Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Plans to build new powerlines meet opposition
  Critics of a proposed network of high-voltage power lines around Minnesota say the project is unnecessary. A group of utilities called, CapX 2020 would build four lines connecting various parts of the state.6:50 a.m.
• Immigrant brothers build their dream
  For two immigrant brothers, the Calas, the American Dream has come true.6:55 a.m.
• How the new 35W bridge was built so quickly
  State officials announce today when the new I-35W bridge over the Mississippi River will open to traffic, perhaps as early as Tuesday.7:20 a.m.
• Federal courthouse reopens after three-year, $65 million renovation
  The 42-year-old Warren Burger federal courthouse in St. Paul reopens today after undergoing a $65 million renovation.7:25 a.m.
• Monday Markets with Chris Farrell
  Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell on the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers, and the sale of Merrill Lynch.7:55 a.m.
• Future Tense with Jon Gordon
  Future Tenses' Jon Gordon discusses the Pentagon's secret weapon in Iraq.8:20 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Peace Day Film Brings Jude Law To Afghanistan
  Jude Law and documentary filmmaker Jeremy Gilley went to Afghanistan to promote the U.N. International Day of Peace with a new film, The Day After Peace. The Day of Peace, scheduled for Sept. 21, seeks to pause conflict for a day.
• Wilbur Ross: Finding His Calling
  When investor Wilbur Ross was at Yale, he took an English course that required writing 1,000 words a day. After two weeks, he ran out of things to say. The billionaire jokes that dropping it "probably saved me from a life of poverty."
• Stocks Fall Sharply On Lehman, Merrill Lynch News
  U.S. stock prices are down sharply as investors digest the news of another major financial collapse on Wall Street. This weekend, the government decided not to help rescue Lehman Brothers, as it did Bear Stearns, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. As a result, it has filed for bankruptcy. Also Sunday, Merrill Lynch agreed to sell itself to Bank of America rather than suffer the same fate.
• No Golden Parachutes For Fannie, Freddie CEOs
  The Federal Housing Finance Agency announced Sunday that the former CEOs of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will not walk away with golden parachutes. The agency that regulates — and now manages — the two mortgage giants said it will not allow the former executives to walk away with multimillion-dollar severance packages.
• Dog Calls 911, Saves Owner Struck By Seizure
  The tale of a German shepherd saving its owner's life goes back to Rin Tin Tin. Buddy is the latest chapter. He called 911 when his owner had a seizure. John Stalnaker trained Buddy to make the emergency call, should he — as he sometimes does — have a seizure. The Arizona Republic reports emergency officials arrived within two minutes — after hearing Buddy whimpering on the other end of the phone.
• Dad Charged For Beating Daughter's Boyfriend
  A Florida man says he was just defending his daughter. Raul Colon says he heard noises coming from his teenage daughter's bedroom, and he found a stranger on her bed. Police say Colon whacked him with a pipe, then chased him out the door. Then he learned, for the first time, that his daughter has a boyfriend. Fathers everywhere will be stunned to learn that whacking a boy with a pipe is apparently not a father's prerogative. Police charged him with aggravated battery.
• General: Eastern Afghanistan Needs More Troops
  The area of Afghanistan near the border with Pakistan has been a hotbed of insurgent attacks. It has also been the launching point for Americans firing unmanned drones into tribal areas of Pakistan. Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Schloesser, who commands U.S. soldiers along the Pakistan border, says more troops and resources are needed.
• FEMA Criticized For Slow Response In Houston
  Power is still out Monday for millions of people along the Gulf Coast of Texas — 48 hours after Hurricane Ike tore apart seaside communities and flooded Houston. Emergency workers struggled through the weekend to rescue thousands of people who ignored evacuation orders. Those who stayed say help was slow to come.
• Congressional Election Races Tighten
  The presidential race may be grabbing most of the headlines, but there are congressional elections this November, too. The Democrats in Congress were hoping to end up with an upper hand, but some of them are seeing their re-election races tighten.
• New Hampshire: Small But Crucial For November
  New Hampshire has become an important battleground this year, because with the presidential race so close, even small states are crucial. John McCain, who won the GOP presidential primary in both 2000 and 2008, is the kind of Republican who appeals to independents there.
• The Three Ps: Why Bailouts Are Problematic
  U.S. automakers are trying to secure billions of dollars in government loans in order to bail out the industry, but the idea doesn't sit well with veteran auto reporter Paul Ingrassia. The problem with bailouts, Ingrassia says, can be summarized by three Ps — philosophy, practice and precedent.
• Lehman Brothers Files For Bankruptcy
  One of Wall Street's oldest firms filed for bankruptcy after an effort to save it failed Sunday. The federal government declined to step in for Lehman Brothers like it did for Bear Stearns for two reasons: Lehman Brothers isn't as big, and the government "has just had enough," says NPR's Adam Davidson.
• Automakers Seek $25 Billion In Federal Loans
  Detroit's auto makers are campaigning to get at least $25 billion in low-cost loans from the federal government. The industry says the funds will help U.S. automakers retool their factories and produce more fuel efficient cars.
• Merrill Lynch Sold, AIG Restructures Amid Losses
  Merrill Lynch, one of the biggest and best-known brokerage firms in the world, has agreed to be sold to Bank of America for $50 billion. Insurance company American International Group is restructuring after losses in the credit crisis.
• Hunt Is On For Generators, Gasoline In Houston
  Basic necessities are still out of reach for many people in Houston in the wake of Hurricane Ike. Few stores are open, and those that are have long lines of customers. One Home Depot that was open had people swarming for generators and other supplies.

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