Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Immigrant detention grows in Minnesota
  Some 8,000 immigrants are in deportation proceedings in Minnesota. Every night, 200-300 detainees are behind bars. The Obama Administration is overhauling immigrant detention, but moving them out of jails will take years.6:20 a.m.
• Medications might be scarce for ex-offenders after GAMC elimination
  Early next year, the General Assistance Medical Care program will likely be replaced by MinnesotaCare, another state program for the poor, and the switch may mean some ex-offenders won't have access to the mental health medication they need.6:40 a.m.
• Rep. Kline reacts to Obama on Afghanistan
  President Obama said in a speech from West Point that he is sending 30,000 more troops to implement a new strategy in Afghanistan. U.S. Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., reacts to the president's plan.7:20 a.m.
• Rep. Walz reacts to Obama plan on Afghanistan
  President Obama said in a speech from West Point that he is sending 30,000 more troops to implement a new strategy in Afghanistan. U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, DFL-Minn., is cautious in his reaction.7:25 a.m.
• PUC approves CenterPoint rate increase
  The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has approved CenterPoint Energy's proposal to increase rates for its 800,000 customers around the state.7:35 a.m.
• A look at this season's Nutcracker productions
  Perhaps no holiday performance tradition is more prevalent this time of year than "The Nutcracker." Scores of dance companies across the state are bringing Tchaikovsky's classic ballet to the stage, and our theater critic takes a look at some of his favorites.8:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Obama Unveils Timetable In Afghan War Strategy
  President Obama has ordered 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan, but he's promising that U.S. soldiers will begin coming home in 18 months. In a prime time speech at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the president said his policy can reverse the Taliban's momentum, train the Afghan military to take over and bring the U.S. mission to a successful conclusion.
• Afghan Forces To Take Over Security Responsibilities
  During his speech at West Point on Tuesday night, President Obama warned the Afghan government that the U.S. commitment is not open-ended. He said that ultimately, Afghanistan will have to take responsibility for its own security.
• Maj. Hasan's File Incomplete Due To FBI Mix-Up
  NPR has learned that investigators have identified key failings — including a mix-up at the FBI's Washington and San Diego field offices. And that may explain why the man accused in the Fort Hood shootings, Maj. Nidal Hasan, went unnoticed — despite plenty of warning signs. Investigators in Washington saw only two of 18 e-mails Hasan sent to a radical imam.
• In Brazil's Slums, Police Try A Softer Touch
  The residents of Rio de Janeiro's slums, or favelas, are accustomed to seeing the police come in with guns blazing. But in Santa Marta, the police are trying an entirely different approach: community policing, which is already bringing positive change.
• Health Bill Would Impact Food, Drug Industries
  The Senate and House health care overhaul bills are each about 2,000 pages long. While the bills are mostly aimed at revamping the health insurance system, tucked in the pages are provisions that would spell big changes for the food, drug and medical device industries, too.
• Obama Wants More NATO Troops In Afghanistan
  In Europe, political leaders had been waiting for President Obama's Afghan war strategy speech. Obama did not specifically mention a number of troops that he wants to see contributed from NATO allies, but he did say he has asked for contributions. The president said "we must come together to end this war successfully."
• Pakistan Contemplates Obama's Afghan War Strategy
  One of the world leaders President Obama called before his speech about Afghanistan was Pakistan's President Asif Zardari. Journalist Ahmed Rashid in Lahore tells Renee Montagne that after some Pakistanis heard the speech, they became worried about the U.S. withdrawing from Afghanistan. They don't think the Taliban can be beaten back in the time announced by Obama.
• GM Looking For Third CEO In Less Than A Year
  General Motors needs a new CEO. Fritz Henderson is out just eight months after taking over from Rick Wagoner. GM's chairman will fill in while a new CEO is picked. GM's board decided Henderson wasn't moving fast enough to change things at the beleaguered automaker. Wagoner was forced out as part of the U.S. government-funded restructuring of GM.
• CEO Candidates Tell Bank Of America To Break Up
  Bank of America has been searching for a new CEO since Ken Lewis announced that he'll resign at the end of this year. The Wall Street Journal reports that the bank hasn't been having much luck. The paper says two of the candidates interviewed so far have told directors that the bank should consider breaking itself up. But the idea has been rejected for now.
• Defaults On Government-Backed Mortgages Rising
  A congressional committee hears testimony Wednesday on how well the Federal Housing Administration is doing. Defaults on FHA government-backed mortgages have been rising. The FHA has cracked down on one lender responsible for more than a thousand defaulted loans.

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