Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Swine flu fears won't stop Cinco de Mayo celebrations
  Organizers of some large-scale events around the Twin Cities this weekend are moving forward with plans despite concerns about the H1N1 flu outbreak.6:45 a.m.
• Lowrider car show a celebration of culture, creativity
  St. Paul's west side is spruced up and ready to host the region's largest Cinco de Mayo festival today and Saturday. Along with the jalapeno-eating contest and the headlining musical act from Mexico, there'll be a hundred or so entries in the lowrider car show.6:50 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.
• State hospitals see more worried patients
  State officials say we should expect to see more Minnesotans diagnosed with the H1N1 flu virus. Hospitals and clinics around the country are seeing a surge in people who are worried about the flu, but not sick with it.7:20 a.m.
• Biodiesel use and debate set to rise
  The amount of biodiesel sold in Minnesota will jump starting today, refueling debate over whether the alternative fuel might clog engines in cold weather.7:45 a.m.
• Mauer returns to the Twins
  Minnesota Twins All-Star catcher Joe Mauer returns to his familiar spot behind home plate at the Metrodome. The start of Mauer's season was delayed after he experienced back pain during spring training.8:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• A Hardy Farmer's Advice: Never Quit
  Johnny Bradley grew up in Georgia working another man's land. Now he owns his own farm and tells his daughter what he took away from that experience as a sharecropper's son.
• UK's Brown Defeated Over Nepalese Soldiers
  British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has suffered a rare parliamentary defeat. Earlier this week, lawmakers voted to overturn new rules that restrict the number of former Nepalese Gurkha soldiers who may settle in Britain.
• Justice Souter To Retire From Supreme Court
  President Obama will soon have the chance to appoint a new justice to the U.S. Supreme Court. Justice David Souter is planning to retire at the end of the court's term.
• Flu Is a Good Thing For Some Businesses
  Health officials have been advising people to wash their hands and take other precautions to avoid catching the flu. That has some companies rubbing their hands at the prospect of more business. Johnson and Johnson has ramped up production of Purell, its antibacterial hand sanitizer. CVS and other pharmacies are selling more face masks than usual.
• Disney Takes Equity Stake in Hulu
  Three of the four big broadcast networks are going to be putting their TV shows on the same popular website. ABC's parent company, Disney, is joining Fox and NBC at Hulu dot com.
• Calif. Waits For Stimulus To Rev Up State's Economy
  The recession is cutting across most every economic sector in California. Officials are waiting for the state to benefit from its share of the $787 billion economic stimulus package. The federal dollars will not solve all of California's problems, and may create some new ones.
• Discovery Communications Teams With Hasbro Toys
  Discovery Communications and the toymaker Hasbro are launching a new kids television channel next year. It will replace the existing Discovery Kids Network. For Hasbro the key word is merchandising. The channel will likely have plenty of shows featuring Hasbro toys — like G.I. Joe and Transformers.
• Judge Says No To 'Sinner' Name Change Request
  Nebraska inmate Jonathan Lawrence Thomas wanted to legally change his name to Sinner. In fact his new full name would be Sinner Lawrence Bilskirnir. A judge denied the name change saying authorities need to track Thomas because of his criminal record and three pending child-support cases.
• Calif.'s Top Cop Victim Of Theft
  Somebody went after Attorney General Jerry Brown's Toyota Camry. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, thieves hit the state-owned vehicle outside Brown's house. They took both tires from the passenger side. Brown posted a message to his Facebook page noting that even the state's top law enforcement official isn't immune to crime.
• UAW's Gettelfinger On Chrysler's Future
  When Chrysler emerges from bankruptcy, the United Auto Workers could end up with a 55 percent stake in the company. The UAW is also likely to own a large stake of General Motors. UAW President Ron Gettelfinger talks with Steve Inskeep about what the latest moves in the auto industry mean for the union.
• Mexican Pig Farming Town Under The Microscope
  Health officials in Mexico are closely monitoring the swine flu outbreak in a small town about 250 miles northeast of the capital, Mexico City. Officials confirmed one of Mexico's first flu cases in La Gloria. That has put the town's 3,000 residents in the spotlight.
• India's Election: Mumbai Votes 5 Months After Attack
  Millions of Indians have voted in the third round of a general election. Voters in the country's financial hub Mumbai voted just months after an attack by Islamist gunmen that killed 166 people.
• More U.S. Swine Flu Cases Confirmed
  Like the swine flu virus, news about the outbreak is spreading. For the latest information, Steve Inskeep talks with Dr. Anne Schuchat, deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She's head of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.
• Myanmar Cyclone Victims Still Suffering
  This weekend marks one year since a major cyclone hit Myanmar, which was formerly known as Burma. More than 140,000 people were killed. Chris Kaye of the World Food Program tells Steve Inskeep that thousands are still without jobs and housing.
• Scientists Ask Fundamental Questions About Flu
  As scientists investigate the new swine flu virus, they're asking some fundamental biological questions. Some of the unanswered questions are: How far will it spread and how much disease will it cause?

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