Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Debate showcases intensity in Minn. Senate race
  An unsettled U.S. Senate race provoked sharp exchanges Sunday night between Republican Sen. Norm Coleman and Democratic challenger Al Franken on the ailing economy, the war in Iraq and the art of compromise. A third man in the race, Dean Barkley, kept both rivals on their toes.6:40 a.m.
• Candidates' promises could fall with economy
  Whoever is elected president in November will be inheriting a struggling economy.7:20 a.m.
• Chris Farrell analyzes the financial markets
  MPR's Chris Farrell analyzes the financial markets and the economy.7:25 a.m.
• Mixed metaphors describe economic crisis
  The hotly debated $700 billion bailout bill passed by Congress last week introduced a number of complicated financial concepts into the pop culture lexicon lately.7:40 a.m.
• Neil Gaiman tries a new strategy
  Later this week fans will likely pack a St Paul church to hear author Neil Gaiman, a writing rock star, read from his latest novel, "The Graveyard Book." He's often swamped at readings and now has devised a new way to keep himself physically accessible to his readers.7:45 a.m.
• Future Tense with Jon Gordon
  Finding cultural tipping points online.8:20 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Consumer Issues Top Supreme Court's Docket
  As the Supreme Court opens its new term, the justices have more business and consumer cases on their schedule. Key cases revolve around packaging rules, state lawsuits and protecting dolphins in California.
• Christian Security Forces Growing Stronger In Iraq
  The security forces, organized through local churches, are manning checkpoints in Iraq and working with police. The mystery of where their funding comes from seems to center on a media-shy and reclusive political figure.
• What Should I Be Doing With My 401(k)?
  The Wall Street crisis has a lot of ordinary investors worried about their portfolios. Knight Kiplinger, editor in chief of Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine and the Kiplinger Newsletter, says people should ride out the bear market. If investors want a safer environment, he says, they should move their money into CDs or money market funds.
• Bank Of America Settles Suit Over Bad Mortgages
  Facing a lawsuit over deceptive mortgage practices, a Bank of America subsidiary will modify tens of thousands of loans to help keep people in 11 states from losing their homes. Borrowers stuck with Countrywide Financial mortgages that they can't afford could see their interest rates reduced or have the loan principal cut. Bank of America purchased Countrywide in June, at the same time Illinois and California sued Countrywide.
• Grandma's Advice Is Best In Hard Financial Times
  The Wall Street financial crisis started with symptoms of panic, followed by an infection of fear and distrust. But what drives this type of psychology in the markets? Tim Harford, a columnist for the Financial Times, says the best way to avoid future toxic thinking is to follow Grandma's advice: Don't borrow too much and don't take too many risks.
• Financial Turmoil Deepening In Europe
  The financial turmoil shaking Wall Street is also taking a toll in Europe, where authorities moved to assure bank depositors that their money was safe, and a bailout was planned for a large German lender. European leaders are struggling to deliver a unified response to the crisis.
• Angels Stay Alive; Phillies Advance To NLCS
  The Los Angeles Angels are alive in the American League Division Series after winning a five-hour, 19-minute marathon against Boston, 5-4. That cuts the Red Sox' lead to 2-1 in the best-of-five series. The Philadelphia Phillies are going to the National League Championship Series for the first time since 1993 after eliminating Milwaukee in four games in the first round.
• Unpredictable Political Opinions In Northeast Pa.
  Oktoberfest weekend is a time for pierogies, polka and politics in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., home to white, Catholic swing voters. But a lot of voters in northeast Pennsylvania's former textile and mining communities are still undecided.
• Obama Gaining Ground In Key Swing States
  The presidential election is four weeks from Tuesday. Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama debate in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday. The latest polls show Obama has pulled ahead of McCain in key battleground states. The economy is the big issue. The latest surveys show Obama is trusted more to handle the economy.
• Obama Hopes To Alter Electoral Map
  Barack Obama's Democratic presidential campaign could alter the electoral map that decides the White House. Virginia has been a traditionally red state, but Obama has been working hard to make it a blue state. Other states that could swing Obama's way include Florida, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Iowa.
• Obama Camp Scours Southwest Virginia For Votes
  Barack Obama is seeking votes where Democratic presidential candidates normally don't. That includes tiny Appalachian mountain towns like those in southwestern Virginia. But local voters have many questions about Obama's positions, and he faces obstacles even among some Democrats.
• Scientific Achievement Parodied By lg Nobel Prizes
  The Ig Nobel Prizes, a parody of the Nobel prizes, were awarded last week. They recognize quirky, funny and sometimes legitimate scientific achievements. The winners included scientists, in the category of nutrition, who showed that people will eat stale chips if they're crunchy.
• Wells Fargo, Citigroup Battle In Court Over Wachovia
  The battle for control of Wachovia bank is tilting toward Wells Fargo. A New York state appeals court has blocked a lower court ruling that favored rival bidder Citigroup. Meantime, Wachovia is asking a federal judge to declare invalid part of the Citigroup deal that would have restricted Wachovia from considering competing bids.
• 'Credit Crunch' Chocolates Debut In Britain
  In Britain, there's a new luxury chocolate treat. "Credit Crunch" has been launched to tempt shoppers looking for something to snack on during these times of economic woes. The fancy French chocolates are being sold at Selfridges department store. A 5-ounce bag costs about $7.
• Drug-Related Violence Rages In Tijuana, Mexico
  Mexico's bloody drug war is raging just across the border from San Diego. Tijuana is suffering one of the worst waves of violence in decades. So far this year, more than 400 people have been killed, and Tijuana's mayor has called on Mexico's government for help.

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