Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• McLeod West students' tough choice: Where to go next year
  The McLeod West School District will shut down after this year, meaning every student must find a new school home next year.6:50 a.m.
• Issues in 'The Class' echo round the world
  While may of us have strong views on schools, what actually happens in the classroom is usually only witnessed by students and teachers. This idea, coupled with the notion that schools are the foundation of society, led French film director Laurent Cantet to make "The Class." It's wowed critics around the world.6:55 a.m.
• Minnesotans exhausting unemployment benefits in higher numbers
  State officials say 4 out of every 10 Minnesotans receiving jobless benefits will exhaust them and use up every last drop of the 26 weeks they are allotted. That number has shot up during the recession. However, many people qualify for benefit extensions.7:20 a.m.
• Peterson takes on Wall Street
  It might seem that a Minnesota congressman with a farm background is an unlikely candidate to take on Wall Street, but 7th Disctrict Rep. Collin Peterson is doing just that.7:25 a.m.
• Study: Many minorities cut out of prime loan market
  African Americans and other minorities seeking mortgages in the Twin Cities have some of the highest home loan rejection rates in the country, according to a new study by the Institute on Race and Poverty at the University of Minnesota.7:35 a.m.
• Art Hounds: Week of Feb, 11
  "Art Hounds" is a new weekly feature from MPR News. It's a glimpse of what's going on in the regional art scene through the eyes and ears of members of Minnesota's arts community.8:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Freed Pakistani Scientist Could Revive Nuclear Sales
  Abdul Qadeer Khan is considered one of the world's most successful nuclear proliferators. He was released from house arrest in Pakistan on Feb. 6, fueling fears that he could restart his black market for nuclear weapons.
• Death Of Child May Have Influenced Darwin's Work
  Charles Darwin was honest with his devout Christian wife that his scientific investigations led him to doubt the existence of heaven. But he feared that publishing his scientific ideas would hurt her deeply. Only after his daughter Annie's death did this change, biographers say.
• Lawmakers Delve Into Peanut Products' Safety
  The federal government has so far identified 600 people who've gotten sick from salmonella traced to peanuts. Scientists estimate there are 30 or more actual cases for every one that's reported. Nine deaths have been linked to the outbreak, and it's led to one of the biggest food recalls in recent years. A House subcommittee held a hearing Wednesday on the salmonella outbreak.
• Zimbabwe's Nascent Power-Sharing Government
  President Robert Mugabe swore in opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai as prime minister on Wednesday. Mugabe said the two would have to work together to fix the country's economy.
• Calif. Lawmakers Try To Agree On Budget
  California lawmakers appear to be on the verge of an agreement to fix the state's $41 billion budget deficit. The legislators have been deadlocked for months. Unless lawmakers hammer out a deal by Friday, the state won't be able to pay for some mandated programs.
• Why Are Loans Still Hard To Get?
  Bank executives told members of the House Financial Services Committee that lending has increased since the government's $165 million cash infusion. One executive says his bank is lending to consumers but other parts of the financial system have tightened credit. David Wessel of The Wall Street Journal talks with Renee Montagne about the credit crisis.
• Obama To See If Stimulus Plan Will Play In Peoria
  The White House used all the tools in its kit to change the dynamic of the stimulus debate this week. On Thursday, President Obama goes to East Peoria, Ill., one of several campaign-style stops he's made, to make a pitch at a Caterpillar manufacturing plant.
• Web Firm Offers Novel Approach To Romance
  The Web site U Star Novels lets customers take a starring role in their own tailored romance novels. The company asks customers to fill in personal details about themselves and their partners, then choose from stock titles such as Fever in France. This week alone, the company has processed more than 1,500 orders for individualized romances novels, which sell for $40.
• Bill Would Let Bankruptcy Judges Block Foreclosures
  On Capitol Hill, Democrats are supporting a bill that would let judges block home foreclosures. The measure would allow bankruptcy judges to alter home loans. Industry insiders say that would cause more harm than good, but economists disagree.
• Obama Signs Bill Delaying Digital TV Switch
  President Obama has signed a bill delaying the nation's transition to digital TV broadcasting. All TV stations were to make the switch next week. The new date is June 12. Consumers have more time to buy digital TVs, get converter boxes for their old sets or subscribe to cable. Lawmakers feared millions of Americans weren't ready for the switch.
• New Law Bans Chemical Found In Toys
  A federal law went into effect this week banning certain chemicals from children's toys and other products. Chemicals called phthalates make plastic toys soft. A child chewing on a toy made with phthalates could ingest the chemical, which could create health risks, studies indicate.
• Teary Mona Lisa Displayed At Louvre In Paris
  One of the most famous residents of the Louvre museum has a new roommate. Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" will share her space with a work by contemporary artist Yan Pei-Ming. His painting of the Mona Lisa is all gray and adds tears to the mysterious smile. It's titled "The Funeral of Mona Lisa."
• Ticketmaster, Live Nation Merger Investigated
  Ticketmaster and Live Nation announced plans to merge earlier this week, sparking concerns that a deal between the ticketing giant and the world's No. 1 concert promoter would create a monopoly. On Wednesday, the Justice Department announced it would investigate the proposed merger.
• Congress Reaches Deal On Stimulus Package
  Congressional Democrats and three Republicans have struck a deal that hands President Obama an early political victory. They agreed on a compromise bill for the gigantic economic stimulus package that the president requested. Their measure will be put to a vote as early as Thursday in the House and Senate, and it's expected to pass in both chambers.
• Bankers Face Congressional Criticism Over Bailout
  The CEOs of eight of the nation's largest banks went to Capitol Hill Wednesday to answer criticism that they have failed to lend money to help the struggling economy. Lawmakers wanted to know what they had done with the $165 billion in bailout money they've received.

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