Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Legislators leave St. Paul to get input on the state budget
  State lawmakers take to the road later this week to hear what Minnesotans have to say about the budget.7:20 a.m.
• Funeral business might not be as recession-proof as once thought
  Funeral homes were once thought to be recession-proof businesses. But funeral directors across the country are discovering they're not immune from this troubled economy.7:25 a.m.
• Fort Snelling Army Reserve program first on YouTube
  The Army is embracing online media to reach potential recruits.7:45 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Pyramid Schemes Proliferate In China
  Hundreds of thousands of Chinese are hoaxed by pyramid schemes every year, and lawmakers are considering proposals to crack down on the fraudulent, get-rich-quick "business ventures." But some say not enough is being done to tackle this growing problem.
• Lessons Of France's 'The Class' Transcend Borders
  Authenticity was important to the producers of The Class,, which is based on a book by a former middle school teacher. Some American teachers say that while the film is set in France, it also provides a window into what goes on in an urban middle school in the United States.
• Boyish Charm: Disney XD Woos Young Princes
  Disney has worked its magic on young girls for decades. Now, it looks at the other side of the playground with Disney XD, a channel aimed at boys.
• Chrysler's Bid For Survival
  Auto analysts say that any more government money should not be used to help Chrysler continue as is. Instead, they say, Chrysler should use the money to wind down its business or merge with a stronger automaker.
• Companies Rethink Annual Performance Reviews
  The annual performance review is getting reviewed itself, and has received low marks. Employees say feedback from the review is too little and comes too late to be effective. Now companies are beginning to rethink how they give feedback.
• In Paris, Culinary Education Starts In Day Care
  In the land of high cuisine, even lunch in preschool is a culinary delight. French culinary traditions and knowledge are cultivated at a very young age. Even toddlers in day care centers are taught how to sit at a table and are encouraged to eat all kinds of foods.
• Venezuelans Vote To Scrap Term Limits
  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Sunday won a referendum to scrap term limits, which allows him to run for re-election indefinitely. The referendum got 54 percent of the vote.
• Stimulus Stirs Debate Over Rural Broadband Access
  President Obama's economic stimulus package includes $7.2 billion to expand broadband Internet access into rural areas. Advocates say high-speed access is necessary in a global economy. Critics say taxpayer dollars shouldn't be used for a "cyber bridge to nowhere."
• Navajo Hope Stimulus Will Fund Jobs, Infrastructure
  The recently signed economic stimulus package contains nearly $3 billion for Native American tribes. A big portion of the money is likely to go to the Navajo Nation, the largest reservation in the country. Its leaders hope funds will help create much needed jobs and build basic infrastructure.
• Japan Reports Sharp Drop In Fourth-Quarter GDP
  Japan's economy contracted in the fourth quarter at the fastest pace since the 1970s. Japan relies heavily on exports, and global demand for Japanese goods like cars and electronics is down sharply. Now some of Japan's best-known companies are eliminating jobs.

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