Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Tough economy could create highway hazards
  Hard economic times could mean dangerous times on Minnesota highways. Auto mechanics say cash-strapped customers are putting off necessary auto maintenance. And, with few people buying new cars, mechanics say they're seeing a lot more older cars coming through their shops, cars that in some cases have been pulled out of retirement.6:55 a.m.
• Shifting vote totals not unusual
  The changes in the vote totals in Minnesota's U.S. Senate race may be vexing the leading vote-getter, but a look at past elections shows it's nothing unusual.7:20 a.m.
• What may lie ahead in a statewide recount
  The automatic statewide recount in Minnesota's unresolved U.S. Senate race is expected to get underway next Wednesday. During the recount, some ballots are likely to be challenged by one side or the other.7:25 a.m.
• Republicans regroup after bad election showing
  Republican governors from around the country begin meeting in Miami today. One of the big topics on their agenda is how the GOP can regain its footing after last week's election.7:40 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Obama Looks To Harness Grass-Roots Support
  When President-elect Barack Obama takes office in January, he'll have expanded majorities of Democrats in both houses of Congress — and the support of a big grass-roots movement. Millions of people helped him beat Sen. John McCain, and Obama must be as innovative in utilizing their power postelection as he was during the campaign.
• Eight Isn't Enough: G-20 Countries To Meet In D.C.
  Instead of gathering leaders from the Group of Eight to talk about the financial crisis, the Group of 20 is converging on Washington, D.C., this week. The Bush administration is playing down expectations, but economic experts say pressure will be put on the new Obama administration.
• Going Out On A Limb With A Tree-Person Ratio
  Using NASA satellite photos of Earth, we can calculate that the world supports roughly 61 trees per person. But are we using up our allotments? An Evergreen State College ecology professor and her students look at how we burn through wood-based resources.
• Concha Buika's African-Inspired Flamenco
  Concha Buika's sultry voice and varied musical influences have earned her worldwide acclaim. Her latest album, La Nina de Fuego, fuses the musical traditions of Africa and Spain with jazz, soul and dance and has been nominated for the Latin Grammy Album of the Year.
• America's New Trade Deficit: Elite Athletes?
  For years, many of the best foreign athletes have come to the United States to advance their careers. Commentator Frank Deford sees a reverse trend: elite athletes leaving the U.S. to play abroad.
• Paulson Defends Administration's Use Of Bailout
  Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson delivered a progress report Wednesday in Washington, defending the Bush administration's use of the $700 billion financial rescue package. The program was meant to buy up mortgage-backed securities full of toxic subprime mortgages, but so far $250 billion has been injected into banks.
• GOP Governors Meet In Miami
  The Republican Governors Association begins its annual meeting in Miami on Wednesday. Members will assess what happened in the elections. It's been a long time since they've had to review an Election Day as bad for their party as the recent one. What direction will the party take after the significant losses in last week's elections?
• Certain Green Industries Have Job Openings
  Tens of thousands of layoffs in the Midwest have left a huge pool of job-seekers. In Ohio, wind turbine makers say they have jobs available that offer good pay and benefits. But they say they are having trouble finding skilled workers for that renewable energy industry.
• G-20 To Work On Reviving Economic Downturn
  Leaders of the world's 20 largest industrial nations and emerging economies meet this week in Washington, D.C., to discuss the global economic downturn. Simon Johnson, a professor at MIT and a former IMF chief economist, tells Ari Shapiro that the meeting could be a springboard for a more fundamental restructuring of the international financial system.
• 'Times' Exec Vivian Schiller Named NPR CEO
  National Public Radio is turning to a new leader to maneuver it through a shifting media landscape. Vivian Schiller of The New York Times Web site will take over as president and CEO on Jan. 5.
• Ambassador: Financial System Needs Overhauling
  Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown will be among the important players at the G-20 summit looking for ways to reverse the global economic downturn. Britain's ambassador to Washington, Sir Nigel Sheinwald, tells Ari Shapiro that the group needs to work on some sort of economic stimulus and overhaul the world's financial system.
• Bankrupt: Resort That Catered To The Ultra-Rich
  The Gallatin Mountains in Montana are home to an exclusive ski and golf resort called the Yellowstone Club. The club reportedly charges a quarter-million dollars to join and $16,000 a year in dues. Members include Bill Gates and Dan Quayle. Earlier this week, the club filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Court documents show the club is more than $340 million in debt. The owners blame the credit crunch. Critics blame the owners' lifestyles.
• Barber Makes House Call For Barack Obama
  Haircuts have figured prominently in Democratic presidential politics. John Edwards has never lived down his $400 'do. President Clinton spawned the legend that planes were delayed at Los Angeles International Airport while a celebrity stylist snipped away on Air Force One. On Tuesday, Barack Obama's barber came to him — at a friend's apartment in Chicago. But except for the president-elect's new motorcade, there was nothing fancy about the cut.
• GM Won't Unveil Buick At L.A. Auto Show
  General Motors is scaling back its plans for next week's Los Angeles Auto Show. Originally, the company was going to unveil a new Buick. Executives were going to meet reporters. But reporters are already writing about GM. The company has lost more than $20 billion this year. It's asking for an emergency government bailout. So, executives figured, maybe they should wait to unveil the new Buick. They're saving it for Detroit's auto show in January.
• Microsoft, Google Court Verizon Wireless
  Microsoft and Google are vying to become the default Web browser for Verizon Wireless handsets. Prominence is key when it comes to the Web. Verizon has yet to make a decision, but The Wall Street Journal reports that Microsoft is closer to winning the deal.

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