They hope the legislation will reverse steep increases companies imposed in the wake of several damaging hurricanes.
• States Consider Sale of Lottery Businesses
  The New York Times reports that the governor of Illinois wants to sell the state lottery to investors, a sale that could raise as much as $10 billion. Indiana is taking bids for its lottery later this month.
• Abortion Foes Mark 'Roe v. Wade'
  On the 34th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, opponents of abortion marched on the National Mall. President Bush addressed the crowd and two presidential candidates used the event as a campaign stop.
• Pfizer to Cut Jobs, Close Plants
  Pfizer, the world's largest drug company, is slashing 10,000 jobs — about 10 percent of its total work force — and closing several research and manufacturing facilities. Pfizer is trying to cut costs after losing billions in revenue to expiring patents on key drugs.

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