Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Recount trial begins
  Nearly three months after Election Day, opening statements begin Monday afternoon in a trial that is sure to go down as a major chapter in Minnesota election history. Republican Norm Coleman is contesting the Senate election that put Democrat Al Franken ahead by a mere 225 votes.6:45 a.m.
• Duluth grappling with pricey, inefficient retiree health plans
  Duluth continues to struggle with costly health benefits for retired city workers, which threaten to gobble up the city budget. The mayor would like to move the retirees to a less costly plan, but three former workers filed suit last year to prevent changes to their benefits.6:50 a.m.
• Pawlenty to announce budget details
  This week, Gov. Tim Pawlenty will release his plan for fixing the state's $4.8 billion projected budget deficit. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire provides a preview of the governor's budget proposal and the rest of the week ahead at the state Capitol.7:20 a.m.
• Is the timing right to cut corporate taxes?
  To date, Gov. Tim Pawlenty's plan to cut corporate income taxes is the only tax proposal on the table at the Capitol.7:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Beat The Winter Chills With Nigella Lawson
  It can be hard to escape winter chills. But cookbook author Nigella Lawson says she never complains about it — instead, it's a great excuse for her to indulge in warm and hearty comfort foods such as soups and stews. Besides, recipes for sweet corn chowder, chicken pot pie and other dishes can be easy.
• Ohio, Kentucky Feuding Over Rock In A Hard Place
  The states of Ohio and Kentucky are battling over a most unlikely object: a graffiti-covered rock. From a distance, Indian Head Rock is an unremarkable, brownish boulder the size of a Volkswagen Beetle. But a closer look reveals what makes it more than just an ordinary boulder.
• Man Accused Of Killing Daughter For Family Honor
  "Honor killings" are an old rite of murder committed by a family member because the victim is perceived to have brought dishonor or shame on the family. Police in Atlanta are investigating the death of a 25-year-old Pakistani woman who allegedly was murdered by her father because she wanted out of an arranged marriage.
• Obama To Meet Joint Chiefs Of Staff At Pentagon
  President Obama is expected to make his first trip to the Pentagon this week to meet with the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The visit follows the president's meetings last week with his top national security advisers on Iraq and Afghanistan. Obama has said he wants to draw down forces in Iraq and then increase them in Afghanistan.
• Gaza Fighting Reverberates In France
  The recent conflict in Gaza touched nerves in France, which is home to Europe's largest Jewish and Muslim communities. Despite the cease-fire in Gaza, many say the fighting there has done lasting damage to relations between Muslims and Jews in France.
• Story Update: Layoff Victim Starts New Job
  Last Friday, NPR's David Kestenbaum reported on how people were measuring the recession. One of the people mentioned was Terri Weiss of Dayton, Ohio. She was laid off at the beginning of the year from her job with a textbook company. She starts a new job Monday.
• EU Foreign Ministers Discuss Obama Administration
  European foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels to discuss how to work together with the Obama administration after eight years of chilly trans-Atlantic relations. One issue to decide is whether to accept detainees released from the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
• Masked Gunman Kills Russian Human Rights Lawyer
  A top Russian human rights lawyer was shot dead last week on a central Moscow street along with a young journalist walking with him. Several critics of the Kremlin have been killed in recent years in cases that remain unsolved. Lawyers who have been fighting for human rights in Russia fear the latest shooting won't be the last.
• Drugmakers To Merge, ING To Eliminate Jobs
  Drugmaker Pfizer has announced a deal to buy rival Wyeth. It's paying $68 billion in cash and stock for Wyeth. In the banking industry, Dutch bank ING says it's eliminating 7,000 jobs. That's more than 5 percent of its total work force.
• MBAs Look For High-Paying Jobs In Down Market
  MBAs are still getting hired — but the job market is tougher now. Fewer jobs are being offered, signing bonuses have shrunk and students who've taken on a lot of debt to get their degrees are getting nervous.

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