Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Former KARE journalist tries hand at film in 'Cedar Rapids'
  The new movie "Cedar Rapids" is about a naive Midwesterner whose life changes when he is sent to Iowa for an insurance convention. The movie, which opens in Minnesota this weekend, is actually the result of a real life-changing experience on a couch in Minneapolis.6:50 a.m.
• Climatologist Mark Seeley on February weather trends
  MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with climatologist Mark Seeley about February weather trends and the spring flooding outlook.6:55 a.m.
• Comparing Wis., Minn. public employment benefits
  If you're wondering what sparked the controversy in Wisconsin about proposed changes to the state's labor law and public employee compensation, it helps to look at the numbers as they are now.7:22 a.m.
• Minn. House backs move toward more nuclear power
  The Minnesota House followed in the footsteps of the Senate Thursday night and approved a measure to remove the moratorium on new nuclear power plants in the state.7:41 a.m.
• Legislators tangle over bill that would require police to investigate immigration status
  Ordinances in Minneapolis and St. Paul that prohibit police from asking about or investigating an individual's immigration status would go away under a bill being considered at the state Legislature.7:45 a.m.
• Wis. political scientist: 'Slowdown' is Dems' only hope
  Slowing down the legislative process is the only hope Democrats in Wisconsin have in fighting a bill that would eliminate collective bargaining for most of the state's public employees, a University of Wisconsin political scientist said.8:25 a.m.
• Jesson tasked with implementing uncertain health care law
  It's not like Lucinda Jesson needs more to do. She's running Minnesota's largest agency, the Department of Human Services -- a department that comprises nearly 30 percent of the state's budget.8:46 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• The Impact Of Rising Food Prices On Arab Unrest
  The uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt came just as world food prices hit a record high. The World Bank reported this week that the cost of food is now at "dangerous" levels, a fact that is far more burdensome for people in the developing world.
• Muslim Middle Class Plays Role In Egypt Uprising
  Steve Inskeep talks to author and Tufts University professor Vali Nasr for analysis of the situation in the Middle East. He addresses what role the Muslim middle class played in the uprisings and what influence they will have in Egypt and the rest of the region as it defines a "new normal."
• Budget Battle Revolves Around What To Cut
  Lawmakers in the House are slogging through a bill to fund the government for the rest of the budget year — while making deep cuts in spending. The goal is to get the measure ready for Senate action before federal agencies run out of money March 4. But cuts by the House are not getting a hearty welcome in the Senate, and the White House has threatened a veto.
• Florida Targets Big Cuts In Education
  Federal stimulus money is running out and that leaves education in a hole. Florida Gov. Rick Scott says it was wrong for the state to accept the funds in the first place, and he's not going to try to replace them in the budget. That immediately cuts more than $2 billion from schools.
• Hibernating Bears 'A Metabolic Marvel'
  A new study finds that despite lowering its metabolism by 75 percent, a bear's internal temperature barely drops. Bears also don't lose muscle mass or strength, and researchers hope the study — the first continuous monitoring of a bear in hibernation — will be a boon for human medicine.
• Democratic Senators Delay Vote On Wisconsin Budget
  Protests continue in Madison, Wisc., in the battle over the governor's plan to cut pay and benefits and change bargaining rights for public employees. Thursday, all the Democrats in the Senate left the Capitol to stall action on the bill.
• 2012: The Year Of The Billion-Dollar Campaigns?
  President Obama's re-election committee is expected to raise at least $1 billion, and Republicans have high hopes that their nominee will reach the 10-figure level as well. One billion dollars could buy up all the Super Bowl ads — for the last four Super Bowls.
• Liam Neeson's 'Unkown' Is reminiscent Of 'Taken'
  If you've seen Taken, where Liam Neeson played a relentless berserker, who terrorized France looking for his kidnapped daughter, then there's something familiar about Unknown. Neeson's character is in Berlin, this time worried about his wife, not his child. It's another story that allows Neeson to lose his temper and take on the world.
• G-20 Foreign Ministers To Discuss Trade Imbalances
  Central bankers and finance ministers from the Group of 20 leading nations are in Paris to talk about how to level trade and currency imbalances. The group met in November in South Korea but didn't come away with a plan to ease tensions over those issues.
• Debit Card Fee Cap May Be Delayed
  When Congress passed its financial system overhaul last year, an amendment was added to limit how much banks can charge merchants each time a customer swipes their debit card. As the new law gets closer to reality, members of Congress are being urged to reconsider the debit fee amendment.

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