Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Cass County officials say they need a hospital
  Cass County has no hospital, not one in the entire county. There's interest in reusing the state-owned Ah-Gwah-Ching facility in Walker for such a purpose. Cass County first has to get an exemption from a state moratorium on new hospital beds in Minnesota.6:20 a.m.
• After the Falls
  Photographer Alec Soth explores Niagara Falls, falling in love, and the aftermath of passion in a new body of work devoted to the famous body of water.6:50 a.m.
• Twins win home opener
  The Minnesota Twins won their home opener 7-6 against the Oakland A's. The game served as another memorial to former Twin Kirby Puckett who died last month. The Twins have dedicated the season to the Hall of Famer.7:20 a.m.
• Sen. Belanger on the latest push for stadiums
  Momentum at the state Capitol is gathering steam for new stadiums for the University of Minnesota Gophers, the Minnesota Twins and the Minnesota Vikings. All three teams currently play in the Metrodome, which opened in 1982. Sen. Bill Belanger, R-Bloomington, has been in the Legislature since before the Metrodome opened. He spoke with MPR's Cathy Wurzer about momentum at the Capitol for stadiums.7:25 a.m.
• Officials say they need full funding for avian flu prep
  The leaders of several state government departments and agencies say they're prepared for a possible bird flu pandemic. But those officials also say the Legislature needs to come through this year with sufficient funding to keep the preparations on track.7:45 a.m.
• Immigration issue could be political windfall for Pawlenty
  Gov. Pawlenty has called for cracking down on illegal immigration, and although his proposals are unlikely to get through the Legislature intact this session, he could get some political traction from the issue.7:50 a.m.
• Cluster clinics help migrant workers stay healthy
  Health concerns aren't often at the top of the list for migrant workers, but their health problems can be chronic. Diabetes and obesity are problems, and often migrant workers aren't doing anything to monitor their diseases.7:55 a.m.
• State Supreme Court takes on tobacco fee case
  Under sharp questioning from Minnesota Supreme Court justices, a tobacco industry lawyer conceded Tuesday that legislators would be within their power to pass a 75-cent-per-pack cigarette charge as long as they kept silent on the money's purpose.8:35 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• The Legacy of Joe Louis
  Commentator Frank Deford offers his take on the history of racism in sports, including an appreciation for legendary boxer Joe Louis.
• Rebuilding Chinatown After the 1906 Quake
  As San Francisco prepares to mark the centennial of the 1906 earthquake and fire, historians recall how Chinatown, destroyed along with much of the city, almost wasn't rebuilt.
• Orrick, Mo., Marks Loss of a Hometown Hero
  Mike Hartwick was killed when he was shot down in his helicopter in Iraq, near Baghdad. Hartwick is from a town of 800 in Missouri. Yet even in a town this small, 13 residents are serving in Iraq. Frank Morris of member station KCUR reports.
• Moussaoui Jury Hears Sept. 11 Cockpit Recording
  At the Zacarias Moussaoui sentencing trial, the jury hears the cockpit voice tape from the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania on Sept. 11. The tape covers the flight's last 30 minutes, including an apparent effort by passengers to overwhelm the hijackers. The prosecution is trying to demonstrate suffering caused by the hijacking.
• Memories of Polio
  Commentator Shelley Fraser Mickle recalls her bout with polio as a six-year-old in Arkansas.
• California Targets Greenhouse Gas Emissions
  California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger endorses measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions statewide. California's air quality goals have implications for industry and auto makers because they often lead to a ripple effect for laws across the country.
• Fallout Continues from Divisive Italian Election
  Official election results give a center-left coalition led by Romano Prodi a thin majority in both houses of Italy's parliament. Prodi rejects calls by current Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to form a broad-based government of national unity. Also in Italy, authorities nab a mafia boss sought for more than 40 years.
• Iran Moves Forward with Uranium Enrichment
  Iran says it is now enriching uranium for use in nuclear power and will ramp up the program in coming years. In Washington, there is talk of a military strike against Iran because of fears it will develop nuclear arms. Steve Inskeep talks to Matthew Bunn, a senior research associate at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.
• Spanish-Language DJ Turns Out the Crowds in L.A.
  In Los Angeles, one of the nation's most popular Spanish language radio personalities has played a huge role in turning out the massive crowds seen in recent immigration rights marches. Eduardo "Piolin" Sotelo says that, for him, it's a personal crusade.
• Job-Market Churn a Fact of Life for U.S. Workers
  College seniors in the United States will soon jump into the workforce. Unlike the French youths who recently protested in favor of job-security laws, U.S. students don't think they'll keep a job for life.
• The Perils of Honest E-Mails
  E-mail writers are finding that their notes occasionally reach a much larger audience than they intended. Commentator Judy Muller discusses some recent examples. Her advice is to think before you put anything in writing.
• Prosecutor Refuses to End Duke Lacrosse Probe
  The men's lacrosse team at Duke University remains the subject of an investigation into allegations that a woman was sexually assaulted at a party hosted by members of the team. The district attorney in Durham, N.C., says the case is not going away, even though DNA from the players didn't match evidence collected from the accuser. Jessica Jones of North Carolina Public Radio reports.
• President Takes Medicare Plan on Midwest Tour
  President Bush is touring the Midwest. He is promoting his new Medicare drug plan among seniors. Some say the system is too complicated to use easily.
• West Bank Settlers Vow Resistance to Withdrawal
  As many as 70,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank could be forced from their homes if Prime Minister-Designate Ehud Olmert goes ahead with his plan for more unilateral withdrawals from occupied territory. West Bankers say that, unlike their counterparts in Gaza, they will fight to stay in their homes.
• Crook Caught after Close-Up
  Law enforcement officers in Elko, Nev., caught a man who burglarized a Nevada laundromat. He stole all six of the store's surveillance cameras. But police discovered that he forgot to pick up the video machine they were attached to. He left behind videotape that shows him close-up as he prepares to take down one camera after another. The suspect wore distinctive clothing, too. So police picked up the only guy in town wearing cowboy chaps and a trench coat.

Resources

• Future Tense®
• Marketplace Morning Report®
• Mark Seeley's WeatherTalk

Services

• Hourly Newscast
• HD Radio
• iPhone App / Mobile
• E-mail newsletters
• RSS feeds
• Podcasts
• Submit your photos
• Videos
• Weather
• Most e-mailed stories

Become a Sponsor