Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Some districts hope 'smaller is better' will get levies passed
  For districts that have seen levies fail in the past, some are trying again and asking for less money.7:20 a.m.
• Bachmann says America may be 'changed forever' if Obama elected
  A day after expressing regrets over comments made about presidential candidate Barack Obama last week, Rep. Michele Bachmann appeared on a national conservative radio program and raised more questions about the Democratic presidential nominee.7:45 a.m.
• Builders Association creates a continuous city
  A new theater production opening in Minneapolis examines the impact of global telecommunication on fundamental human relationships, including that of parent and child.7:50 a.m.
• Future Tense with Bob Collins
  Why can't the U.S. make an electronic voting machine that works?8:40 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• In Hollywood, Hard Times May Mean Good Times
  The only bromide in Hollywood older than "boy meets girl" is that "movies are recession-proof." And it seems to be true — local theaters can offer a cheap getaway from life's troubles. John Ridley says that often, the boost in box-office sales seems to inspire some great movies.
• Housing Market Drives Ireland's Economy Lower
  Ireland's economy appears to be in recession. Part of the problem could be that housing prices have dropped dramatically. The hard times are hurting the Irish and migrants from Europe.
• World Series Game 1: Phillies Shade Rays
  Game 1 in the World Series goes to the Philadelphia Phillies. They beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 in Wednesday night's opener in St. Petersburg, Fla. Game 2 will be played Thursday, also at Tropicana Field.
• Democrats Want Rocky Mountain High, Colorado
  If you're following the election maps, you might have noticed that Colorado changed recently from a "tossup" state to "leaning Democratic." Barack Obama is polling anywhere from 4 to 9 percentage points ahead of John McCain in Colorado.
• Boeing's Earnings A Tool In Machinists Strike
  Talks aimed at settling the Machinists Union strike at Boeing resume Thursday at the request of a federal mediator. Both the union and management have strong incentives to settle. Boeing reported a big earnings decline Wednesday.
• Rating Industry's Role In Crisis Explored
  The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee had a hearing Wednesday to investigate the role of credit rating agencies in the nation's worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. The committee is holding a series of hearings to examine how the financial meltdown began.
• The Early Voter Gets To Queue
  The presidential election is 12 days away, but already nearly 4 million people have voted. Early voting is so popular in Florida and some other states that election officials are having to accommodate voters who wait hours to cast their ballots.
• Steve Forbes: 'How Capitalism Will Save Us'
  Steve Forbes, the publisher of Forbes magazine, has the cover story in this week's issue. Forbes — who ran twice for the Republican presidential nomination — is now a special economic adviser to John McCain. Forbes says the government must take emergency steps to save the economy, like buying up troubled mortgages and purchasing stock in financial firms.
• Obama Rebuts Criticism Of His Tax Plan
  Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama made his case to voters Wednesday in the battleground state of Virginia. He brushed off rival John McCain's accusations that his tax plan amounts to socialism. It was his last full day of campaigning before taking time out to head to Hawaii to visit his ailing grandmother.
• Is Palin A Drag On McCain's Campaign?
  GOP presidential nominee John McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin are campaigning separately Thursday after a pair of tag-team rallies Wednesday in the battleground state of Ohio. Palin continues to energize the Republican base, but there are signs she's not helping the ticket win broader appeal.
• Letters: Coupon Clipping Craze Criticized
  Many listeners were not impressed when one bargain-hunting mom ended up paying 25 cents for a box of Cheerios. They complained that the story concentrated on unhealthy pre-made foods. Letters questioned why there were no stories on healthy ways to cut food costs, such as cutting down on meat or buying food in the bulk section of the natural food store.
• Santa Suit Filed Against Mall
  Michael Graham has been the Santa at Tyson's Corner Center for 18 years. He bags about $30,000 for five weeks' work. The rest of the year, he's a carpenter in Tennessee. Last month, the mall gave Graham the boot. Graham sued. His contract is apparently good through 2012, and he claims the mall didn't give him enough time to find another job. After hundreds of angry calls from shoppers, a mall spokeswoman offered an apology. She said company officials are working with Graham to reach a financial settlement and find him another Santa seat.
• Thumb Left At Crime Scene Helps Police ID Suspect
  A Maryland man apparently left his fingerprints at the scene of a robbery. One fingerprint in particular. Police say he used a machete to hold up an alleged brothel in Washington, D.C. But before he left, one of the victims grabbed the machete and chopped off the robber's right thumb. Police fingerprinted the thumb and later matched it to the suspect.
• Man Claims Hindu God Appeared In Plant Form
  A New York City man is convinced the elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesh appeared to him in his backyard as a purple flower. The 4-foot-tall plant sprouted up between concrete slabs in Sam Lal's yard in Queens. Lal, a Hindu, told the New York Daily News that the plant has healed his back pain.
• Insults And Praise On The Classical Campaign
  Commentator Miles Hoffman offers a classical variation on a political theme: insults and endorsements among the great composers. Invectives hurled at their colleagues and competitors were effective means of shaping public opinion. Whether positive, negative or the all-too-common flip-flop, classical-music criticism, just like political commentary, is little more than biased opinion in time.

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