Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Film explores the lives of Dominican baseball players
  The Dominican Republic is famous for the large number of major league baseball players it produces. A new movie, "Sugar," follows the story of one man who tries to make that leap. MPR's Jim Bickal talked to the filmmakers.6:25 a.m.
• Weather with Mark Seeley
  University of Minnesota climatologist Mark Seeley discusses Minnesota weather history and looks ahead to the weekend forecast.6:55 a.m.
• Minn. House rejects Pawlenty's borrowing plan
  The House overwhelmingly rejected an amendment to the state government bill that would borrow $1 billion and pay the money back over twenty years with future tobacco revenues.7:20 a.m.
• Gang injunction aims to make Cinco de Mayo safer
  St. Paul city officials will ask a Ramsey County Court judge to grant them a temporary injunction designed to prevent violence at a popular street festival.7:25 a.m.
• 'The Quick and the Dead' brings concepts to the Walker
  The words 'conceptual art' are enough to get some people running the other way. However, the Walker Art Center hopes to change that with its huge new show "The Quick and the Dead" opening this weekend. With almost a hundred works by 53 artists, the show presents some very different takes on the world where we live.7:45 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• A Toddler, An Open Window And An Amazing Catch
  Marvin Goldstein was a toddler in 1945 when he fell out of a window five stories up in Brooklyn, N.Y. Fortunately for him, Sal Mauriello was there. Goldstein tells the story of Mauriello's great catch — and their reunion years later — to his son, Eric.
• Pakistan, Taliban Tensions Rise Over Key Valley
  Taliban militants are pressing deeper into Pakistan. There are reports that the Taliban are within striking distance of key installations such as hydro-electric dams and a main highway leading to Islamabad. In response, the government has sent paramilitary police into the area.
• From Juilliard To Skid Row In 'The Soloist'
  When Robert Downey Jr., as journalist Steve Lopez, discovers Jamie Foxx, playing a homeless man who happens to be a talented musician, he enters into a complicated relationship that changes the lives of both men.
• What Do Torture Memos Mean For CIA Field Work?
  Reuel Marc Gerecht is a former CIA operative. He talks with Renee Montagne about what the release of the so-called torture memos by the Obama administration means for agency field work. Gerecht says the agency will have to be concerned about officers invovled in future interrogations.
• Home Depot Owl, Rules the Roost
  A great horned owl apparently likes living at a Home Depot in Arkansas. Last January, an owl flew inside of the enclosed garden center during an ice storm and laid eggs atop a pallet of merchandise. One baby owl decided to stick around. Mice are not a problem at this store.
• French Government Hosts U.S. Cocktail Parties
  In a bid to promote two of its top exports, the French government is sponsoring wine and cheese parties in U.S. homs. According to The Wall Street Journal, French officials have hired a marketing company to take applications for the government-subsidized cocktail parties. One thousand people will receive coupons for discounts on French wines and cheese.
• Recession Hurts Microsoft Sales
  Microsoft said its quarterly revenue fell from the previous year for the first time in its 23-year history as a public company. The software giant said its earnings dropped 32 percent to 2.98 billion dollars.
• Chrysler Expected To File For Bankruptcy
  Several news reports say the U.S. Treasury is preparing for Chrysler to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as early as next week. A bankrupty filing would clear the way for Italian carmaker Fiat to complete its much-talked-about alliance with Chrysler.
• GM's Shutdown Casts Pall On Auto Part Plants
  GM's decision to shut down 13 assembly plants for up to 11 weeks this summer will disrupt far more than the lives of nearly 24,000 of its workers. It is rippling out to part suppliers.
• Montana Town Wants To Be The New Gitmo
  The city of Hardin has a new jail. The problem is, it's empty. City officials would like it to be the new Guantanamo Bay prison camp. Members of Montana's congressional delegation disagree.
• First-Time Buyers Jump Into Housing Market
  After a dismal year full of plummeting values and foreclosures, the U.S. housing market is seeing glimmers of hope. And the key element to the turnaround might be first-time buyers. They accounted for more than half the purchases in March.
• White House May Alter Haitian Immigrant Policy
  A week after allowing Cuban-Americans more freedom to return to their native country, there are signs the Obama administration may soon change U.S. policy for Haitian immigrants. Immigration activists say they're hopeful the administration will act soon to at least temporarily stop deporting Haitians to their devastated home country.
• Detroit Lions Have First Pick In NFL Draft
  There aren't any NFL games this weekend, but football fans will have something to keep them occupied: The NFL draft. The Detroit Lions have the first pick. The team's record last season was 0-16.
• What Exactly Is A Trillion?
  The International Monetary Fund this week estimated that it will eventually write down $2.7 trillion dollars in assets. Our Planet Money team decided to find out just what is a trillion.
• Voters Want Criminals In India's Parliament Out
  Elections are underway in India to choose a new parliament. Nearly one in four of the members of the country's parliament is charged with at least one criminal offense. There's a big drive this year to get the crooks out of office.

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