Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Expert: Concord Coalition analyzes Pawlenty economic plan
  Republican presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty has released a plan he says will grow the economy by 5 percent a year. MPR's Phil Picardi spoke with the Concord Coalition's Diane Lim Rogers for some analysis of Pawlenty's plan.7:20 a.m.
• Despite budget woes, many lawmakers collected expense payments
  As many lawmakers were calling for holding the line on state spending during the legislative session, they were taking expense payments that cost taxpayers a total of nearly $2 million.7:25 a.m.
• Delta plans to move Minn. jobs, consolidate facilities
  Delta Air Lines says a few hundred Minnesota employees will be affected. Delta blames high fuel prices, which have forced the company to cut capacity and shutter some buildings.7:40 a.m.
• Understanding bears could help us survive heart attacks, researchers say
  University of Minnesota researchers think lessons learned from hibernating black bears will help save human lives in a unique study that could someday improve the odds of surviving a heart attack.8:25 a.m.
• Red Lake Band of Ojibwe taking another step in managing gray wolves
  The Red Lake Band of Ojibwe is preparing for a second major wolf research project on tribal lands in northern Minnesota. Red Lake's natural resources department has been awarded a $200,000 federal grant to help the tribe manage its gray wolf population.8:40 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• For Many, It's Still A Good Time To Buy A Home
  Housing prices have been falling for years now, and aren't likely to turn around for a long time. While some economists say renting makes more sense, others insist it's a great time to make a home purchase in many U.S. cities.
• Pension Perk Up For Debate In Philadelphia
  A controverisal perk that allows government workers in Philadelphia to collect on their pensions before they retire is in jeopardy. Mayor Michael Nutter says the early pensions aren't affordable. But the City Council wants to preserve them.
• In Greek Port, Storm Brews Over Chinese-Run Labor
  Chinese shipping giant Cosco has locked in a $5 billion deal at the Greek port of Piraeus. For China, the pier is a strategic gateway for Chinese goods into Europe and beyond. But a former Cosco dockworker alleges mistreatment, and Greek officials have fined the company for labor violations.
• Democrats Ponder Whether Weiner Should Stay Or Go
  Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) said he will not resign after admitting to inappropriate exchanges with women online and tweeting a lewd picture of himself. Democratic leaders must decide whether to ask Weiner to resign. In the past, Weiner has been an effective communicator for their causes.
• Terrorism Case Exposes Gaps In Refugee Screening
  Two Iraqi men accused of trying to send missiles to al-Qaida came to the U.S. as part of a program to resettle thousands of refugees. When one of those men applied to the program, Homeland Security officials didn't know the military had lifted his fingerprints from a bomb designed to hurt U.S. troops in Iraq.
• Building Literacy Is Key To Building Afghan Army, U.S. General Says
  "If all you want to do is tear something down, like the Taliban, then you don't have to have any kind of literacy level. If you're trying to build something up ... you're going to have to instill literacy," says Lt. Gen. William Caldwell.
• Senate Takes Up Debit Card Swipe Fees
  The federal government is trying to lower the fees that stores pay banks every time a customer uses a debit card. Banks have been lobbying furiously against the effort, since they stand to lose billions. The Senate bill up for a vote Wednesday would delay new rules limiting swipe fees, and possibly force regulators to rewrite them.
• NBC Bids Billions And Retains Olympic TV Franchise
  After tighter than usual negotiations, NBC inked a record deal for the exclusive American rights to the Olympics.
• What's Martha Stewart Cooking Up For Her Company?
  Speculators believe Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia — which includes her magazines, TV shows and radio shows — may be up for sale. After going to jail in 2004, Martha Stewart resuscitated her career, but her company has been losing money and is looking for a path back to profitability.
• Atari Returns To Focus On Internet, Mobile Games
  The arcade video game Pong was cutting edge in 1972. After several deaths and resuscitations, Atari, the company behind Pong, is back again. Atari recently launched an app called Atari's Greatest Hits. It's a collection of classic arcade games — including Asteroids and Battlezone — refitted for mobile screens.

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