Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Popular Medicare supplement faces new hurdles
  New challenges to a popular insurance product called Medicare Advantage come from the Obama administration and unscrupulous insurance agents.6:50 a.m.
• Commentator says mornings need quiet moments
  With the pace of life these days, sometimes a Minnesotan needs to start the day with a quiet little moment. That's how commentator Peter Smith feels, and it's why he composed this still-life essay for an early March morning in Minnesota.6:55 a.m.
• Legislators eye fix for red ink
  State finance officials release a new economic forecast today, and all signs suggest Minnesota's $4.8 billion budget deficit will grow significantly larger.7:20 a.m.
• Cities with the biggest rainy day funds
  A list of cities in Minnesota with the largest rainy day funds, also known as unreserved undesignated funds.7:25 a.m.
• Franken to make his case in Senate contest
  Democrat Al Franken's lawyers call their first witnesses today in the lawsuit over Minnesota's disputed U.S. Senate election. Republican Norm Coleman's lawyers rested their case yesterday, after more than five weeks of testimony. We get some perspective from a legal expert who's been following the trial.7:40 a.m.
• Minnesota colleges reach out to younger students
  Minnesota colleges are reaching out to young students to encourage them to think about higher education.7:50 a.m.
• New budget forecast just released
  The Minnesota budget deficit is expected to be $4.57 billion over the next two-year budget cycle, down from the previous estimate of $4.85 billion, according to state finance officials. MPR's Tom Scheck previews the announcement coming this morning.8:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Applying Peace Corps Ideas To Hometown In Need
  Mark Rembert and Taylor Stuckert decided to put aside work in the Peace Corps to see if they could help their own community of Wilmington, Ohio. They hatched a plan to try to get funding for an environmentally friendly project that they hope will put hundreds back to work.
• As NOLA Charter Schools Thrive, Tensions Grow
  More than half of New Orleans schoolchildren attend charter schools, which have shown performance improvements, and more charters are on the way. Teachers at traditional public schools complain that their performance is hampered because charters push problem students back to them.
• What's Next For Retired NFL Coach Tony Dungy?
  Former Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy decided to retire at age 53. Dungy has been working with a number of Christian evangelical groups and writes from that perspective in his new book, Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance, which advises men and boys on how to lead successful lives. Dungy tells Steve Inskeep what his plans are for the future.
• White House Spotlights Health Care
  The White House this week turns its attention to a sweeping policy review on health care. President Obama will host a White House summit later this week on the health care system. On Monday, he nominated Kathleen Sebelius, the Democratic governor of Kansas, as his new secretary of health and human services.
• Obama To Meet With British Prime Minister Brown
  The global economic crisis tops the agenda as President Barack Obama meets with Britain's prime minister Tuesday. Gordon Brown is the first European leader to visit the new president. Brown will also address Congress during his U.S. visit.
• Sri Lanka's Cricket Team Attacked In Pakistan
  Officials say gunmen in east Pakistan opened fire on a vehicle carrying members of Sri Lanka's national cricket team. Several players were wounded and five police officers were killed. Security concerns have plagued Pakistan for years and some foreign sports teams have refused to play there.
• Clinton: U.S. May Cooperate With Syria
  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has kicked off two days of meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. In Egypt Monday, Clinton said the U.S. is determining what — if any — areas of cooperation and engagement are possible with Syria. Clinton has made clear that she wants to push for comprehensive Arab/Israeli peace — suggesting the U.S. may encourage the Israeli-Syrian track as well as the Israeli-Palestinian track.
• White House: CIA Destroyed Interrogation Tapes
  The Obama administration has revealed anti-terror memos from the Bush administration showing the CIA destroyed nearly 100 videotapes of interrogations and other treatment of terror suspects.
• Jailed Russian Tycoon On Trial For New Charges
  Former Russian billionaire Mikhail Khodorkovsky is on trial in Moscow for a second time. Supporters say Khordorkovsky's original arrest and conviction was political because of his opposition to the Kremlin. Two years before his scheduled release from a Siberian prison camp, he faces another 22 years in jail.
• Calif. Prepares For More Drought Restrictions
  California has declared a statewide water emergency in the face of a punishing three-year drought. It could result in some drastic conservation measures and water rationing over the coming months, stretching from California's farm belt to major coastal cities like Los Angeles.

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