Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Think congestion is costly? Consider vehicle crashes
  A new national study done for AAA finds the Twin Cities ranks eighth out of 26 comparable cities in the cost of vehicle crashes.6:40 a.m.
• Bar owners vow to keep 'theater nights'
  Some Minnesota bar owners are vowing to defy state health authorities. They say they wll continue staging 'theatre nights' to get around the statewide smoking ban. Earlier this week the health department declared bars are not allowed to use an exemption for theatre productions.6:50 a.m.
• Weather with Mark Seeley
  University of Minnesota Climatologist Mark Seeley talks about Minnesota weather history and looks ahead to the weekend forecast.6:55 a.m.
• Union battle heats up in A.G. Swanson's office
  Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson and many of her employees are at odds over a union organization effort within the office. Some employees say they've faced harassment and intimidation for their union support.7:20 a.m.
• Rogue Republicans face endorsement backlash
  Some of the Minnesota House Republicans who voted with Democrats to override Gov. Pawlenty's transportation veto could face a backlash this weekend.7:40 a.m.
• U.S. Senate bill would toughen inspections of overseas toys
  The U.S. Senate has passed a bill that toughens inspections of toys made overseas. The bill is a response to record recalls of items that sickened children; it would create a public database of consumer complaints and bolster the Consumer Products Safety Commission. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer talked with Minnesota's U.S. Senator, Amy Klobuchar, about the bill.7:45 a.m.
• Whitewater's habitat wakes up post-flood
  Whitewater State Park officials are looking for signs of recovery as the park slowly reopens.7:50 a.m.
• Energy efficient house saves money with a small carbon footprint
  A new house in Duluth uses 25 percent of the amount of energy as an ordinary three-bedroom home.7:55 a.m.
• U of M women's hockey on a roll
  The final games of the women's WCHA tournament will be held this weekend in Duluth. One of the strongest teams in the tournament, and in the country, is the University of Minnesota. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer talked with interim coach Brad Frost.8:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• NPR Chief Executive Ousted
  NPR's corporate board has forced out its chief executive, Ken Stern. He joined NPR in 1999, but was only CEO for a little more than a year.
• Class Teaches Virtues to Children of Many Faiths
  It sounds like the start of a bad joke: A Jew, a Baptist and a Baha'i get together every Sunday morning ... It's a new kind of Sunday school, where families from a range of religions gather to learn about helpfulness, obedience, service and friendliness.
• HBO's 'The Wire' Bids Farewell
  HBO's award-winning show The Wire broadcasts its 60th and final episode on Sunday. The series chronicled life — and death — in Baltimore and focused on the failure of its major civic institutions, including the police, the school system and the news media.
• Battle for Ex-House Speaker's Seat in Illinois
  In Illinois, residents in the 14th Congressional District vote Saturday in a special election to replace former House Speaker Dennis Hastert. Democrats are pulling out the big guns, including ads by Sen. Barack Obama, to help their candidate. Traditionally, the district has voted for Republicans.
• Economy Lost 63,000 Jobs in February
  The Labor Department reports the worst job losses in five years, with employers slashing 63,000 jobs in February, the latest sign that the economy may already be in recession. Overall, the national unemployment rate eased slightly to 4.8 percent from 4.9 percent.
• End Still Not in Sight in Democrats' Nomination Race
  Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are not slowing down on the campaign trail. Neither candidate will have enough pledged delegates to guarantee the nomination, no matter what happens in Wyoming on Saturday, in Mississippi on Tuesday or even in Pennsylvania next month.
• Shooting Kills 8 at Jerusalem Religious School
  Israeli security forces are on high alert on Friday after a Palestinian gunman killed eight students at a Jewish religious school in Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinians took to the streets in Hamas-controlled Gaza to celebrate the attack.
• Some Skeptical About 'Sunshine Policy' in S. Korea
  South Korea's recently inaugurated president has suggested he might take a harder line against North Korea, which could mark the end of South Korea's "Sunshine Policy" of rapprochement with its northern neighbor. However, Lee Myung-bak's position has moderated since the election.
• Europeans, Americans Battle in 'Champagne' Wars
  European and American makers of sparkling wine are fighting over the use of the word "champagne." Europeans argue that unless it's made in the Champagne region of France, it ought to be called something else.
• Into the Past, and the Preposterous, in '10,000 B.C.'
  Writer-director Roland Emmerich, who is responsible for Independence Day and The Day After Tomorrow, has taken audiences to a lot of strange places. Not one of them was as strange as his 10,000 B.C.
• Shift Back to Paper Ballots Sparks Disagreement
  Voting officials across the country have been trying to find a secure, reliable voting system ever since the 2000 presidential elections. After electronic machine failures, a number of states are returning to paper ballots. But not everyone agrees that's the right way to go.
• Culture Wars Dominate Spanish Elections
  Spain holds an election on Sunday, and the Socialist government is ahead in the polls. The opposition conservatives have tried to erode that lead with attacks on a wide range of issues. But the election is also highlighting Spain's social divide.
• Criminal Charges Filed in Toxic Toothpaste Case
  Criminal charges have been filed against four men involved in importing and distributing toothpaste that contained a toxic substance. Prosecutors say the toothpaste was distributed in the U.S. from December 2005 until May 2007. It contained a chemical commonly used in antifreeze.
• Case Stokes Debate About Autism, Vaccines
  The federal government has agreed to award damages from a special vaccine compensation fund to the family of a girl with symptoms of autism. Officials deny they are admitting a link between vaccines and autism, but activists are using the case to back up their claims.
• Presidential Race Focuses on Wyoming Caucuses
  Democrats in Wyoming are getting ready for a rare moment in the political spotlight when they hold a presidential caucus on Saturday. Wyoming only has 12 delegates, but in a year when every delegate counts, the candidates are campaigning hard.

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