Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Martin McDonagh makes 'a black comedy about despair'
  Writer Martin McDonagh makes people laugh. He also leaves theater-goers feeling bad at what's making them chuckle. He's had a string of hit plays on Broadway. Now he's about to make a whole new audience uncomfortable as he hits U.S. screens with his debut feature film "In Bruges."6:50 a.m.
• Cold air headed for Minnesota
  University of Minnesota Climatologist Mark Seeley discusses Minnesota weather history and talks about the arctic air headed for Minnesota this weekend.6:55 a.m.
• Mayo shields Rochester from recession's bite
  Will the Mayo Clinic's success keep Rochester from joining the state in an economic slowdown?7:20 a.m.
• It's coming down to the wire for the college bound
  High school seniors are looking over college acceptance letters trying to find the best fit for next fall. For two Minnneapolis students, the personal touch made an impression.7:50 a.m.
• Parents learn how to let go in the technological age
  When kids head off to college, parents are forced to separate themselves from what has been a constant hands-on job for years.7:55 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Iraq Vets Charged with Murder of Fellow Soldier
  Army Spc. Kevin Shields was murdered near Fort Carson, Colo., in December after being sent home with a traumatic brain injury. The three soldiers charged with the crime all served with Shields in Iraq.
• Love Can't Conquer All
  Model Amber Lee Ettinger got a lot of attention last summer for a racy song on YouTube about her crush on Barack Obama. But "Obama Girl" apparently didn't have enough of a crush to make it to a voting booth this week.
• Obama, Clinton Tied for Votes in Syracuse, N.Y.
  Here are the unofficial election results from Tuesday's primary in Syracuse, N.Y.: Barack Obama, 6,001. Hillary Clinton? 6,001. A Syracuse math professor says the odds of such a tie are about 1 in 1 million. Clinton won the state she represents, 57 percent to 40 percent.
• Uniting the Right Behind McCain
  John McCain may look more like the Republican Party's presidential nominee every day, but that doesn't mean the conservative base is on board, yet. Rene Montagne talks with political strategist Matthew Dowd about what McCain must do to unite conservative voters behind his candidacy.
• McCain Tries to Woo Conservatives
  Many conservatives aren't convinced John McCain deserves the GOP presidential nomination. The newly minted front-runner tried to improve the strained relationship with his critics at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington on Thursday.
• WHO Unveils Global Plan to Fight Smoking
  The World Health Organization has announced a new program to increase smoking prevention efforts in the developing world, where tobacco companies have focused their marketing efforts as developed countries place strict restrictions on the sale and promotion of tobacco.
• Scotland Yard: Force of Blast Killed Bhutto
  A delegate from Scotland Yard releases a report of its investigation into the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto on Friday. The findings echo those of the Pakistan government: that she was killed by the force of the suicide blast, not by a gunshot wound.
• Even Celebrities Hit by Housing Bust
  Forbes.com lists some of the Hollywood stars who are struggling to sell their homes. Among them, singer Avril Lavigne, Ed McMahon and Vidal Sassoon.
• Bank Customers Not Benefiting from Rate Cuts
  Every time the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates, consumers expect to see lower rates on consumer loans. But many banks are going through hard times, and their customers haven't necessarily seen the benefits of lowered rates, especially with their credit cards.
• Merck to Pay $670 Million to Settle Fraud Case
  Pharmaceutical giant Merck has agreed to pay more than $670 million to settle claims it overcharged the government for drugs and bribed doctors to prescribe its drugs. It's one of the biggest health care fraud settlements ever.
• Mukasey Says He Won't Prosecute Waterboard Use
  Democrats on Thursday asked Attorney General Michael Mukasey whether he would prosecute those who used the controversial interrogation technique waterboarding to extract information from suspects. He said, bluntly, no.
• Bush Expected to Sign $150B Stimulus Bill
  The Senate passed a $150 billion economic stimulus bill on Thursday aimed at jump-starting the lagging U.S. economy. The goal is to put money in the pockets of American consumers. President Bush is expected to sign it into law.
• Guild to Reward Video Game Writing
  Rewarding great writing for the big screen, or even the small screen, is commonplace. On Saturday, the Writers Guild of America will be handing out an award for the first time for the year's best video game writing.
• Could TV Season Be Salvaged?
  The Writers Guild is planning to hold meetings with its members over the weekend about the ongoing contract negotiations. After months of a work stoppage, there are signs that the stalemate may be close to a resolution.
• Six Missing After Explosion at Sugar Refinery
  Authorities in a suburb of Savannah, Ga., say six people are missing after an explosion and fire at a sugar refinery that left dozens injured. Officials haven't listed an official cause for the blast, but suspect sugar dust, which can be volatile.

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