Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Twins spending millions to enhance roster, stadium
  The Minnesota Twins are spending millions of dollars to beef up their roster and their new ballpark.6:55 a.m.
• St. Cloud officials eagerly await Pawlenty's State of the State address
  This year Gov. Tim Pawlenty will deliver his State of the State address in St. Cloud. That has local officials wondering if something big is in store for their city.7:20 a.m.
• Gov. and legislature largely in agreement on health care changes
  Gov. Pawlenty and leading Democrats say, for the most part, they agree on the key elements of a proposal that would radically transform Minnesota's health care system.7:25 a.m.
• S.D. lawmakers approve changes in farmland property tax assessment
  South Dakota lawmakers are changing the way farmland in the state is assessed. Currently, property tax assessments are based on the sale price of land, but Lawmakers passed legislation Tuesday that requires the assessed value be based on the income off the land.7:50 a.m.
• Candidates woo Wisconsin voters
  Presidential politics are ramping up in Wisconsin in advance of next week's primary, with most all the major candidates either in town or planning to visit. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer talked with Craig Gilbert, who covers the presidential campaign for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.7:55 a.m.
• Madison hits new record for seasonal snowfall
  Madison, Wisconsin has hit a new record for seasonal snowfall. The city has now received about 80 inches of snow this winter, burying the city's previous high of 76.1 inches set in the late 1970s. That's a lot of snow to clear away. The person in charge of doing that is Al Schumacher; he's street superintendent for Madison's Department of Public Works.8:45 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• McCain, Obama Win Three for Three
  Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama both scored wins in primaries in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia on Tuesday. Obama handily beat Hillary Clinton in lopsided victories. McCain pulled off a narrow defeat of Mike Huckabee in Virginia.
• Pakistan Rebuffs Access to Detained U.S. Doctor
  A Pakistani-American doctor campaigning for the rights of a minority group has been held in Pakistan for nearly two years. U.S. officials say they have been pushing for consular access or medical treatment for Safdar Sarki, but they have been rebuffed or ignored.
• Correctional Officers Protest Inmate Work Cuts
  Federal correctional officers are gathering outside the Justice Department on Wednesday to protest budget cuts and cutbacks to the federal inmate work program. The officers say it's the only program they have left to keep inmates out of trouble.
• Next Stop for Democrats: Wisconsin
  The Democratic presidential nomination is still up for grabs. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are taking the fight for delegates to Wisconsin. Next week, the Badger State will hold one of the country's oldest and most open primaries.
• Does Britain Leave Doors Open for Terrorism?
  Britain is one of the most open societies in the West. But some think its openness has made the country vulnerable to attacks by homegrown terrorists. British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith talks about the terrorist threat.
• Australia Apologizes to Aborigines
  Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has apologized to the country's Aborigines for a six-decade policy of forced resettlement. Suzanne Smith of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation discusses the apology.
• Battle for Mosul Highlights Ethnic Tensions
  Bolstering 14,000 U.S. troops fighting insurgents in Mosul are 9,000 Iraqi forces, many of them Kurds. But the Sunni Arab community is leery of the Kurds, who hold a majority of seats in the provincial council.
• Chavez Halts Oil Shipments to Exxon Mobil
  Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez is refusing to ship oil to Exxon Mobil following a lawsuit filed by the company over the country's move to nationalize a large oil project. Chavez also threatened to stop all U.S. oil shipments.
• Stimulus Plan to Aid Housing in Pricey Markets
  When President Bush signs the economic stimulus package Wednesday, it will make it easier for residents in pricey housing markets to get government-backed mortgages. That could be worth far more than those $600 tax rebate checks.
• Take Off Weight Before Taking Off
  Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport has a lot of extras for travelers — and one of them is a 24-hour gym. Its weights, saunas and treadmills are used by passengers and airport staff alike.

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