Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Minn. clinics urged to hold H1N1 vaccines for high-risk groups
  Some clinics have apparently been offering H1N1 vaccine to people outside of high-risk priority groups, even as vaccine supplies remain limited for those patients.6:20 a.m.
• Hundreds of miles of trails authorized for off-highway vehicles
  The Superior National Forest is implementing a new Off-Highway Vehicle use plan that authorizes hundreds of miles of new trails for motorized vehicles, and makes others off-limits.6:25 a.m.
• DFL gubernatorial candidates differ on sales tax expansion
  The DFL candidates running for governor have been pretty vocal about raising income taxes for wealthy Minnesotans as a way to solve the state's fiscal problems, but some Democrats say an income tax increase alone won't solve the state's ongoing budget problems.7:20 a.m.
• EPA considers raising ethanol cap
  Corn farmers and ethanol producers in Minnesota are hoping to catch a break from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today. The EPA is considering a proposal to boost the amount of ethanol allowed in gasoline from 10 percent to 15 percent.7:25 a.m.
• Holiday music unwelcome to some
  The holiday season is here and holiday music seems to be everywhere. But not everyone is crazy for Christmas carols. Peter Smith, for one, is a bit more Scrooge than jolly old elf.8:45 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Rape At School Brings New Despair To Richmond
  In Richmond, Calif., where a teenage girl was gang-raped at her high school, residents continue to wrestle with the effects of the brutal attack. NPR's Richard Gonzales, a native of Richmond, returns to see the community's response firsthand.
• Barry White Box Set Reveals A Master At Work
  Producer Jack Perry and White worked together until the singer's death in 2003. Perry recently compiled and produced a four-disc retrospective box set spanning White's career, titled Unlimited. NPR's Steve Inskeep recently spoke with Perry about the late soul singer.
• Young Latinos, Blacks Answer Call Of Mobile Devices
  Americans are increasingly using hand-held devices to access the Internet and for texting, sending e-mails, playing music and instant messaging. A large number of those hyperusers are young Latinos and blacks, who crave the convenience of staying connected wherever they go.
• Government Increases Pressure On Mortgage Industry
  The Obama administration is pushing the mortgage industry to do more for homeowners at risk of foreclosure. A $75 billion government program has yet to provide permanent help for many borrowers. Some consumer advocates say it's time the government took a harder line with lenders. The Treasury Department says it could levy fines on companies that aren't doing enough.
• Financial Overhaul On Track In House, Lags In Senate
  The House Financial Services Committee will likely vote Wednesday to send a sweeping financial overhaul bill to the full House. But hurdles remain in the Senate, and there's concern that as the economy stabilizes, the urgency for action will fade.
• Commonwealth Admits French-Speaking Rwanda
  Rwanda is the newest member of the Commonwealth. That's a diverse group of nations, most of which are former British colonies. Rwanda has very few historical links to Britain. It was at one time a French-speaking Belgian colony. But Rwanda's president has been campaigning for his country to become part of the English-speaking world.
• Brazil Pins Hopes On Massive, Untapped Oil Fields
  The discovery of several massive oil fields in Brazil has put a spotlight on a company little known outside petroleum circles: state-owned Petrobras, which is now gearing up to pump as much oil as it can. Brazil hopes to be a major oil player once these fields are in full production.
• Chongquing, China: Mountainous Terrain, Spicy Food
  In China, residents of Chongqing will tell you that their geography makes them who they are. Their city is basically a steep chunk of rock jutting over the intersection of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers. So when Chongqing residents talk about directions, it's usually not north or south, but just uphill or downhill. At local hot pot restaurants, people dip meat and vegetables in woks full of oil chili peppers and mouth-numbing Sichuan peppercorns.
• After Tiger's Crash, A Painful Silence
  While the golf star remains in his gated community, curiosity builds among fans, reporters and police who want to know more about what caused the crash that plunged Woods into the first major scandal of his life.
• High Court Hears Student Loan Bankruptcy Case
  The Supreme Court will decide whether student loans may be forgiven in bankruptcy under certain circumstances. A bankruptcy judge approved a plan for Francisco Espinosa to repay his loan, minus interest. Eleven years later, the lender tried to collect the interest, arguing the repayment plan was void without a finding of undue hardship.

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