Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Scientists track golden eagle as it soars
  The weather might not be perfect today, but it won't matter much to one large golden eagle. The eagle will get to be in the wild again, after spending weeks in the Twin Cities, recovering from an injury.6:50 a.m.
• The tools that can hold back water
  The massive effort to prepare for what's expected to be record flooding continues today in Fargo. The good news is that city officials have some new tools to keep back flood waters.6:55 a.m.
• Breckenridge gets a reprieve from flooding
  The weather caused some unexpected surprises in cities along the Red River. In Breckenridge, Minnesota low rain levels and mild temperatures helped the city. Ice has been melting and the river has been flowing freely. But that's not the case in every community.7:20 a.m.
• Rolvaag-Anderson race no longer longest recount
  It was on this day in 1963 that Karl Rolvaag became Minnesota's 31st governor. That marked the end of what was then the longest-running recount in Minnesota history. The battle between Republican Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken for the U.S. Senate is about to break that record.7:25 a.m.
• U of M resumes nuns' Alzheimer's study
  The Nun Study, which originated at the U of M in 1986, gained worldwide attention for its insights into Alzheimer's disease.7:40 a.m.
• Snow presents yet another issue for flood fighters
  It is not just flood waters that Fargo residents have to deal with - now a snowstorm is hitting the area. Three to four inches of snow are already on the ground. Despite the bad weather, sandbagging continues in Fargo.7:45 a.m.
• Movies and theater cross pollinating more and more
  If you want to see the show "Grey Gardens," you can head over to the Ordway for this evening's opening night performance, or you can wait until April 18th when HBO airs its version of the true story of Big Edie and Little Edie, or you can rent the original documentary from 1975.8:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• In Pakistan, A Government Official-Turned-Protester
  Many thousands of people took part in the campaign to restore Pakistan's chief justice after he was ousted by the country's military ruler more than two years ago. But one man stood out amid that noisy throng of black-suited lawyers, civil activists and party cadres, who are now celebrating the judge's return to the bench: 85-year-old Roedad Khan.
• Cartels Fueling Violence In Mexico Take Root In U.S.
  Like any good business, Mexico's drug cartels are expanding their operations. They're now major players in the distribution and retailing of drugs in the U.S.
• Pet Parrot Helps Save Choking Toddler
  A pet parrot is credited with saving a toddler from choking. Willie's owner performed the Heimlich maneuver after Willie yelled for help, alerting the owner that a little girl she was babysitting was choking on her food. The parrot shouted "Mama, Baby" and flapped his wings until his owner ran back just in time. Colorado's governor is among those honoring Willie as a hero.
• In Carmel, Bailout Money Makes It To Main Street
  It's sometimes hard to tell whether the federal bailouts are having an impact. But in Carmel, Calif., it's easy to see how money from the government's Troubled Asset Relief Program that went to one local bank trickled down into the community — and helped save some jobs and small businesses along the way.
• Sales Offer Consumers An Out If Hard Times Hit
  As companies try to jump-start sales in a sour economy, many are offering risk-free deals to consumers: Purchase their products, and if you get laid off, you're off the hook.
• Folklorist, Labor Activist Archie Green Dies
  Archie Green was a blue-collar worker and labor-union activist who became a teacher and helped start the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. The man who established "laborlore" as a field of study died Sunday at the age of 91.
• Letters: Africa Aid, Oakland, Phantom Cell Phone
  Some listeners took issue with an economist who says African countries have been hurt by Western aid. A report about shootings in Oakland, Calif., drew a note of protest. And a story about phantom limb pain prompted a question about treatment for "phantom cell phone phenomenon."
• Obama Calls For 'Tough Budgetary Choices'
  President Obama used his second prime-time news conference to make the case for his economic agenda Tuesday night. But lawmakers are already making big changes to Obama's budget proposal.
• Economist: Obama Sweeping Tax Reform Under Rug
  As the economic situation grows increasingly complex, experts weigh in on what's working, what's not and what's next. Economist Rosanne Altshuler, whose specialty is tax policy, says President Obama has been busy with health care and education reform but seems to have swept tax reform under the rug.
• Laid-Off Man Offers Nickel's Worth Of Fix-It Advice
  After getting laid off from an architecture firm for the second time last year, John Morefield knew something had to change. He could look for another job again — or set up a booth at a local market in Seattle and offer home renovation advice for 5 cents a shot.
• Recession Adds To Hurdles Facing U.S. Census
  A year from now, the U.S. will conduct its decennial population count. The findings are used to re-apportion congressional districts, disburse federal funding — even decide where new traffic lights go. But the economic crisis threatens to make this daunting task even harder. There is special concern about minority groups, which are traditionally hard to count.
• Blockbuster To Sell Movies, TV Shows On TiVo
  The DVD rental chain Blockbuster says it will rent and sell movies and TV shows through the digital recording device TiVo starting later this year. Blockbuster's rival Netflix has been doing this since last year. Both companies are trying to position themselves to make money from the increasing number of consumers who download their entertainment from the Internet.
• Balancing Budgets With Sin Taxes
  Lawmakers seeking to balance their budgets may remember that the Boston Tea Party was a protest over taxation. So-called sin taxes, on things like alcohol and cigarettes, are supposed to be politically safe. But nobody told the sinners. Kentucky protesters poured bourbon on the capitol steps. People in Pittsburgh dumped beer in a river. In Nevada, the governor's office gave a cool reception to a proposed five-dollar tax on prostitution.
• Lawmakers Grill Geithner, Bernanke On AIG Rescue
  Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner went to Capitol Hill on Tuesday hoping to spend time with lawmakers discussing new regulatory tools to deal with failing companies as large and complex as AIG. Instead, they spent most of their time defending their roles in the rescue of the insurance giant.
• 1973 'Peanuts' Comic Strip Up For Auction
  This week, a Peanuts comic strip from April 1, 1973, is on the block. It's a Sunday edition, with more panels than usual — and, of course, it features Charlie Brown being suckered by Lucy. Auctioneer Nate Sanders says despite the recession, Peanuts strips are still rising in value, perhaps because of their limited supply. He thinks this one might come close to the record for a Peanuts strip, which is more than $100,000.

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