Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Previewing Al Franken's swearing-in to the Senate
  Democratic Senator-elect Al Franken is scheduled to be sworn-in to the Senate today. It comes about eight months after the November 2008 election. Franken defeated Republican Norm Coleman by 312 votes, following a recount and court action.7:20 a.m.
• Seating Franken doesn't bring closure for many
  Al Franken's swearing-in brings closure, after the senate recount, and court action took months to determine a winner. Or does it?7:25 a.m.
• Colleges bank on early retirement to balance budgets
  Some Minnesota colleges are offering early-retirement incentives in an effort to balance budgets and avoid at least some layoffs.8:45 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Jackson's Complicated Ties With Black America
  Without question, Michael Jackson shattered some major racial barriers in the music and entertainment industry. But the pop idol has had a complicated relationship with African Americans. Now, as plans are finalized for Jackson's memorial in Los Angeles on Tuesday, many of the old racial rifts, if not gone, at least seem to be fading.
• New Funding Rules Issued On Stem Cell Research
  The National Institutes of Health says it deems stem cell lines eligible for government research dollars if scientists can prove they meet the spirit of the new ethics standards. An NIH registry will list all that qualify. The rules settle the question of whether new ethics requirements would disqualify many of the stem cells created over the past decade.
• More Than 150 Dead Amid Rioting In Western China
  Tensions are running high in the western Chinese city of Urumqi, where more than 150 people have been killed in some of the region's worst ethnic violence in decades. Protesters armed with clubs defied police and marched through the streets.
• L.A. Braces For King Of Pop's Public Memorial
  Thousands of Michael Jackson fans have descended on Los Angeles. A private funeral is expected to be held at Forest Lawn Cemetery, and a public memorial will be held at the Staples Center.
• What Does 'Public Plan' Mean In Health Debate?
  One phrase in the health care debate is generating more buzz than any other: public plan. It's being hailed by supporters as the savior of the system, and by detractors as the first step toward socialized medicine. But what does it really mean?
• Self-Imposed Health Care Deadline Looms
  Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are returning to work on efforts to craft a bill to overhaul the nation's health care system. House and Senate leaders have pledged to get health bills passed by both chambers before members leave for their annual summer break next month. However, sometimes Congress acts at its own pace.
• Obama Works On Fresh Start With Russia
  Speaking Tuesday at the New Economic School in Moscow, President Obama outlined a vision of international cooperation, in which Russia and its citizens would play a leading role. The speech comes one day after Obama's summit with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, which was intended to mark a new chapter in relations between the two former Cold War adversaries.
• Law Students Study Jackson's Dance-Move Patent
  In the video for the song "Smooth Criminal," Michael Jackson leans way forward, yet he doesn't fall. It's an illusion that Jackson had patented. Lawyer Gene Quinn teaches this unusual patent to his law students. Quinn says the patent, which has expired, sheds light on Jackson's personality and business acumen.
• Justice Department Says Reverse Payments Illegal
  Justice Department officials have been looking into a case in which Bayer paid another drugmaker to delay selling a generic version of Bayer's popular antibiotic Cipro. The payment was challenged by drug store chains like CVS and Rite Aid. The Federal Trade Commission says payments that delay the introduction of cheaper generics force consumers to fork out billions more a year for prescription drugs. Lawmakers are weighing legislation that would ban the payments.
• Farmers Fight Against Mandatory Cattle ID Tag
  When the first U.S. case of mad cow disease was discovered six years ago, it prompted calls for a national system to track livestock from birth to slaughter. The Agriculture Department soon rolled out a voluntary program designed to identify animals and farms. So far, only about one in four cattle has an official ID tag, and the USDA says it needs more participation to make the program work.
• Chicago Cubs Close To Being Sold
  The long-pending sale of the Chicago Cubs appears close to being finalized. Media reports say the Tribune Co. has reached a written agreement to sell the popular but hard-luck baseball team for close to $900 million.
• San Diego Benefits From Navy's Pacific Fleet Buildup
  The Navy is repositioning many of its ships to the West Coast as part of a strategic decision to focus more military resources on security along the Pacific Rim. The Pentagon is spending billions to support the military buildup, and that in turn is helping San Diego's economy.
• Once A Punch Line, Hyundai Racks Up Sales, Awards
  As Toyota struggles, its Asian neighbor and rival Hyundai is on a roll. Once the butt of jokes, the Korean carmaker is racking up awards — and taking a bigger share of the American auto market in the middle of a deep recession.
• Chinese Leaders Study American-Style Democracy
  Each year, the Chinese city of Dalian flies government officials to Los Angeles to learn about American-style democracy. The teacher is Joaquin Lim, a former mayor of a suburb east of Los Angeles.
• Police In Clare, Mich., Save Bakery From Closing
  Cops & Doughnuts is a real bakery in Michigan. It's owned by nine full-time employees at the Clare Police Department. Members of the police department decided to take over the operation when the owner of the Clare City Bakery decided to call it quits.

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