Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• PUC to decide on huge powerline project
  After three years of studies, public hearings, and legal judgments, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will decide this week whether a CapX 2020, a huge powerline project, can be built across the state.6:55 a.m.
• State park along Lake Vermilion looks unlikely
  Minnesota has apparently lost out on a chance to create a new state park on Lake Vermilion. U.S. Steel is now moving ahead with plans to develop the proposed park land into a housing project. Those plan are a blow to Gov. Pawlenty, who argued that creating a state park on the land is a once in a lifetime opportunity.7:20 a.m.
• Coleman faces uphill battle in appeal case
  Republican Norm Coleman's attorneys say they'll file an appeal with the state Supreme Court early next week. This comes in response to the ruling on Monday by the three-judge panel that heard Coleman's senate election contest. But what are Coleman's prospects?7:25 a.m.
• Fire danger spreading to more of Minnesota
  Lack of precipitation through central Minnesota is causing high fire danger.7:45 a.m.
• A preview of Guthrie's Kushner extravaganza
  This weekend, the Guthrie Theater kicks off a nine-week celebration of the work of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner. Theater critic Dominic Papatola talks about the celebration.8:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Next FAA Chief Will Face Turbulent Climate
  If confirmed to lead the Federal Aviation Administration, Randy Babbitt would have two tall orders on his agenda: resolve labor issues among a disgruntled work force of air controllers, and goose a long-delayed update to the nation's navigation system.
• In A Texas Town, A Film Premiere Hits Home
  The new film American Violet is based on the true story of a misguided drug raid in Hearne, Texas, and the legal battles that followed. Hearne residents attended an advance screening — and NPR's Wade Goodwyn was there to catch their reactions.
• South Carolina Auctions Civil War Currency
  Officials in South Carolina have auctioned off on eBay bills issued by the state during the Civil War. They got more than $2,000 for the some of the money that had once been stored in cardboard boxes.
• Retail Sales Dropped In March
  Retail sales fell again in March after increasing the previous two months. The Commerce Department said Tuesday that sales dropped one-point-one percent.
• Calif. Commission Proposes TV Energy Standards
  Officials in California are considering tougher energy efficiency standards for new, big-screen television sets. Big screen and high definition TV's draw much more electricity than the old, smaller screen, analog sets.
• EBay To Buy South Korea's Largest Online Auction
  EBay is the world's largest online auction site, and it may get even bigger. The Wall Street Journal reports that eBay has reached a tentative deal to buy a controlling stake in South Korea's largest online auctioneer.
• L.A. Teachers Protest Public School Budget Cuts
  In Los Angeles, the city's public schools are facing a huge budget deficit. The school board voted Tuesday to cut thousands of jobs over the coming year — everything from teachers to janitors. That decision didn't go over well with the people about to be out of work.
• Mother Worried: Son On Ship Attacked By Pirates
  Katy Urbik of Wheaton, Ill., is concerned about her son, Tom, who is aboard a ship that was attacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia. The crew is safe and is being escorted to Mombasa, Kenya, by the USS Bainbridge. That's the ship that helped rescue Capt. Richard Philips from pirates Sunday.
• NBC Wants Ex-Ill. Gov. For Reality Show In Jungle
  It's being reported that Rod Blagojevich wants permission to leave the country. NBC says it wants the former Ill. gov. to appear on an upcoming reality show in the Costa Rican jungle. But Blagojevich's legal troubles could be a problem — his bond doesn't allow him to leave the country.
• NASA Names Space Station Treadmill After Colbert
  The space agency solved its latest public relations problem. NASA invited people to send choices to name a room in the international space station. TV comedian Stephen Colbert got his viewers to offer his last name, and they won. An astronaut told Colbert the agency compromised by renaming a treadmill.
• Much To Do For Congress After Recess
  Members of Congress are on a two-week spring break after an extremely active period. Among other things, they passed a stimulus package, a budget and an omnibus spending bill. But when they return next week, they move on to even more difficult challenges.
• Battle Over Offshore Drilling In Arctic Dwarfs ANWR
  Sea ice in the Arctic is retreating, opening the way for some of the largest oil and gas leases in history. But with many species already endangered or threatened, the battle over offshore drilling in Alaska may become more controversial than onshore.
• Chicago Barista To Compete In Championship
  Michael Phillips is the winner of the U.S. Barista Championship. He will represent the U.S. at the upcoming World Barista Championship in Atlanta. Philips is a barista trainer at Intelligentsia Coffee in Chicago, and he talks with Steve Inskeep about making the perfect cup of coffee.
• Polls Open Thursday In India's General Election
  Voting begins in India's general election on Thursday. It's a massive operation — there are more than 700 million voters. The election is an exotic affair in which dynasties, demagogues, movie stars, crooks and comics immerse themselves a gigantic political carnival.
• Obama Delivers Economic Progress Report
  On this tax deadline day, President Obama plans to highlight some of the tax cuts included in the economic stimulus plan. Yesterday, the president delivered a lengthy speech about how the U.S. got into the recession, where the economy is now and his plans to encourage a more prosperous future.

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