Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Home sales could be sign of economic turnaround
  Low home prices and mortgage rates have some people - who have been holding out for the market to hit bottom - ready to buy. Experts say that's just what the economy needs to start turning around.6:20 a.m.
• The Morning Show ends 25-year run
  MPR's Morning Show will hold its final broadcast on Thursday, ending a quarter-century run.6:50 a.m.
• Hutchinson Technology cuts 1,100 jobs
  Hutchinson Technology is cutting as many as 1,100 jobs. Hutchinson, a Minnesota maker of computer hard drive components, says the remaining employees will take a 5 percent pay cut.7:20 a.m.
• Rejected absentee ballots the main topic for next canvassing board meeting
  Media reports and an MPR analysis shows that about 300 absentee ballots around the state have been identified as mistakenly rejected, and should have been counted on election day. Whether to count those ballots as part of the Minnesota senate recount is expected to be a topic of discussion when the State Canvassing Board meets on Friday.7:40 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• A Bird With A Catlike Name — And Sound
  The world is full of unusual animal sounds — and among the more unusual is the call of the bare-throated tiger heron. Greg Budney, a biologist from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, recorded one of these long-legged wading birds in Guatemala. The bird, he says, makes him "think of a large cat."
• The Stupidest Statistics In The Modern Era
  You don't have to read the box scores to know that statistics are a big deal in sports. But lately, commentator Frank Deford has noticed a glut of meaningless sports statistics.
• Agreement Nears On Auto Bailout
  Congress and the White House are working to clear final obstacles on a $15 billion bailout of the auto industry. They're hoping for agreement by day's end followed by swift passage.
• Jay Leno, NBC's Mr. Prime Time?
  NBC announced Tuesday that Jay Leno will move to prime time. "The Tonight Show" host will get a program five nights a week at 10 eastern time. The network is giving up on programming dramas in that time slot. That decision speaks volumes about Leno and NBC.
• States' 'Shovel Ready' Projects Ready For Cash
  President-elect Obama wants a proposed economic stimulus package to include billions of dollars for infrastructure improvements. Obama maintains states have projects that are "shovel ready. The Missouri Department of Transportation says with federal money, it could start $510 million of highway and other construction projects within six months.
• Former Chysler Chairman Iacocca Backs Auto Execs
  Former Chysler Chairman Lee Iacocca hasn't said much during the debate over whether the government should bail out the auto industry. Iacocca led Chrysler through a government bailout in the 70s. In a written statement Tuesday, Iacocca defended Detroit's Big 3 top executives. He said, "You don't change coaches in the middle of a game, especially when things are so volatile."
• Italian Government Bails Out Cheese Producers
  As governments around the world bail out troubled industries, the Italian government is buying 100,00 wheels of parmigiano cheese. The Wall Street Journal reports the government will donate the cheese to charity. The problem isn't deteriorating demand. Apparently Italy's parmagiano industry has been financially shaky for years.
• More Global Layoffs Including The NFL
  Global miner Rio Tinto is laying off 14,000 workers, because of shrinking demand for raw materials. Sweden's SKF, the world's biggest bearings maker, will lay off 2,500 people, mostly from its automotive businesses in Europe and the U.S. And, the National Football League said it will cut more than 10 percent of its staff, or about 150 people.
• Russia's New Beauty Contest: Miss Constitution
  When it comes to constitutions, is seems Russia's has some flexibility. Vladimir Putin wants it changed to give future Presidents a longer term. Perhaps to sweeten that move, Russians are being offered another reason to love their constitution. A pro-Kremlin youth group is running a "Miss Constitution 2008" contest. A spokeswoman told Reuters the group is looking for gifted young women with sparkle.
• Obama's Conduct Not Questioned In Illinois Scandal
  Top Illinois lawmakers say they'd like to call the legislature into session for a special election to pick President-elect Barack Obama's Senate replacement. They don't want to leave that job to Gov. Rod Blagojevich who's accused by federal prosecutors of trying to sell the seat. The governor and the president-elect are not personally close, but they have worked closely together over the years.
• Resignation Watch: Will Blagojevich Step Down?
  Federal authorities say Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich tried to benefit from his ability to appoint someone to fill the Senate seat left vacant by President-elect Barack Obama. After Blagojevich's arrest Tuesday, there were calls for the governor to step down. Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn says the governor should do what's right for the people of Illinois and either resign or step aside.
• Blagojevich Wanted 'Chicago Tribune' Writers Fired
  Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is also accused of trying to have Chicago Tribune editorial writers he didn't like fired. The revelation is detailed in a federal corruption complaint released Tuesday. He's accused of, among other things, trying to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.
• Consumer Credit Market Needs Investors
  Consumers are still having a hard time obtaining loans for cars and appliances. To add insult to injury, many are seeing their credit limits slashed. That's largely because investors are backing away from the secondary market for consumer credit. American consumers used to be considered a safe investment, but not any more.
• D.C. Asked To Reconsider Extended Alcohol Sales
  Washington D.C. plans to party during inauguration week. For some reason, this plan has not met with unanimous approval. The city last week approved allowing bars to serve alcohol until 5 a.m from Jan 17 to Jan. 21. Two Senators involved with inauguration plans want the city to drop that idea. They say police already will be busy providing security for millions. Let's not even talk about whether there are enough bathrooms on the National Mall.
• What Will Stimulus Packages Do To The Defict?
  There's been a lot of talk about economic stimulus packages, but little discussion about what they would mean for the federal deficit. David Wessel, economics editor at The Wall Street Journal, talks with Renee Montagne about how the U.S. hasn't had a deficit this large since World War Two — and what that means for the new Obama administration.

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