Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Sugar and corn syrup battle for tastebuds
  Sugar is making a comeback. In soft drinks and food, some manufacturers are replacing high fructose corn sweetener with sugar.6:50 a.m.
• Lawmakers divided over need for election reform
  The Minnesota Senate could take up a bill as early as today that changes state election law, but members of the Minnesota House don't appear to have the same sense of urgency to pass the legislation.7:20 a.m.
• State's biggest school district budget uncertain
  Officials at the Anoka-Hennepin school district are waiting on several factors before the district's budget for the next few years can be set. The economy, the state legislature, and a planned local school levy are all unsettling the district's budget situation.7:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• In Somalia, Piracy Is An Attractive Career Option
  To most of the world, Somalia could easily be renamed the Land of Pirates. Hijackings on the high seas have become routine off the coast of this East African nation. Known for their pragmatism, Somalis have taken to piracy because it's a multimillion-dollar industry that works.
• Some Older 'Star Trek' Fans May Skip This Voyage
  The latest Star Trek movie is an attempt to give new life to the franchise and attract a new generation of fans. But some older fans are wary and say the ads they've seen on television are directed only toward the young.
• Put The Surprise Back In Sports
  Sports is so prepackaged, so diagrammed to death by experts and analysts, that it's reduced to all the charm of following the Dow Jones average on CNBC.
• Afghanistan-Pakistan Talks Highlight Complex Ties
  President Obama plays host Wednesday to the leaders of two countries that have been a central focus of his administration's foreign policy: Afghanistan and Pakistan. The idea of the trilateral meetings is to come up with some concrete guidelines to cooperate in the fight against extremists, says U.S. envoy Richard Holbrooke.
• Pakistan's Military Attacks Taliban In Swat Valley
  Pakistani forces on Wednesday attacked Taliban fighters in the Swat valley with artillery and helicopters. U.S. officials have called on Pakistan's government to show its commitment to fighting militancy.
• Flu Disrupts Calexico's Cinco De Mayo Celebrations
  Cinco de Mayo is usually cause for a big party in Calexico, Calif., which is two blocks from the Mexican border. But Tuesday's celebrations were overshadowed by worry over the swine flu virus and the region's poor economy.
• Democrats Wait To See How Sen. Specter Votes
  A week after switching parties, Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter is still trying to fit in as a Democrat. He has moved his desk in the Senate chamber across the aisle. He has gone from ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee to being just another Democrat. Still, not everyone is sure of Specter's intentions.
• Will Fla. Gov. Crist Decide To Run For Senate?
  Republican Charlie Crist is expected to announce whether he'll remain governor of Florida or run for the Senate in 2010. Republican Sen. Mel Martinez is retiring, and Crist is interested in the job. Although Crist is popular in Florida, there are signs that he could face significant challenges if he runs for the Senate.
• Judge OKs Chrysler's Steps Toward Sale To Fiat
  The judge overseeing Chrysler LLC's Chapter 11 proceedings has ruled that the automaker may start taking steps toward selling most of its assets to Italy's Fiat Group. The ruling came late Tuesday after more than seven hours of testimony and legal arguments.
• Ford Foundation Aids In Solving Mortgage Crisis
  The Ford Foundation is trying to save neighborhoods beset by home foreclosure. The nation's second largest philanthropy will pour $50 million into a program designed to get houses off the books of financial institutions and into the hands of homeowners.

Resources

• Marketplace Tech Report®
• Marketplace Morning Report®
• Mark Seeley's WeatherTalk

Services

• Hourly Newscast
• HD Radio
• iPhone App / Mobile
• E-mail newsletters
• RSS feeds
• Podcasts
• Submit your photos
• Videos
• Weather
• Most e-mailed stories