Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Dentists drop opposition to new practitioner position
  Supporters of a bill creating a new mid-level dental practitioner position to work in under-served areas of the state have reached a compromise with opponents.7:20 a.m.
• Recession forces couples to split for work
  The recession is forcing some families to split up temporarily. Work isn't easy to come by, and in some families, moms and dads have to strike out far from home to find it.7:50 a.m.
• Art-a-Whirl an opportunity for artists
  Northeast Minneapolis' annual Art-a-Whirl extravaganza gets underway this weekend. It is an opportunity for artists to show off, and sell, their work while in their studios.8:45 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• A Fictional Take On Iran's Nuclear Program
  David Ignatius' new novel, The Increment, tells the story of an Iranian scientist who decides to send classified information to the CIA's Web site.
• Bill Would Let Patients Sue Medical Device Makers
  If an implanted medical device like a cardiac implant or artificial knee malfunctions, a patient can't sue. A Supreme Court ruling says all the manufacturers need is approval from the FDA to protect them from lawsuits. Some members of Congress want to change that.
• New Focus On Kicking As Stereotypes Fade On Field
  More and more, placekickers are being accepted as well-rounded athletes with skills that are critical to a football team's success. As part of that shift in attitude, younger athletes, like 15-year-old Dominic Granieri, are becoming interested in kicking — and showing promise.
• Parties Face Off Over CIA Interrogation Briefings
  Republicans have used a CIA memo to point out that top Democrats who were briefed on interrogation techniques used under the Bush administration did not act to stop them. But Democrats say that's not fair, arguing that they had few options for taking action on what was classified information.
• Cheney Defends Enhanced Interrogation Techniques
  One vocal participant in the debate over enhanced interrogation techniques is former Vice President Dick Cheney. Recently he has stepped into the breach to defend the policies of the Bush administration.
• Pope Calls For Palestinian State While In West Bank
  Pope Benedict visited the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Wednesday. While in Bethlehem, he called for a sovereign Palestinian homeland. The pope also met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
• Sri Lanka's Military Mission: Find Tamil Tigers Leader
  Hundreds of civilians in Sri Lanka have been killed recently. Aid officials believe many were victims of shelling by the Sri Lankan army fighting against the Tamil Tigers, who are using civilians as human shields. The Sri Lankan government is ignoring international appeals for a pause in the fighting. The military has its sights set on one man.
• Crude Oil Moves Gas Prices Higher
  Traders in the oil pits of New York and other energy trading centers have been bidding up the price of crude oil. It is hovering around $60 a barrel, almost double what it was in December. Analysts say investors are buying because they expect an economic recovery in the U.S. will spur demand.
• Rural America Facing More Foreclosures
  Many families refinanced into risky subprime loans. As miners and factory workers lose their jobs, their adjustable mortgage rates are going up, and they can no longer afford the payment.
• Colorado Farmers Forced To Find New Lender
  Farmers in northern Colorado are reeling from the collapse of a regional bank. Federal regulators last month shut down the New Frontier Bank in Greeley. The bank made thousands of loans to farmers.

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