Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Weather with Mark Seeley
  University of Minnesota climatologist Mark Seeley discusses Minnesota weather history and looks ahead to the weekend forecast.6:55 a.m.
• Mpls police chief blames economy for recruit layoffs
  Twenty Minneapolis Police officers graduated from the academy on Thursday, and the new officers will hit the streets this weekend. But by the end of next week, they'll be out of work because police department will lay off the officers because it can't afford to pay their salaries.7:20 a.m.
• Race is on for $2 million in green energy grant money
  Friday is the deadline for businesses to apply for stimulus-funded grants designed to spur job creation and the development of green energy.7:25 a.m.
• Legislative auditor to investigate use of company at center of security concerns
  A state auditor wants to know if Minnesota officials adequately addressed whether a Texas firm hired to verify the identities of new employees had sufficient security safeguards.8:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Democrats Threaten Their Own Health Overhaul
  Democrats' biggest problems with the health overhaul bill are within their own party.
• Health Overhaul May Cure Pre-Existing Conditions
  One part of the health care overhaul bill does seem to have broad support. It would change the individual insurance market — that's where people buy insurance on their own, rather than through an employer. Under the measure, insurance companies would not be allowed to deny you coverage based on pre-existing medical conditions.
• Ratio Of Contractors To Troops At War? 1 To 1
  The number of contractors hired to work in Afghanistan and Iraq puts the total number of personnel there at a level comparable to the Vietnam War. The use of contractors frees up troops to perform combat missions and saves money — but it also has drawbacks.
• Drug King Pin Dies In Battle With Mexican Soldiers
  Mexican troops have scored one of their biggest victories to date in their war on drug cartels. In a more than two-hour battle, Mexican troops killed the boss of drug bosses, Arturo Beltran Leyva. Observers fear Leyva's death will lead to more killings as others battle for control of the cartel.
• A Check Up On Senators' Health Bill Claims
  As part of our ongoing series on the Senate health care debate, "Is That So?" Morning Edition examines claims made this week by two senators from the opposite sides of the aisle. Republican Senator John Thune says if the health care bill passes, taxes will kick in right away but benefits will be delayed for years. Democrat Al Franken says benefits kick in right away.
• Online Job Listings Aren't Always What They Seem
  By most accounts, the U.S. job market is in feeble shape, but employers have posted about 3.4 million job postings at various career Web sites. That's about half the number of jobs that have been lost since the start of the recession in December 2007, enough to employ a huge chunk of the millions of people who've lost their jobs.
• Tight Budgets Scale Down Holiday Celebrations
  Tight budgets are forcing municipalities across the country to make cutbacks in displays and celebrations. In Fresno, Calif., city officials decided to skip the public lighting ceremony for a six-story Christmas tree. Trees in Chicago and Charleston, S.C., are smaller than in past years. And a century-old tradition in Philadelphia is in jeopardy as the Mummers negotiate with the city over who should pay for the annual New Year's Day parade.
• Preview: Scott Simon Interviews Vicki Kennedy
  In her first news broadcast interview since the death of Senator Ted Kennedy, Vicki Kennedy talks to NPR's Scott Simon. She sat down with Scott in the library she once shared with her husband. Their full conversation can be heard on NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday.
• BlackBerry Sales Help RIM's Profits
  The Canadian firm Research in Motion which makes BlackBerry Mobile Phones reported a big jump in profits Thursday. It said it shipped out about 10 million of the devices in the last quarter.
• Judge: California Prison Guards Can't Be Furloughed
  A state superior court judge has ruled against Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's furlough order for the state's prison guards. At issue was a furlough policy that was implemented earlier this year to save the state money.

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