Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Saving energy and money in a harsh climate
  A return visit to a highly energy-efficient home, the Skyline House, shows how much energy and cash can be saved with smart planning.6:55 a.m.
• Legislature to begin dissecting Pawlenty's budget proposal
  Governor Pawlenty will take his budget proposal on the road today, speaking before two local chambers of commerce. Meanwhile, committees in the House and Senate will start examining the details of Pawlenty's proposal to erase the state's projected $4.8 billion deficit. The plan makes significant cuts to state programs, but it could be worse.7:20 a.m.
• Higher education sees big cut in Pawlenty plan
  Governor Tim Pawlenty's proposal to fix the state's $4.8 billion dollar deficit includes a big cut for higher education. Under the governor's plan, the state's colleges and universities would receive 10 percent less in state funding in the next two years.7:25 a.m.
• Target cuts 1,000 positions at Minn. headquarters
  Minneapolis-based Target is eliminating some 1,500 positions, mostly at its corporate headquarters. The retailing giant says falling sales are forcing it to make this rare round of layoffs.7:45 a.m.
• Minnesota Timberwolves on surprising run
  The hottest team in the NBA, the Minnesota Timberwolves, host the Detroit Pistons Wednesday night at the Target Center. The Timberwolves have the best record in basketball during the month of January and have won 10 of their last 12 games. It's quite a turnaround for a team that started the season by winning just four of its first 27 games.8:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• In Paradise, A Prayer For More Snowmobilers
  In winter, snowmobiling is like a religion in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Devotees flock to the area, where restaurants advertise "Snowmobilers Welcome," and gas stations serve more snowmobiles than cars. But residents in the town of Paradise say the sinking economy is keeping many tourists home this year.
• Missing Somali Teens May Be Terrorist Recruits
  Officials believe that missing young Somali men from Minneapolis may have been recruited by Somali Islamist groups to fight in the country's civil war. The Somali community is stunned by those who have gone missing, many of whom have close family ties.
• Pope's Stance On Bishops Draws Critics
  Pope Benedict XVI's decision to rehabilitate four excommunicated bishops — including a Holocaust denier — has caused dismay among Jewish leaders. But many Catholics fear it may point to a repudiation of the modernizing reforms of the Second Vatican Council.
• GOP Not Swayed By Obama's Visit On Stimulus
  President Barack Obama has called for bipartisanship in order to solve the serious problems the country faces. Obama went to the Capitol to pitch his economic stimulus proposal to House and Senate Republicans Tuesday. The president also wanted to hear their ideas. Obama got to see first hand just how difficult winning GOP votes will be.
• Investor: Renewable Energy Needs Federal Funding
  President Obama's Clean Energy initiative is meant to encourage the private sector to pump billions of dollars into green energy — even as such investment has shriveled because of the global financial slowdown. One venture capitalist says many projects will be abandoned without federal help.
• Parties Vie For Power In Iraq's Shiite South
  In the run-up to Saturday's provincial elections in Iraq, the largely Shiite south has become the main battleground for two of the country's strongest political parties. They are allies in the national government, but their rivalry in the south could threaten that alliance.
• San Francisco Sues State Insurance Regulators
  San Francisco has filed a lawsuit against California state insurance regulators. The suit claims the state allows insurance companies to discriminate against women by charging them more for health insurance. This applies to individual insurance, not group policies. The lawsuit says California women pay up to 39 percent more for their policies, compared to men. The Los Angeles Times says only 10 states outlaw this common industry practice, called "gender rating." The industry defends the higher insurance prices for women. It says statistics show that women tend to be more accident-prone and more likely to get sick than men and that younger women, in particular, make more visits to the doctor.
• State Farm Abandons Florida's Homeowners Market
  State Farm has notified officials in Florida that it plans to stop selling property insurance there. The move may leave 1.2 million State Farm customers in the hurricane-prone state looking for an insurance company.
• Home Loan Program Benefits Rural Families
  Though the country is in the midst of a financial crisis, it's still possible to buy a house with no money down. Relatively small but growing numbers of Americans are turning to an obscure home loan program backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
• Restaurant Staff Works 1 Day Without Pay
  Like many restaurants, Mr. B's Pancake House in Muskegon, Mich., is struggling with fewer customers. Some of the workers suggested everyone work a day for free. So on Jan. 18, the day shift worked without pay. They saved the restaurant $700 in wages. The deed did not go unrewarded: Patrons found out what was going on and left $800 in tips.

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