Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Aging boomers face high cost of individual health insurance
  Americans who aren't insured through an employer pay a bundle for health care coverage. The costs can go up precipitously for those between the ages of 50 and 64.6:50 a.m.
• Sen. Johnson to apologize on Senate floor
  DFL Sen. Dean Johnson is expected to make a public apology on the Senate floor today. That apology, along with a letter to the people who heard his controversial remarks, will end an ethics complaint against him. Minnesota Public Radio's Capitol Bureau Chief, Laura McCallum, has been following this and other stories at the legislature.7:20 a.m.
• Rochester police looking to hire
  The Rochester Police Department will lose 16 officers to retirement this year. That's almost as many as the force has hired in the last 10 years. But this time the city will have to pay for the officers because a federally funded program that paid for the positions is coming to an end.7:25 a.m.
• Monday Markets with Chris Farrell
  Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell discusses the latest economic news.8:55 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Sen. Burns Scrutinized for Earmark Tied to Abramoff
  An earmark linked to lobbyist Jack Abramoff threatens the political career of Montana Sen. Conrad Burns. Burns helped steer money to a wealthy tribe from Michigan that employed Abramoff. At the same, the impoverished Blackfeet tribe of Montana says the senator ignored its plight.
• Wind Farms Draw Mixed Response in Appalachia
  Huge windmills -- promoted as a source of clean, renewable power -- are sprouting up on mountaintops in the Appalachian states. But some local opponents say the tall turbines blight the rural landscape.
• Helping Dropouts Break the Cycle of Poverty
  If you come from a poor family, you are more likely to drop out of high school. And if you drop out and stay out of high school, you are more likely to be poor. In Portland, Ore., one program is designed to break this cycle by helping dropouts finish their education.
• State Department Defends America's Image Abroad
  Every morning, a group meets inside the U.S. State Department to come up with ways to respond to media around the world. The people in this room are just one part of an effort to repair a major problem: the declining image of the United States overseas.
• Immigration Bill Protests Crop Up Across U.S.
  Protests by immigration advocates have dotted the nation in response to a bill passed by the House that many criticize as an attack on Latinos in particular. The debate moves next to the Senate. One rally against the bill was organized by the United Farm Workers on Sunday in Los Angeles. Rob Schmitz of member station KQED reports.
• Researchers Try Fighting Heart Disease Gene by Gene
  Scientists are reporting a new way to lower cholesterol. The process involves a tool called RNA interference. It uses a snippet of RNA to turn off a single gene at a time. In theory, genes responsible for producing cholesterol could be controlled to help prevent heart disease.
• Americans Waking Earlier in the Day
  The Wall Street Journal reports that a growing number of people are waking up early. More Americans are out of bed pre-dawn, and utility companies have noticed. Television networks are also taking note of the trend.
• Scores Die as Iraq Suffers Another Bloody Day
  A bombing, a raid and the discovery of at least a dozen more bodies near Baghdad all mark a particularly bloody day in Iraq. More than 80 people have been reported killed in sectarian violence over the past 24 hours. That includes at least 16 Iraqis killed in a U.S.-backed raid in a Shiite neighborhood of Baghdad. Renee Montagne talks to Anne Garrels.
• Administration Hints at Troop Changes in Iraq
  Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says American forces could be scaled back in Iraq, if Iraqi troops can take control. Steve Inskeep talks to Cokie Roberts about the politics of Iraq. Also up for discussion, an immigration bill that the Senate will take up this week.
• Final Four Full of Surprises
  All four top seeds have been eliminated from this year's men's NCAA basketball tournament. George Mason pulled off a stunning upset by beating top-seeded Connecticut in overtime to advance to the Final Four. Top-seeded Villanova also lost, falling to Florida. Steve Inskeep talks to John Feinstein.

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