Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Education commissioner explains where Minnesota fits in State of the Union proposals
  MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with new Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius about "Race to the Top" and where Minnesota fits in new federal proposals in education.8:40 a.m.
• Census: In recession, more grandparents raising grandkids
  Grandparents are raising nearly 3 million children in the United States, according to census data. The reasons vary from economic issues to drug and alcohol abuse.8:45 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Obama Ramps Up Economic Message
  The day after his State of the Union address, President Obama headed to Wisconsin for a White House on Main Street event. It's a state that traditionally favors Democrats. Obama won it in 2008, but Republicans dominated in the last election.
• Journalist Criticizes State Of The Union Speech
  Journalist Chris Hedges wrote a book criticizing the left — from farther left. His book Death of the Liberal Class argues that liberal politicians, academics and others have sold out. He tells Steve Inskeep he's no fan of the president's speech.
• Sudan Wants Improved Relations With U.S.
  Sudan's foreign minister met with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday in an effort to get his country off a terrorism blacklist. The Obama administration has offered Sudan some incentives to encourage it to allow southerners to vote in an independence referendum.
• Cocoa Plays Role In Ivory Coast's Political Crisis
  Cocoa and cash have become important in the struggle for power in the West African nation of Ivory Coast. Two rivals have claimed the office of president since a contested election in late November. The standoff has disrupted sales of a vital export. Ivory Coast is the world's largest producer of cocoa.
• Abortions Not Linked To Mental Health Issues
  Danish researchers looked at the health records of 85,000 women who had had first-trimester abortions. Those women were more likely to seek mental health treatment while they were pregnant, but didn't need more help after having the abortion. The study appears in the New England Journal of Medicine..
• Lessons Linger 25 Years After Challenger Tragedy
  The explosion of the space shuttle Challenger in 1986 "was a trauma to the nation's psyche," says Sen. Bill Nelson, a former astronaut. But NASA and the American public have learned a few things about space science since then.
• Police Officer: Don't Call U.S. Gun Violence 'War'
  At least 14 police officers have been killed in the line of duty this month; many more have survived gunshots. But a longtime police officer says the media and his colleagues should think twice about calling it a "war" between police and criminals.
• Standard & Poor's Downgrades Japan
  Ratings agencies evaluate the risk of government bonds, and a downgrade can make it more expensive for a government to borrow on international financial markets. Japan's economy minister called the move by global credit ratings agency Standard & Poor's "regrettable."
• CBO Projects Record Federal Deficit
  The Congressional Budget Office is out with new projections. It forecasts modest but steady growth and a gradual return to more normal unemployment levels in five years. As for deficits and the debt, the CBO projects a $1.5 trillion deficit this year — the largest ever.
• Report: 2008 Financial Crisis Was 'Avoidable'
  The financial crisis that roiled markets around the world in 2008 did not result from a "perfect storm" of accidents. A new report says it was an "avoidable" disaster that grew directly out of the widespread failures of regulators and the excessive risk-taking by corporations and Wall Street firms.

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