Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• North Dakota oil finds a big one
  The oil industry is booming in North Dakota, and a new study is likely to encourage even more development. The U.S. Geological Survey says North Dakota has the largest recoverable oil formation in the lower 48 states.6:50 a.m.
• Spring snowstorm moving through the state
  Winter's back, and parts of Minnesota are feeling its bite. The National Weather Service reported zero visibility and winds up to 55 miles per hour in northern Minnesota, with a blizzard warning in effect until Saturday morning.6:55 a.m.
• Participation in JOBZ declines
  For the third year in a row, the number of companies using Minnesota's JOBZ program has fallen. The Legislature is debating whether JOBZ should continue.7:20 a.m.
• DFLers square off in the 3rd District
  DFL delegates in Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District will try to choose a candidate Saturday to run for the seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad.7:25 a.m.
• Immersion program provides new hope for preserving Ojibwe language
  The number of people fluent in the Ojibwe language is fading fast. An elementary school program on the Leech Lake reservation is taking a more aggressive approach to saving the language.7:50 a.m.
• Boat owners could face permits for water discharge
  Every boat from cabin cruisers to canoes would have to carry a new permit as a result of a court fight over ballast water discharged from big ships.8:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Cooking Contest Winner Offers 'Ungarnished Truth'
  How do you begin to think of a dish that will wow judges' hearts and stomachs? If you're Ellie Mathews, winner of a $1 million prize in the Pillsbury Bake-Off, "it involves a fair amount of experimentation."
• World Bank Chief: Biofuels Boosting Food Prices
  Demand for ethanol and other biofuels is a "significant contributor" to soaring food prices around the world, World Bank President Robert Zoellick says. Droughts, financial market speculators and increased demand for food have also helped create "a perfect storm" that has boosted those prices, he says.
• Afghan Engineer Has Kalashnikov, Will Invent
  Afghanistan has a real-life version of Doc Brown, the kinetically hyperactive and clever inventor in the Back to the Future movies. Supporters say his gizmos — such as burglar and car alarms — could help fight crime in Afghanistan.
• 'Lunch-Bucket' Democrats Key in Pa. Primary
  Democrats hold their next presidential primary in Pennsylvania on April 22. The state appears tailor-made for a Hillary Clinton victory. Clinton is counting on her strongest supporters — white working-class voters — to help her win. But Barack Obama has been working hard to win support.
• Bill Clinton's Post-Presidential Perks
  Former presidents are allowed a variety of benefits, from a pension to staff salaries to office supplies. A political newspaper that analyzed Bill Clinton's ex-presidential perks found that he has spent $8 million, far more than ex-presidents Bush and Carter combined.
• Airlines Scramble as Grounded Planes Cause Chaos
  American Airlines has canceled thousands of flights this week for safety checks. Several other U.S. carriers have had to do the same thing, and they're shuffling passengers, empty planes, mechanics, inspectors — and a lot of paperwork — to try to get through the logistical chaos.
• Truckers Say High Diesel Costs Threaten Industry
  Truckers are getting squeezed by the rising price of diesel. At around $4 a gallon, it's getting costly to fill up an 18-wheeler. Truck drivers have ratcheted up their public outcry, holding rallies across the country.
• Fur Seals' Decline Puzzles Aleuts, Scientists
  The number of northern fur seals has been dropping for more than a decade, much to the concern of the local Aleut natives. Some blame the fishing industry for overfishing the seals' favorite prey. Scientists are still trying to figure out what the cause could be.
• Italian Candidates Fail to Ignite Voter Enthusiasm
  As Italians prepare to vote, polls suggest that Silvio Berlusconi, the right-wing former prime minister, is favored over his main rival. But a third of the electorate is undecided, and many voters say they're unimpressed with their choices.
• Zimbabwean Official Says 'There Is No Crisis'
  Leaders in southern Africa will meet this weekend to address the ongoing political crisis in Zimbabwe. That country held presidential elections March 29 — and Zimbabwean voters still don't know who won the contest. But Bright Matonga, Zimbabwe's deputy information minister, says there is no crisis.

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