Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Climatologist Mark Seeley talks about this winter's huge snowfalls
  With the storm front that ripped through the Midwest this week, some places in the state saw their snowfall rise to over 70 inches for the season. Cathy Wurzer spoke with MPR's Mark Seeley about this week's weather and the continuing cold we can expect in the week ahead.6:55 a.m.
• Mpls. woman trying to get parents out of Egypt
  Dina Gad has been trying to find a way to get her parents out of Egypt, but she says the violence that broke out in recent days is making it hard to even reach the airports.7:19 a.m.
• U of M joins handful of schools with Islamic law program
  The University of Minnesota will become one of a handful of schools nationally to offer a program focused on Islamic Law and Human Rights. The new program will officially open at ceremonies on Friday.7:25 a.m.
• MnDOT preps new plan to hire more women, minority contractors
  MnDOT has repeatedly failed over the past decade to meet its goals for hiring women and minorities. But after two years of negotiations with critics and others to change the patter, the department, has a new hiring plan.7:46 a.m.
• Dayton's cabinet heavy on experience, light on politics
  So far, Gov. Mark Dayton has assembled a cabinet with with heavy private administrative experience and little political background. Capitol observers say that combination will serve him well.8:25 a.m.
• Building Ice-Henge for the Luminary Loppet
  The 9th annual City of Lakes Loppet will be held this weekend in Minneapolis. In recent years, frozen art has become a big part of the Luminary Loppet. Jim Bickal was there as the latest creation in ice was being unveiled.8:40 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Egyptian Protesters Gather For 11th Day Of Protests
  Many demonstrators fear that the regime of embattled President Hosni Mubarak will use Friday, the start of the Islamic weekend, to send thugs to attack them — touching off a battle as fierce as the one that raged earlier.
• No Longer A Candidate, Mubarak Gains Support
  Journalist Issandr El Amrani tells Steve Inskeep some Egyptians were swayed to support President Mubarak after he said he would not run in the next election. El Amrani covers culture and politics in the Middle East on the blog The Arabist.
• Tiny Water Flea Clocks In Record Number Of Genes
  It can grow a spear and a helmet when threatened, turn bright red when stressed, and has more genes than any animal studied so far. But what can we really learn from the water flea?
• The Bank Regulators' Book Club
  Three women walk into a large carpeted office with their sweaters, coffee and reading glasses. Each woman is carrying under her arm a copy of The Book: The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
• Coca Compost Boosts Bolivia's Anti-Drug Campaign
  The government in Bolivia has come up with a novel use for decommissioned coca leaves. It's using the leaves as fertilizer. The government hopes it will deprive drug traffickers of coca's raw material for making cocaine.
• Budget Wars: A Standoff Escalates In Congress
  Republicans are demanding big cuts in all spending that isn't defense-related. Democrats say the economic recovery is still too fragile to do that. Now Democrats warn that the GOP could shut down the government and allow a default on the national debt if it doesn't get the cuts it wants.
• Ronald Reagan's Legacy Clouds Tax Record
  Ronald Reagan is an icon among anti-tax conservatives. The late president's rhetoric is clear but his record, not so much. Reagan still casts a long shadow over political debate in the U.S.
• Is There Room For Bullishness On Jobs Data?
  Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has expressed guarded optimism on the unemployment front ahead of Friday's release of numbers for January. Most economists are forecasting that hiring picked up last month.
• There's No Business Like Snow Business This Winter
  This year's heavy snow is bad news for many businesses, such as retailers and airlines. But other firms are profiting from the storms. Among them are the obvious — ski resorts and hardware stores. But it's also a good time to own a liquor store.
• Ad Industry Geared Up For Super Bowl Months Ago
  Since last summer, ad man Tor Myhren has been toiling away on a Super Bowl commercial for the online broker E*Trade. The ad will feature one of the talking babies. Thanks to Twitter, Facebook and other technologies, Myhren says he'll know within 10 or 15 seconds whether his commercial is a hit.

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