Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Some energy-intensive industries taking steps to go green
  In the cap and trade legislation, any entity that emits large amounts of greenhouse gases would have to have a permit for each ton of gas it emits. That's got energy-intensive industries worried. But many of them have already been reducing their energy use.6:20 a.m.
• In first public meeting, jobs dominate mining debate
  Last night supporters of the project converged on the first meeting to address on the environmental affects of the controversial plan.7:20 a.m.
• Rep. Ellison reacts to public option in trouble on Capitol Hill
  Democrats in the U.S. Senate appear to be moving toward a health reform bill that would not include a government-run "public option" insurance program, even though such an option exists in the House-approved bill. U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota, an outspoken supporter of the public option, reacts to the Senate's action.7:25 a.m.
• Harrington: 'It's time for new leadership' for St. Paul PD
  St. Paul Police Chief John Harrington says he's accomplished most of the goals he set for his tenure, and he's not going to seek another six-year term in office.8:35 a.m.
• South African performer creates 'The Cool Train' in Minnesota
  It's been a decade and a half since the collapse of apartheid in South Africa, but for people like Twin Cities performer Lunga Sinuka its legacy is very real.8:45 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• McChrystal: 5 Years Before Afghans Control Security
  President Obama says the drawdown of U.S. troops in Afghanistan could begin by July 2011, but America's top U.S. commander tells NPR winning over the Afghan people is the main goal of the new war strategy.
• Pakistan Police, FBI Question Men Tied To Militants
  Authorities in Pakistan say they are interrogating five young American Muslim men wanted in the United States for alleged contacts with a Pakistani militant organization linked to al-Qaida. A team from the FBI arrived Thursday to question the men, ages 18 to 25.
• China's Wind Power Plans Turn On Coal
  Today, wind energy makes up a tiny percentage of China's electricity supply, but Beijing is building the world's biggest wind power project. Paradoxically, adding wind power also means adding new polluting coal-fired power stations in the short term.
• Climate-Change Limit: 2 Degrees Celsius
  The industrial world has set a goal of preventing the global average temperature from rising more than 2 degrees Celsius, that's 3.6 Fahrenheit, above preindustrial levels. That number will be discussed a lot during the global warming talks in Copenhagen.
• Hard Times Even Harder For Migrant Laborers
  Nearly a million migrant children crisscross the U.S. with their families, from harvest to harvest and from job to job. In North Carolina, migrant families struggle to find work, and many rely on schools for food and clothing. The people who run the state's migrant program say living conditions and financial hardships for laborers are the worst in memory.
• New Jersey Uses Pool Of Volunteer Attorneys
  It's not easy to get your first job out of law school these days. It's a sad situation that's working to the advantage of New Jersey. The state can't afford to hire all the lawyers it needs in government, so it's tapping the pool of unemployed attorneys to get some of its legal work done for free.
• A 19th-Century Mathematician Finally Proves Himself
  In the mid-1800s, Charles Babbage got fed up with doing complex calculations by hand, so he designed what he called a "Difference Engine." He never built the machine in his lifetime, but 150 years later, engineers built the engine to Babbage's specifications — and the 5-ton calculator actually works.
• Foreclosures Fall 8 Percent In November
  The number of people losing their homes through foreclosure fell in November. It's the fourth straight month that the foreclosure rate has fallen, according to a report from RealtyTrac. This year has had the most foreclosure filings in U.S. history: 3.9 million.
• High-Tech Companies Lobby For R&D Tax Credit
  Legislation that just passed the House would extend the credit for another year, but many companies want the credit to be made permanent. They say research and development drives innovation, which creates new products that are then sold, boosting the economy. Advocates also say most of the money saved goes to pay employees.
• Secret Flier Programs: 'Skull And Bones' Of The Sky
  Airlines have set a pretty low bar of service for most passengers — except for those lucky enough to be invited into the airlines' most exclusive frequent-flier programs. For those let in, there is almost nothing the airlines won't do to keep them happy. This includes instant upgrades, private reservation lines, escorts to help make tight connections, and not having to pay all those baggage and itinerary change fees.

Resources

• Marketplace Tech Report®
• Marketplace Morning Report®
• Mark Seeley's WeatherTalk

Services

• Hourly Newscast
• HD Radio
• iPhone App / Mobile
• E-mail newsletters
• RSS feeds
• Podcasts
• Submit your photos
• Videos
• Weather
• Most e-mailed stories