Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Smart design for people who need it
  A new exhibition opening at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis this weekend shows that cheap and simple designs can change, and even save, lives.6:25 a.m.
• Students embrace teacher whose family lost everything in earthquake
  The impact of the massive earthquake in China is being felt at a Chinese immersion elementary school in St. Paul.6:50 a.m.
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  6:55 a.m.
• Hypermilers take gas saving to the extreme
  Hypermilers tweak their cars, but more importantly they adjust how they drive to save gas.7:20 a.m.
• Gas prices make the bus a fare deal for many
  As gas prices have climbed, more and more people are getting out of their cars and in to buses.7:25 a.m.
• Minnesota's nursing homes face financial crisis
  Elderly care advocates say nearly a third of the state's nursing homes are in danger of closing their doors because of financial problems. Facility administrators say part of the problem is a state law that caps the rate homes can charge patients.7:50 a.m.
• Northwest looks for ways to save fuel
  Prices at the gas pump continue to rise, and those same fuel costs are cutting into airline budgets, forcing airlines to look for ways to save on fuel. Chris Maccarone, the Managing Director of Performance Analysis for Northwest Airlines, describes how much fuel airplanes use and what Northwest is doing to use less.7:55 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• McCain's Age and Health, and the 2008 Election
  Republican presidential hopeful John McCain is in good general health and is free of skin cancer, according to a report by The Associated Press that cites the candidate's medical records. McCain is 71, older than any newly elected president. In a Pew poll, half the voters said they'd be less likely to vote for a candidate in his 70s.
• Obama Seeks Jewish Support in Florida Trip
  Barack Obama met with an influential group Thursday he has yet to win over — Jewish voters in Florida. Some remain skeptical about the Democratic presidential candidate's support for Israel, while others say they simply don't know enough about him. Obama is courting their support, looking toward the general election.
• In Reversal, Myanmar to Admit Foreign Aid Workers
  Myanmar's military government has agreed to let all aid workers into the country to assist cyclone victims. Host Renee Montagne reports.
• In Gulf, the Cost of Rebuilding Homes Soars
  The small Gulf Coast town of Cameron, La., was destroyed by Hurricane Rita in 2005. Fewer than half of Cameron's 2,000 residents have returned since the storm. Many rebuilding efforts are stalled by high prices.
• China Quake Jars Memories in U.S. Chinatown
  The largest Chinese community in the United States has been reaching out to help victims of last week's massive earthquake in Sichuan province. The effects of a major disaster are familiar to some residents of San Francisco's Chinatown, which suffered an earthquake of similar magnitude just over a century ago.
• British Leader Brown's Party Takes a Loss
  Britain's Conservative Party has won a parliamentary seat from the ruling Labor Party in a by-election. The loss is being viewed as a barometer of Prime Minister Gordon Brown's eroding popularity.
• Advice to Stop PTSD Diagnoses Triggers Probe
  Concern that the government is trying to save money by curbing the number of diagnoses for post-traumatic stress disorder has been heightened by an incident at a Veterans Affairs hospital. An inquiry is under way, and a VA coordinator has been removed.
• Juneau Power Crisis Brings Stark Savings Measures
  One month after an avalanche knocked out its connection to a hydroelectric dam, much of Juneau, Alaska, is still relying on diesel back-up generators. Residential electricity rates have gone up about 400 percent. As a result, residents and the city have embarked on an extraordinary conservation campaign.
• McDonald's Makes Fries Trans-Fat Free
  The world's largest fast-food chain said Thursday that it had switched to a trans-fat-free cooking oil in all its U.S. and Canadian restaurants. McDonald's chief executive said french fries, hash browns and other fried foods are now cooked in a blend of canola, corn and soybean oil.
• Costs of Obesity Add to Business Overhead
  Employers are growing more concerned about higher costs associated with overweight employees. Public health analysts say a big part of the increased cost of health insurance has to do with treating obesity-related health problems.

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