Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Minnesotans struggle to reach family in Myanmar
  The Twin Cities is home to about 1,000 people from the former Burma. The relatives of many of those who live in the hard-hit storm region are still waiting to hear the fate of their loved ones.6:50 a.m.
• Legislature presses ahead to the end of the session
  The Minnesota House and Senate passed a school finance bill Tuesday night over the objections of Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who had wanted an end-of-session budget agreement in place before the vote. DFL legislative leaders decided to press ahead after closed-door negotiations with the Republican governor broke down.7:20 a.m.
• Concealed carrying of firearms may come to national parks
  Visitors to Voyageurs National Park and other national parks would be allowed to carry concealed handguns, under a proposal from the U.S. Interior Department.7:40 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Geology, Engineering Contribute to Quake Damage
  Monday's earthquake in China's Sichuan province involved a violent fault line and structures that weren't built to withstand the tremors.
• On Reality TV, Less Sleep Means More Drama
  Research shows that sleep deprivation makes people emotionally volatile and temperamental — a fact that hasn't escaped the notice of some reality TV producers, who deny contestants sleep in an effort to kick up televised drama.
• Delphi Chief: Skills Key to U.S. Factory Turnaround
  The economy shed 326,000 factory jobs in the past 12 months. Steve Miller, executive chairman of giant auto parts maker Delphi Corp., says improving worker skills is key to turning around the embattled U.S. manufacturing sector.
• China Dispenses Aid; Myanmar Victims Await Help
  China's government is airlifting aid to areas devastated by Monday's earthquake. Meanwhile, in Myanmar, victims of a cyclone that hit more than a week ago have yet to receive help — and on Wednesday, there are reports that another cyclone is developing in the region.
• Clinton Wins W.Va., Insists 'It's Not Over'
  Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton racked up an impressive win in the West Virginia primary Tuesday night. She beat Barack Obama convincingly — by more than two votes to one. The New York senator said she has shown strength in states that the Democrats need to win in November.
• Obama Campaign Downplays W.Va. Loss
  Sen. Barack Obama lost by a wide margin to Sen. Hillary Clinton in Tuesday's Democratic presidential primary in West Virginia. The campaign downplayed the loss. Obama's only campaign event Tuesday was a town hall meeting in Missouri, where he looked ahead to the general election.
• McCain Wins Nebraska's GOP Primary
  As expected, Sen. John McCain won Tuesday's GOP presidential primary in Nebraska — although some Republicans registered their dissatisfaction with the presumptive GOP nominee by backing Congressman Ron Paul. As his Democratic rivals battle it out, McCain has been conserving energy, making about one campaign appearance per day.
• China Expert: Rapid Growth a Factor in Quake's Toll
  The death toll in China's Sichuan province continues to rise after this week's devastating earthquake. Orville Schell, director of the Center on U.S.-China Relations at the Asia Society, says China's rapid economic development has meant substandard construction in the region, which may have contributed to the quake's damage.
• Phones Faltering, Quake Survivors Rely on Texting
  The first word about the massive earthquake in China did not come from the news media. In China, some 600 million people have cell phones, and when the quake hit, many reached for them — but not to talk. Instead, they used the nation's most popular form of communication — text messaging.
• U.N. Obtains Visas for Myanmar, Reporter Says
  As nearly 2 million survivors of a cyclone that struck Myanmar remained at risk Wednesday, an unidentified NPR reporter there told co-host Steve Inskeep that there is a bit of good news: The United Nations was able to get a few visas for personnel who have been waiting in Bangkok.

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