Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Small towns turn to alternative power
  Municipal utility companies are finding that in some cases renewable energy may have a price advantage. They're under state pressure to diversify their energy sources.6:52 a.m.
• Keep your butts outside
  Minnesota smokers beware. If you're headed to a restaurant or bar, you'll have to take that cigarette break outside. Monday, Oct. 1 is the first day of Minnesota's new statewide smoking ban.7:20 a.m.
• Smoking ban pioneer talks about where it all began
  Romelle Jones, owner of the Arts Cafe in Moose Lake, was one of the first Minnesotans to push for a smoking ban. Jones reflects on life in Moose Lake since the ban was passed.7:24 a.m.
• Duluth residents try last ditch attempt to block school closure plan
  A handful of Duluth residents will be in St. Paul this week, hoping to block the Duluth School District's new building construction plan.7:49 a.m.
• Monday Markets with Chris Farrell
  Minnesota Public Radio's chief economics reporter, Chris Farrell, talks with Morning Edition about the state of the U.S. market and the upcoming unemployment report.7:54 a.m.
• Can the Twins bounce back next season?
  The Twins finished with their first losing season in years, and two stars may leave the team in the off-season. Sports commentator LaVelle Neal considers their future.8:24 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Senate Race Marked Edwards as Rising Political Star
  During his first run for office in 1998, Democrat John Edwards used his telegenic personality and a populist message to win a North Carolina Senate race. For much of the past five years, his sights have been set on the White House.
• Microsoft's Vista Disappoints
  Microsoft is getting worried about growing competition to its operating system from Google and IBM. Microsoft's newest system, Vista, has been getting a lot of bad press since it reached consumers' computers at the beginning of the year. Techies complain that Vista is flawed and frustrating.
• Japan Seeks to Detect Quakes Earlier
  Scientists say Japan is overdue for a massive earthquake. In response, officials unveil a new system that will help detect earthquakes as much as 30 seconds faster. That small lead time is expected to cut down on confusion and damage.
• Bush Approves Stopgap Spending
  President Bush, complaining that Congress failed to pass spending bills, approves emergency legislation to fund the government for the next seven weeks. And conservative Republicans threaten to look elsewhere because the crop of presidential candidates don't represent their views.
• Former French Finance Minister to Head IMF
  Former French Finance Minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn is named president of the International Monetary Fund. He becomes the first Socialist leader to run one of the world's major capitalist organizations.
• UBS Reports $700-Million Quarterly Loss, Job Cuts
  Swiss banking giant UBS, the world's largest wealth manager, reveals a loss of almost $700 million in the third quarter. That makes UBS one of the highest-profile victims of the crisis in the global credit markets. UBS also announced it is cutting 1,500 jobs and sweeping out two senior managers.
• Presidential Campaigns Tally Q3 Fundraising
  Presidential hopefuls are soon to disclose how much money they raised for the third quarter that ended Sept. 30. But the money that the campaigns had on hand may even more critical, analysts say, and the major candidates weren't rushing to say how much they had.
• North and South Korea to Convene Summit
  Leaders of North and South Korea are due to meet in Pyongyang, marking only the second time in history that the governments have come together. The meeting had previously been delayed in part due to North Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons and its tensions with the United States.
• Ukraine's Orange Revolution Claims Slim Victory
  The leaders of Ukraine's Orange Revolution are claiming victory after exit polls gave them a slim lead in parliamentary elections on Sunday. They say they'll reform their governing coalition but their advantage may not be enough to end years of political crisis.
• Indian Firm Debuts 'Nazi' Linens
  Here's a little something for the person who wants to sleep more comfortably — and is also a fascist. A company in India put out linens called "The Nazi Collection." India's Jewish community is furious. But the company claims "Nazi" is an acronym, standing for "New Arrival Zone for India."
• Cincinnati Bengals Fans Cheer at Their Own Risk
  The National Football League's Cincinnati Bengals have a problem with pigeons at their stadium. So many pigeons have let loose on fans that the team got permission to shoot them. But a public outcry has caused stadium officials to give up their pigeon hunt.
• Dam Revives Aral Sea and Nearby Communities
  In the former Soviet Republic of Kazakhstan, government and Western officials reverse what is considered one of mankind's greatest ecological catastrophes: the drying up of the Aral Sea. A recently built dam is restoring part of the sea and life to its surrounding communities.
• Chess Champ Kasparov Closer to Capturing Kremlin
  Former world chess champion Garry Kasparov, who is vying to succeed Russian President Vladimir Putin, is a step closer to his goal. He was overwhelmingly elected as the opposition coalition's candidate for March elections.
• Phillies Knock Once-Dominant Mets Out of Playoffs
  The New York Mets had a seven-game lead with 17 games left before postseason. No team has ever been up that much, that late, and lost. But even as the Mets sputtered, their season wasn't technically over unless Philadelphia won.
• Michigan Reopens Government After Shutdown
  Michigan has a deficit and lawmakers can't agree how to resolve it. They did approve a temporary spending measure but not before a very brief shutdown that started at midnight. The state had closed some highway rest areas and evicted some 1,500 campers at state parks.

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