Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Horner's tax plan typical in most of U.S.
  If Independence Party candidate Tom Horner becomes Minnesota's next governor and is able to convince the state Legislature his sales tax plan is the way to go, you could end up paying tax on many things that have never before been taxed in Minnesota.6:40 a.m.
• How many women have endured a rape, and said nothing?
  It's not the cluster of assaults that's unusual. It's the reports.6:50 a.m.
• Climatologist explains warm dry weather
  MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with University of Minnesota Climatologist Mark Seeley about the extended period of dry and warmer-than-normal weather in Minnesota.6:55 a.m.
• Game 2: Twins vs. Yankees
  The Yankees bested the Minnesota Twins 5-2 Thursday night at Target Field in game two of their division series, putting them again on the verge of being swept out of the baseball playoffs.7:20 a.m.
• As state buys land, counties lose tax revenue
  Some northern Minnesota counties worry they're losing their taxable lands. The state already owns millions of acres that counties can't tax. Now, flush with cash from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, the state is buying up even more land.7:25 a.m.
• Artist losing home to foreclosure, turns it into gallery
  People react to the foreclosure crisis in different ways. One woman in Minneapolis is choosing to mark the loss of her home by temporarily converting it into a gallery which opens this weekend.7:35 a.m.
• African Americans and African immigrants hold summit
  African immigrants and African Americans will come together tomorrow in an effort to unite two communities that have had a strained relationship in the past. The Pan African Summit will be held at the Center for Families in North Minneapolis.8:35 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Arizona Family Chooses To Live In The Middle
  Gregg and Lola Donnell, who earn right around the national median income, could work more, but then they'd have less time for what matters to them. The Donnells, who have three kids, choose not just to live within their means, but to live within their needs. And that suits them fine.
• Quantitative Easing, Explained
  Quantitative easing, a step the Federal Reserve may take, is more dramatic than it sounds. It means creating massive amounts of money out of thin air with the hope of getting the economy back on track.
• Understanding Pakistan, By Way Of Its Pop Idols
  Kamila Shamsie grew up in Pakistan as the country entered an era of Islamic fundamentalism in the late 1970s. But the pop-rock musicians of the time persisted, making music videos and subversive songs. Here, Shamsie reflects on the religious turmoil of the period through the scope of its music.
• FCC Takes On Cellular Phone Bill Shock
  Verizon has agreed to refund its customers about $50 million. The company was improperly charging them for data services such as browsing the web, checking email and using apps. Parul Desai of Consumers Union talks to Renee Montagne about the new rules the FCC is working on which would make it harder for cellphone carriers to shock consumers with big bills for data service.
• U.S. Struggles To Hold Faltering Peace Talks Together
  The fate of the U.S.-sponsored Middle East peace talks could be decided soon. An Arab League committee meets with Palestinian leaders in Tripoli Friday to discuss pulling out of the talks. Meanwhile, Israeli leaders in Jerusalem will consider a package of American incentives aimed at persuading Israel to extend a moratorium on settlement building in the occupied West Bank in order to keep the negotiations alive.
• Future Of Iraqi Government Remains Unclear
  Iraqi analysts say the most likely outcome looks to be another term for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, heading a pro-Iran government that includes hard-line anti-American elements from the Sadr movement. The main caveat, they say, is is that Sadrists have switched allegiances and may do so again.
• High Gold Prices Reflect Inflation Worries
  Investors who have watched the price of gold soar in recent weeks did some selling Thursday. The price of Gold is more than $1,300 an ounce. The high price of gold reflects worry about inflation, the decline in the value of the dollar and general uneasiness about the economy.
• Jobless Rate Unchanged In Last Report Before Midterms
  The Labor Department on Friday said U.S. employers cut 95,000 jobs in September, leaving the jobless rate unchanged at 9.6 percent. It's the fourth straight month that the economy has shed jobs.
• The Gap Gets Backlash For Logo Makeover
  Clothing company Gap Inc. changed its logo earlier this week. Gone are the white capital letters in a blue square. It now has black letters with a small blue box behind the "P." Ad Age compared it to a child's artwork, and the retailer says it's open to redesign ideas.
• Major U.S. Banks Investigated For Foreclosure Fraud
  Bank of America, Chase and GMAC Mortgage have put tens of thousands of foreclosures on hold and lawmakers are calling for a nationwide moratorium after bank employees acknowledged they failed to conduct required reviews. Is it just a paperwork glitch or another mortgage fiasco for the whole country?

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