Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Dalai Lama speaks of compassion
  THe Dalai Lama spoke at the Mayo Clinic today. He said compassion for oneself and others were keys to a healthy body and a healthy society.6:20 a.m.
• Trial of second man accused in Sackett killing continues
  Testimony continues Tuesday in the murder trial of a second man accused of killing a St. Paul police officer nearly 36 years ago. Prosecutors expect to call Officer James Sackett's partner to the stand today. He'll testify about the night in 1970 that the two responded to a bogus emergency call.6:50 a.m.
• Non-profit group preparing to serve returning veterans
  People who serve veterans are preparing for a potential strain on their services a year from now. The 2600 Minnesota National Guard personnel who left earlier this month for active duty in Iraq will return home in a year. One non-profit service group, the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans, gets high marks for its responsiveness to the problems of veterans.6:55 a.m.
• The landbound journey of Duluth's Viking longship
  Duluth's 80-year-old Viking ship replica survived the north Atlantic Ocean, and decades of exposure to wind, sun and snow. But the people who restored the ship say it won't survive long without a shelter, as promised by city officials.7:20 a.m.
• Lawmakers back from short break
  Minnesota lawmakers will be back at the Capitol today after a five-day break for Easter and Passover. This week, they'll discuss a possible Twins stadium and a proposed constitutional amendment.7:25 a.m.
• West metro auto mechanics on strike
  There are 41 Twin Cities area auto dealships without their usual contingent of mechanics today. 1400 workers at dealerships mainly in the west metro, including many mechanics, are on strike after voting down a contract proposal Friday.8:55 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Pulitzer Panel Honors Jazz Legend Thelonious Monk
  Pulitzer Prize winners were announced Monday. Among those honored by the Pulitzer panel was legendary jazz pianist Thelonious Monk.
• With New Pipeline, Azerbaijan on Verge of Oil Boom
  Industry experts say a new pipeline will allow Azerbaijan to eventually quadruple its oil exports. But political opponents in Azerbaijan worry that the oil money will help the government of the former Soviet republic stifle pro-democracy efforts.
• Retracing the Path of the 1906 Earthquake
  Little was known about the San Andreas fault before a massive earthquake struck San Francisco in 1906. But that changed when a team of scientists mapped the fault and produced a report that gave birth to modern earthquake science.
• Kalashnikov Celebrates Weapon's Success
  Finally, one of those good news stories out of Iraq. Well, maybe good news, depending on who you are. It comes from the designer of the Kalashnikov assault rifle. Mihail Kalashnikov is 86 now. He's the creator of the old Soviet rifle that's cheap, reliable and plentiful around the world. He told a news conference in Moscow that Americans in Iraq have used AK-47's in preference to their American weapons, proving the value of his gun.
• Former Professor Pleads Guilty to Terrorist Charge
  Sami al-Arian, a former University of South Florida professor, pleads guilty to one count of conspiring to provide services to a terrorist group. He will now be deported. Al-Arian was cleared by a jury in December of eight counts of financing a terrorist group.
• Word-of-Mouth Marketing Creates a Buzz
  Word-of-mouth marketing has become a new trend in efforts to reach young consumers. Thousands of unpaid volunteers create a "buzz" about certain products, which they get for free. Corporations trying to use word-of-mouth marketing pay six figures to companies that provide these "buzz agents."
• Joplin's Ragtime Style Lives on in Print and Song
  Scott Joplin was once among America's most popular songwriters. The son of a former slave, his Ragtime music swept the nation more than 100 years ago.
• Federal Scrutiny of Baseball's Barry Bonds Continues
  A federal grand jury is investigating whether Barry Bonds committed perjury when he testified in 2003 that he never used steroids. The San Francisco Giants' head athletic trainer, Stan Conte, has been subpoenaed to testify. Steve Inskeep speaks with San Francisco Chronicle Managing Editor Robert Rosenthal about his paper's latest story on the case.
• Duke Case Requires Patience, Not Rhetoric
  Commentator John Ridley is critical of civil rights leader Jesse Jackson's offer to pay the college tuition of a woman who has accused several members of the Duke University lacrosse team of rape. The case has taken on strong racial overtones because the accuser is black, and almost all the members of the team are white. Ridley says Jackson should wait until the facts of the case are clear.
• U.S. Image Suffers in a Changing China
  As the President Hu Jintao of China begins a visit to the United States, Chinese attitudes toward America are quite negative. According to a Chinese survey last year, only 10 percent think the U.S. is friendly to China. Fifty-six percent believe Washington is actively trying to contain China.
• Chinese President Visits Washington
  Renee Montagne talks to Lin Shao-wen, deputy director of the newsroom at China Radio International, about Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to Washington.
• Mayor Attempts to Take Over Los Angeles Schools
  Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is promoting a controversial fix for the city's struggling public school system. He wants to put the bureaucracy under his control. Villaraigosa says this will bring more accountability to Los Angeles public schools. But his opponents call it a power grab.
• Layoffs May Follow City Takeover of L.A. Schools
  The details of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's takeover plans for the Los Angeles Unified School District have only been made public through a draft plan that was leaked to a newspaper. The draft plan includes large layoffs of middle management in the system.
• Skilling Testimony at Odds with Prosecutor's Facts
  Former Enron Chief Executive Jeffrey Skilling's first day of cross-examination saw him defend his sale of millions of dollars in Enron stock. He also repeatedly denied that he advised his ex-wife and girlfriend to sell their Enron stock, too.
• Former Illinois Governor Is Found Guilty of Fraud
  A jury convicts former Gov. George Ryan of steering millions of dollars in state leases and contracts to political insiders, lying to federal agents and tax fraud. The Republican is the third former Illinois governor in three decades to be convicted of federal felony charges.

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