Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Weather with Mark Seeley
  University of Minnesota Climatologist Mark Seeley discusses Minnesota weather history and looks ahead to a warm weekend.6:50 a.m.
• Legislature burns the midnight oil on a budget bill
  Lawmakers in the Minnesota House and Senate worked late into the morning to pass bills that erase the state's $935 million projected budget deficit.7:20 a.m.
• Elderly couple files first lawsuit under new anti-predatory lending law
  Elderly Red Wing couple files what appears to be the first lawsuit under Minnesota's Anti-Predatory Lending law.7:25 a.m.
• King's Last March
  Today marks the 40th anniversary of the assassination of civil right leader Martin Luther King Jr. A new American RadioWorks documentary about King, called King's Last March, tells about the dramatic and often-overlooked final year in the life of Dr. King. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer talked with Stephen Smith, host of American Public Media's documentary unit, American RadioWorks.7:50 a.m.
• New trail ambassadors will be 'eyes and ears' for DNR
  A new DNR program is putting state-trained trail ambassadors on public lands in Minnesota. The volunteers will keep watch on the state's trail system and report problems to the DNR.8:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Wisconsin Town Picks Commissioner from a Hat
  Here's a suggestion for Clinton and Obama. An election in Burlington, Wis., ended in a tie, and officials did the democratic thing: They put two names in a hat and drew a winner.
• Is That a Guitar in Your Pants?
  Police in Lewiston, Maine, are looking for a shoplifter who hid a guitar in his pants. Two of his friends acted as lookouts while the man placed the Fender Stratocaster in his pants and then put on a sweatshirt. In 2006, a different man was caught in that store doing the same thing.
• Poll Finds Americans Pessimistic about Salaries
  The New York Times released a major poll Friday about how Americans feel about their economic prospects. David Leonhardt of the Times says Americans are more worried than they used to be about job security.
• The Role of Superdelegates in the Democratic Race
  It's widely viewed that the Democratic presidential nominee may be decided by the party's superdelegates. Democratic strategist Tad Devine talks about the origins of superdelegates and how a protracted Democratic presidential nomination contest could affect the party's chances in the general election.
• Iraq's Prime Minister Freezes Raids Against Militias
  Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has ordered a nationwide freeze on raids against suspected Shiite militiamen.
• Bernanke Defends Fed's Rescue of Bear Stearns
  As Congress grilled top financial regulators about whether the rescue of troubled investment bank Bear Stearns will put taxpayer money at risk, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the bailout was necessary to avoid a financial meltdown.
• Re-Examining U.S. Relationship with Iraq's Premier
  The Pentagon is publicly commending efforts by Iraq's government to take on militants in Basra, even though fighting resulted in a draw and most likely weakened Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The incident raises questions about the relationship between the U.S. and its man in Iraq.
• U.S. Economy Lost 80,000 Jobs in March
  The U.S. economy lost 80,000 jobs last month, according to the Labor Department's closely watched jobs report, out Friday. The numbers are worse than many economists expected, and they add to fears of recession.
• Motorola to Cut 2,600 Jobs
  The world's second largest cell-phone maker says it's cutting 2,600 jobs — nearly 4 percent of its work force, which lost 7,500 jobs last year. Motorola is in trouble because handset sales are falling, and the company is losing money.
• Man Caught Stealing Grease from Burger King
  Thefts of increasingly expensive commodities like grain and fuel are being reported all over the world. But in California, commodity crime has taken a new turn. A manager at Burger King spotted a man siphoning cooking oil from a storage tank.
• Michigan Schools Embrace Wind Power, Biodiesel
  A rural school district in Michigan has gone green. One school powers itself with wind turbines, and students soon will press oil from soybeans and sunflowers for biodiesel. The district's efforts are saving money — and preparing kids for green careers.
• Study Finds Soil Bacteria Can Live on Antibiotic Diet
  Antibiotics normally kill bacteria. But scientists have discovered that hundreds of bacteria living in dirt not only resist being killed by antibiotics — they use the antibiotics as food.
• Argentine Farmers Suspend Strike over Soy Tax
  In Argentina, a showdown between farmers and the new president is riveting the nation. Farmers angry over a new tax on soy exports went on strike for three weeks, paralyzing supermarkets and exports. They've suspended the strike but vow to resume it if demands aren't met.
• Boeing Official: Air Force Manipulated Tanker Deal
  When the Air Force picked Northrop Grumman and its European partner over Boeing to build refueling planes, controversy erupted. Now Boeing is trying to get the contract overturned. Mark McGraw, vice president of Boeing's tanker programs, says the Air Force manipulated the cost data in the bidding process.
• Swing Voters in the Heart of Pennsylvania
  Pennsylvania holds a presidential primary this month. NPR's David Greene, who has been eating his way across the state to find out what Democratic voters are thinking, recounts what he's heard in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country.

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