Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Group supports Red River flood diversion on ND side
  A group studying permanent flood protection for the Fargo-Moorhead area is recommending a Red River diversion project on the North Dakota side.6:20 a.m.
• Bill would limit invasive species by limiting new boat ramps
  A state Senate committee considers a bill Friday that would ban new public boat ramps on some Minnesota lakes. It aims to keep invasive species out of lakes not yet infested by them.6:25 a.m.
• From Olympic to amateur rinks, Shattuck-St. Mary's means hockey
  Hockey is serious business at the elite boarding school, a powerhouse that produced National Hockey League giants, among them Zach Parise of the New Jersey Devils and the Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby.6:55 a.m.
• Rescue crews use floodwaters to train for disaster
  A few days before the Red River's crest last year, crews were rescuing people in boats. With no flooding yet this year, they've had more time to prepare and squeeze in extra training for a flood disaster.7:20 a.m.
• Two GOP candidates for Minn. governor exchange fire in debate
  The top two contenders for the Republican gubernatorial endorsement squared off in a debate Thursday night in Plymouth.7:25 a.m.
• Highlights of South by Southwest
  If you're a music lover, the place to be this weekend is Austin, Texas for the "South By Southwest" music festival. It's become the world's biggest annual music gathering, and it's been going on since Wednesday.8:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Toyota Deals Get Customers Back To Showrooms
  Thanks to specials like zero percent financing and price cuts, Toyota sales have risen sharply. A recent Edmunds.com dealer survey finds that so far this month, Toyota has regained the same market share of sales it had before the gas pedal recall.
• Runaway Cars: Driver Error Or Car Malfunction?
  The problems with Toyota's gas pedals have been front page news for weeks now, but what about the people in front of the pedals? Earlier studies have found that the majority of car-surging incidents were actually the fault of the driver. But the recent problems with cars continuing to accelerate haven't been studied yet.
• Exploring The Taliban's Complex, Shadowy Finances
  Western nations have long criticized Afghanistan's failure to curtail opium production, a main source of income for the Taliban. But counterterrorism officials say the problem is far more complex than just drug money, including diverted charity payments and "protection money" from convoys seeking to resupply U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
• FDA Restricts Marketing Tobacco To Youth
  The FDA has issued the first regulations since Congress gave the agency power to regulate tobacco. The regulations clamp down on the marketing of cigarettes to children and teenagers. The new rules prohibit a number of ad strategies like giving way hats and T-shirts with tobacco logos. Plus, no more selling of cigarettes in certain vending machines where kids can get at them.
• Undecided Lawmakers Targeted For Their Health Vote
  On Capitol Hill, a few dozen House members are trying to decide how to vote on health care — while hundreds of advocates and thousands of e-mails are trying to sway them one way or the other. The House is expected to vote on its health care overhaul legislation on Sunday.
• Thousands To Rally For Immigration Overhaul
  Activists are arriving in Washington D.C. for this weekend's rally to push for an overhaul of immigration laws. Arizona has some of the toughest laws in the nation targeting illegal immigrants. Churches and advocacy groups from the state are sending delegates to Washington to march for changes at the federal level.
• Universal Music To Test Lower Price Of CDs
  The world's largest music company is lowering the price of CDs. Universal Music is rolling out a test to see whether a $10 price ceiling will encourage consumers to buy more compact discs. Over the last decade, CD sales have dropped by more than half.
• Austinites Angle For A Piece Of SXSW Cash Cow
  The South by Southwest music festival bills itself as "the premier destination for discovery." It's also the destination for truckloads of cash, as music and art fans flock to Austin, Texas, each March. Last year's event brought nearly $100 million to the city, according to one analyst.
• Will The Real 'Music City' USA Please Stand Up
  While the music festival South by Southwest attracts thousands of industry types to Austin, Texas, other locales are trying to make sure the host city doesn't get too much credit as being the "music city." Places like Nashville, Seattle and even the state of Louisiana have sent contingents to Austin to promote their own ties to music.
• Billionaire Investor Wannabe Rock Star?
  Warren Buffett can be seen in a video dressed and singing like Axel Rose of Guns and Roses. The video was made by employees of Buffett's car insurance company Geico. Every year Geico workers put together a music video for their annual meeting. They told Time magazine that this year they wanted to come up with the most "ridiculous" outfit they could think up for their billionaire owner.

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