Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Business leaders interested in Franken jobs plan
  U.S. Sen. Al Franken says the federal government should resurrect a plan the state of Minnesota used to get people back to work a quarter century ago. Franken says his proposal to subsidize wages could put half a million Americans back to work, including 15,000 Minnesotans.6:20 a.m.
• Morning Edition: Cathy's First Curling Lesson
  Curling is just one of the many sports being played at the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, and Morning Edition's Cathy Wurzer decided to get a lesson in the game from MPR reporter Euan Kerr.6:55 a.m.
• Seifert cruises in GOP straw poll; Dems split between Rybak, Kelliher
  Republican state Rep. Marty Seifert was the top choice for governor in a straw poll of GOP caucus-goers Tuesday night. On the DFL side, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher topped a large field in the non-binding preference poll.7:20 a.m.
• Gubernatorial politics to alter dynamics in the legislature
  The 2010 legislative session begins tomorrow here in St. Paul. Of the 201 members of the Minnesota House and Senate, no fewer than eight are currently running for governor.7:40 a.m.
• Safety on big vs. small airlines
  Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Collins writes our NewsCut Blog. He spoke with MPR's Cathy Wurzer about two levels of safety that he sees on commercial airlines.8:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Pakistani Truckers Ply Risky Road To Afghanistan
  U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan rely on a crucial supply line from the Pakistani port of Karachi. Pakistani truck drivers take enormous risks to ferry fuel and other goods to the troops along the route, where the threat of a Taliban ambush is ever-present.
• Super Bowl XLIV, By The Numerals
  The Super Bowl has always had a fondness for Roman numerals. Commentator Frank Deford takes a look at noteworthy numbers in pro football — and has a message for anyone who thinks the commercials are more fun than the game.
• In California, Small Businesses Hit By 'Perfect Storm'
  Tight credit, falling home prices and high unemployment contributed to a high bankruptcy rate among small businesses in the state. Keanyn and Estella Gray know all too well that owning a small business in California is hardly smooth sailing.
• China Increasingly Stands Up To U.S. On Global Stage
  China has tangled with the United States recently over Iran sanctions, climate change, arms sales to Taiwan, the Dalai Lama, cyberattacks, military modernization and exchange rates. The increasingly harsh attitude has left U.S. officials and China analysts wondering where relations are headed.
• Oil Find In Uganda Cause For Hope, Caution
  Experts say there's enough oil around Lake Albert to make Uganda a top producer in Africa. And if all goes well, Uganda will begin commercial production in the next year or two. But a lot can happen between striking oil and striking it rich. The people in the region are just hoping to be treated fairly.
• On The Road, Obama Talks Jobs, Deficit
  President Obama promised in his State of the Union speech to focus on jobs and the deficit. He did just that at a town hall meeting Tuesday in New Hampshire, where he unveiled a plan to increase lending to small businesses. He also took some swipes at Republicans for opposing almost everything he supports.
• Bakery Holding Its Own After Cutting Workforce
  Outside Boston, the Dancing Deer Baking Co. sells all kinds of cookies and brownies to restaurants and stores. Last year, during the worst of the recession, the owner had to lay off some of the employees. Would the bakery be helped by President Obama's efforts to get banks to loan more to small businesses?
• Colorado Brewery Booming During Bust
  It's often said that beer is recession proof, and the Dry Dock Brewery near Denver seems to be proving that. Kirk Siegler of member station KUNC reports.
• Officials: Terror Suspect Talking To Investigators
  NPR has learned that the suspect at the center of the attempted bombing of a U.S. airliner on Christmas Day has been giving federal authorities actionable intelligence for weeks.
• Letter From India: Pakistan, Cricket And An Uproar
  Connoisseurs of the rarified sport of cricket still speak in whispers of the scandal, 34 years ago, when an Englishman was accused of rubbing Vaseline into the ball to make it swerve more. That affair pales by comparison with the uproar in Australia this week when Pakistan's captain was caught on camera biting a cricket ball like an apple. Ball-tampering is considered the worst form of skullduggery in the so-called Gentleman's Sport. The loudest protests have come from Pakistan's arch-rival, India.

Resources

• Marketplace Tech Report®
• Marketplace Morning Report®
• Mark Seeley's WeatherTalk

Services

• Hourly Newscast
• HD Radio
• iPhone App / Mobile
• E-mail newsletters
• RSS feeds
• Podcasts
• Submit your photos
• Videos
• Weather
• Most e-mailed stories