Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Bachmann Iowa chair defects to Ron Paul
  Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann's presidential campaign enters the home-stretch of the Iowa Caucuses with some bad news. Her state campaign chairman, Iowa State Sen. Kent Sorenson, has defected to one of her competitors, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul. MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with Minnesota Public Radio news reporter Mark Zdechlik, who's in Des Moines.7:20 a.m.
• Freeport residents stunned by Swany White Flour fire
  Freeport residents are in shock after a fire destroyed the very thing that many say put the central Minnesota town on the map.7:25 a.m.
• Forced to choose, communities raise taxes, cut jobs
  Property taxes are going up, and many local government jobs are going away. As 2011 comes to an end, those two main themes emerge from our Forced to Choose series examining the decisions Minnesota's 3,200 cities, counties, townships and school districts have been making. Above, a neglected public hockey rink in Duluth.8:45 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• N.H. Voters Look For Calm Amid Economic Jitters
  New Hampshire's economy looks pretty good compared with much of the nation. But even there, confidence has been shaken, and many families' economic outlook has declined. Republican voters are trying to figure out which presidential candidate offers the best plan to soothe economic anxiety.
• Year In Review: Mega Tech Brands Raise Megabucks
  This year was tumultuous for stocks. But that didn't scare off mega brands in technology. Twenty-eight tech companies went public and raised more than $6 billion — a whopping 85 percent increase over 2010. Winners included LinkedIn; busts included Groupon.
• True Grit: 'Into The Silence' Scales Everest
  Wade Davis' gripping Into the Silence tells the story of the British climbers who attempted to scale Mount Everest in the 1920s, becoming symbols of national pride and imperial ambition.
• The Real Buddha Bar, Tended By Tokyo Monks
  It's an old cliche — the boozy customer at the pub, pouring out his woes to the bartender. But at a Tokyo bar run by Buddhist monks, bartenders don't mind hearing their customers' problems — dispensing advice is precisely why they're in business.
• 2012 Could See New Regulations For Table Saws
  Every year, thousands of Americans suffer severe injuries using the saws. But after a series of reports by NPR, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has started crafting new safety rules for table saws.
• Cut Copy: Wine Bottles And Electronic Beats
  Cut Copy's Dan Whitford says he isn't afraid to take inspiration directly from music he loves.
• Criminal Charges May Be Filed In BP Oil Spill
  Possible targets for charges include BP engineers and at least one supervisor, according to The Wall Street Journal. Any charges would be the first criminal charges against individual BP employees for the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.
• 2011 Put Chrysler Back In The Fast Lane
  In 2011, Chrysler recovered from bankruptcy by redefining itself as a better, more luxurious car company and paying off nearly $8 billion in bailout loans. To top it all off, Chrysler sales are up 25 percent this year, about twice the industry average.
• Cities Enlist New Slogans To Enhance Their Image
  Cities with new slogans include Buffalo, N.Y., Chicago and Colorado Springs. Chicago is branding itself: Second to None. While Colorado Springs decided on: Live it Up.
• Romney Packs 'Em In As Momentum Builds In Iowa
  Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney had down played his prospects in Iowa for most of this year. But with the caucuses just days away, Romney is crisscrossing the state. He seems determined to prove he'll be tough enough to take on President Obama.

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