Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Wisconsin man salvages printing presses and builds a second career
  What do you do when all of a sudden you're out of a job? About 20 years ago, Mike Coughlin was fired from his position as a magazine editor in St. Paul. So, Coughlin turned to what he knew and what he loved. But that involved trying to pay the rent with a bunch of machinery that he'd rescued from the scrap heap of printing history.6:55 a.m.
• Unions push back on Pawlenty's call for pay freeze
  Gov. Tim Pawlenty has repeatedly urged public employees at all levels of government to accept a salary freeze as a way to avoid layoffs. But union leaders say that's an unrealistic promise.7:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Please, Pop The Phrase 'On The Bubble'
  It's the tired expression used to describe the teams that just might win a berth in the 65-team NCAA men's basketball tournament. Commentator Frank Deford says it's time for the sports media to come up with new language, especially at a time when so many jobs, houses and lives are "on the bubble."
• Possible Change To Labor Law Ignites Controversy
  Two Democratic lawmakers introduced legislation Tuesday that has stirred up a firestorm of debate between business interests and labor groups. The Employee Free Choice Act would amend existing labor law. If passed, workers could form a union if the majority of them sign cards requesting one.
• Fractured Atlas Puts 'Biz' In Show Business
  The recession has not been kind to the arts world. It seems every week there's more bad news about opera companies folding or theaters scaling back their seasons. But there's a group dedicated to helping the nation's artists and small arts organizations work better as businesses.
• Pint-Sized Battle Heating Up Ice Cream Industry
  Ben and Jerry's is attacking Haagen-Dazs for its decision to shrink its "pints" from 16 ounces to 14 ounces. Haagen-Dazs justifies the move, saying costs have gone up. Ben and Jerry's says consumers are also feeling the pinch in these hard times, and now more than ever deserve a full pint of ice cream.
• Asian Exports Fall As Consumer Demand Dries Up
  As consumers and businesses around the world stop buying so much, demand for the region's products is collapsing. China said exports for February fell a record 26 percent compared to last year. Japan recently announced a 45 percent drop in its exports, and came out with more data on Wednesday showing the falloff in demand.
• Obama Cuts Funds To Nuclear Waste Repository
  President Obama has lived up to a campaign promise by cutting off most funds to develop Yucca Mountain in Nevada as the nation's nuclear waste dump. That leaves the fate of nuclear waste, currently stored at sites throughout the United States, in limbo. It also further diminishes the outlook for nuclear power.
• White House Chief Of Staff No Shrinking Violet
  President Obama has packed his staff with powerful figures, including Rahm Emanuel as his chief of staff. He has a larger-than-life personality and a reputation to match. Emanuel describes himself as a hard-charger and loyal. Other White House aides say Emanuel has matured a great deal over the years.
• Pakistani Protesters Gear Up For Indefinite Sit-In
  Thousands of opponents to Pakistan's president plan to make their way to the capital Islamabad Thursday for an indefinite sit-in. The political crisis has been simmering for months. It erupted about two weeks ago when Pakistan's Supreme Court upheld a ban on on former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from holding office. Sharif leads the country's largest opposition party.
• U.S., China Navy Spat May Have Broad Implications
  Chinese naval commanders have accused the U.S. of illegally collecting military intelligence in the South China Sea. Beijing has rejected U.S. complaints that Chinese vessels earlier had harassed a U.S. Navy ship in the area. The incident may complicate matters as China's foreign minister is in Washington to lay the groundwork for the first meeting between the two country's presidents.
• States Coached On Effective Stimulus Spending
  Senior officials in charge of spending their state's share of the economic stimulus will be at the White House Thursday for a summit on how to spend that money effectively. Timothy Gilchrist will represent New York. He talks with Steve Inskeep about being in charge of parceling out four billion dollars for infrastructure projects.
• Bill, Loaded With Earmarks, Sent To Obama
  Congress has managed to avoid a government shutdown. The Senate Tuesday night sent the president a $410 billion spending bill to keep domestic agencies and the State Department running for the rest of the fiscal year. The measure is six months late and $30 billion over last year's budget.
• Police Stop Men Moving Pot Plants After Burglary
  Authorities in Florida say they stopped two men with a truckload of marijuana plants. One man said he was moving the plants to protect them from burglars, who robbed his home the night before. He was charged with cultivating marijuana. The driver told police he was only there because his buddy's license was suspended. The driver was charged with felony marijuana possession.
• Madoff Expected To Plead Guilty To Fraud
  The man accused of operating a Ponzi scheme is expected to plead guilty to charges he engineered one of the largest investment scams in U.S. history. Bernard Madoff faces more than 100 years in prison. Some of the victims of the multi-billion-dollar investment scheme will have their say at Thursday's plea hearing.
• Job Fairs Help Wounded Veterans Find Work
  It's hard to find work in a down economy, but imagine being more than 30 percent disabled from an injury suffered in Iraq or Afghanistan. The Defense Department is trying to help. It's calling on federal employers and those in the private sector to find jobs for the veterans who have been wounded during military service. Terry Gildea reports for Texas Public Radio.
• Stimulus Will Go Miles In Arizona
  Officials in Arizona are spending part of the state's stimulus money replacing some unique road signs. They're on a stretch of Interstate 19 and they list distances in kilometers. The signs were put up as a test as the country got ready to adopt the metric system in the 1970s.

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