Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Flu outlook for this year: Return to normal
  The H1N1 flu, which was just beginning to cause public health concerns around this time last year, is not expected to cause so much disruption this year. But there are signs that the flu season could be off to an early, and somewhat unusual, start.7:20 a.m.
• Researchers use new tool to fight gypsy moths
  The state is trying to get the jump on a growing population of gypsy moths in northern Minnesota. Researchers are engaging in early skirmishes of what will be a long war. They're choosing a few key spots to plant a fungus that's lethal to the moths, but harmless to just about everything else.7:25 a.m.
• Minnesota generating private sector jobs
  Minnesota Public Radio's chief economics correspondent Chris Farrell talks about communications being an engine of jobs for the U.S. economy, and where Minnesota's job picture fits in the national scene. Plus, he previews the week ahead on Wall Street.8:25 a.m.
• Swanson: Swift action needed to keep carp out of Great Lakes
  Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson said Monday that Asian carp pose a real threat to the Great Lakes, and she hopes a judge will order temporary measures to stop the fish from spreading.8:35 a.m.
• Students rely more on grandparents to help pay for college
  The cost of a year college now averages more than $20,000. A new study says students are turning to their grandparents more and more for help paying those expenses.8:40 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Pakistan's Floods Reach Southern Province Of Sindh
  The floods that began in the northwest part of Pakistan keep pushing south, and have reached the southern-most province of Sindh. As water rushed by, the city of Sukkur in central Pakistan was spared as a series of canals diverted the floodwaters to the surrounding countryside. It's a small victory for a country where millions have been displaced.
• 'Flat Area' Contributes To Pakistan's Floods
  Pakistani writer Daniyal Mueenuddin has a mango farm about 30 miles from Sukkur, Pakistan. Mueenuddin has been on Morning Edition previously -- describing both his real and fictional worlds. So far, the countryside he writes about has been spared the flooding that has engulfed much of the northern part of the country. Mueenuddin talks to Renee Montagne about the crisis.
• 'Villages' Help Neighbors Age At Home
  In neighborhoods across the country, groups of people are banding together to help the elderly stay in their homes. These non-profit groups are called "villages," and they help provide seniors with security, practical help and companionship they need to stay happily in the home they love.
• New Battlefield: Vets Tackle Transition Home
  Weighed down by their time at war, veterans can take years and even decades to readjust to their former lives. Community groups around the country are providing extra support to veterans that the Department of Veterans Affairs may not offer. Warrior's Journey Home, an Ohio-based group, has been identified as a model in the field.
• With Birth Control Pills, New Isn't Always Better
  The latest generation of birth control pills has been marketed as doing much more than prevent pregnancy. They claim to clear the skin, make menstrual periods more benign, even prevent mood swings. But some critics suggest these benefits don't outweigh the health risks known to accompany oral contraceptives.
• New Credit Card Protections Take Effect
  New rules for the credit card industry went into effect Sunday. The regulations limit penalty fees -- on top of an earlier change that kept banks from raising interest rates without advance warning. To offset this loss in revenue, banks are simply charging more for their credit cards.
• Compensation Czar Takes Over BP Fund
  Beginning Monday, the claims process for people affected by the BP oil spill might get a little easier. It at least has some firmer rules. Kenneth Feinberg, the private administrator hired by BP to handle the claims, takes over responsibility for the payouts.
• 'Pop-Up' Restaurant LudoBites Hit Of Los Angeles
  Celebrity Chef Ludo Lefebvre has launched a new dining phenomenon in Los Angeles called "pop-up dining." It's kind of the culinary equivalent of a rave. Every couple of months, Levebvre sets up shop at a new restaurant or diner and temporarily transforms it into a gourmet dining experience. It's called LudoBites and it's become a raging success.
• Slow Economy Blamed For Fewer Restaurants
  According to the market research group NPD Group, the number of restaurants in the country declined by more than 5,000 last year. The group reports that it's most likely to be independently-owned small or mid-size restaurants calling it quits.
• Iraq, Economy To Play Small Roles In Next Primaries
  Voters in four states go to the polls Tuesday to choose candidates for November elections. It's a year in which anti-Washington feelings are running strong, and anti-establishment candidates have scored some victories. Unlike other elections, Iraq and the economy are not expected to play big roles in Tuesday's primaries.

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