Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Minneapolis officials recommend eliminating park board
  As city officials across the state explore ways to cut costs in tough economic times, several Minneapolis city council members have recommended a controversial proposal that would - among other things - eliminate the park board.6:45 a.m.
• Director gets animated for his Oscar-nominated film
  A highly unusual Oscar-nominated documentary opens in Minnesota this weekend. "Waltz with Bashir" is out of the ordinary, because it's animated, and because it deals with the psychological repercussions of a Middle Eastern war a quarter century ago.6:50 a.m.
• Weather with Mark Seeley
  University of Minnesota climatologist Mark Seeley discusses Minnesota weather history and looks ahead to the weekend forecast.6:55 a.m.
• Senate candidates wage public relations battle
  Outside the courtroom, a public relations battle between Republican Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken continues.7:20 a.m.
• Oberstar says stimulus means Minn. jobs, others disagree
  The Legislature is getting a better idea of how much money it would get in the massive federal stimulus package that the U.S. House passed earlier this week. DFL legislative leaders met with three members of Minnesota's Congressional delegation to discuss the stimulus package.7:40 a.m.
• Future Tense with Jon Gordon
  A new Website is an online hub for free university classes and lectures.8:20 a.m.
• Sportswriter father to cover son in Super Bowl
  Hundreds of journalists are in Tampa, Fla., to cover the Super Bowl, and one of them has a unique perspective. Larry Fitzgerald Sr. is covering the game for the Minneapolis Spokesman-Recorder newspaper. His son, Larry Fitzgerald Jr., is a star wide receiver with the Arizona Cardinals.8:40 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Dueling Pig Ads Urge People To Save, Spend
  An American campaign tells people to brew their own coffee and bring their own lunches to work — so they can feed their piggy banks. Meanwhile, a campaign in Finland features a piggy bank with little devil ears — and a message not to feed the recession.
• Afghan Convoys Risk Taliban Attacks
  The Taliban are putting the squeeze on truck traffic across Afghanistan. Their main objective is to destroy U.S. and NATO convoys that supply Western troops in the country. But truck drivers say everyone who drives a tractor-trailer or tanker has become a target.
• Laos Brewmaster Has High Hopes For Local Beer
  Only about 1 percent of Beerlao finds its way abroad, but beer maker Sivilay Lasachack hopes to increase that to 10 percent in the next five years. She's not the only one who thinks the beer has a global future: Carlsberg recently acquired a 50 percent stake in the company.
• In Down Economy, Layoffs Are Contagious
  The government has announced the U.S. economy shrank at its fastest pace in nearly 27 years. That because consumers and businesses cut spending. Layoffs that began in the real estate and finance sectors are now hitting workers in nearly every field. Some iconic firms are slashing jobs by the thousands.
• GOP Wants More Tax Cuts For Bipartisan Stimulus
  The Senate is braced for a showdown next week, when the Democrats plan to push through a nearly $900 billion economic stimulus package. The House passed a slightly smaller measure Wednesday. Not a single Republican voted for the plan, which was after President Obama lobbied GOP lawmakers for a bipartisan bill. The question now is how many Senate Republicans will heed his call?
• Blagojevich Trial Ends With A New Illinois Governor
  Illinois state senators have removed Gov. Rod Blagojevich from office. Not a single lawmaker came to his defense during the impeachment trial. Blagojevich, who was accused of trying to sell Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat, becomes the first U.S. governor in more than 20 years to be removed by impeachment. Patrick Quinn replaces Blagojevich as governor.
• Quinn, New Ill. Governor, Says 'Ordeal Is Over'
  Illinois has a new governor. Democratic Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn replaces Rod Blagojevich, who was removed from office by the state Senate Thursday. "The ordeal is over," Quinn says.
• Cardinals' Fitzgerald 'Eyes' Super Bowl Victory
  When the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals meet Sunday in the Super Bowl, one player to watch is Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. His optometrist grandfather gave Fitzgerald unique vision training that has helped him on the football field.
• Critics Assail Revived Russian Church's Kremlin Ties
  The Russian Orthodox Church elected a new leader this week. The church has become wealthy and highly visible since it emerged out of decades of suppression under the Soviet Union. But critics say it is more concerned with building power than with serving ordinary Russians.
• Japan's Industrial Production Drops By 9 Percent
  Japan's economics minister says he's never seen such a steep fall in production. The government released data Friday showing industrial production plunged nearly 10 percent in December, a record drop. Japanese companies are being ravaged by the global recession as consumers stop buying their exports, including cars, electronics and industrial machinery.

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