Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Northwest, Delta begin integration
  The end of Northwest Airlines has begun. Late yesterday afternoon, Delta Air Lines closed on its purchase of Eagan-based Northwest.6:20 a.m.
• Consumer spending accounts for two-thirds of U.S. economy
  Today, the federal government will release its first reading on the growth of the U.S. economy between July and September. Economists are predicting the economy shrank half a percent.6:55 a.m.
• MPR Poll: Obama widens lead in the state
  With less than a week to go until Election Day, a new poll shows Democrat Barack Obama with a commanding lead over Republican John McCain in Minnesota.7:20 a.m.
• Facts don't support Bachmann ad claims
  Rep. Michele Bachmann uses a TV commercial and a new web site to accuse Democrat El Tinklenberg of breaking the law. But there's no indication Tinklenberg broke any laws.7:25 a.m.
• Newspaper editors explain their U.S. Senate endorsements
  Newspaper editors at three papers in Minnesota discuss the reasons behind their endorsements.7:40 a.m.
• Future Tense with Jon Gordon
  Breakthrough technology for 20088:20 a.m.
• Papatola on Halloween hauntings around the state
  People observe All Hallow's Eve in a variety of ways. Some go out trick-or-treating. Some carve jack-o-lanterns. And some like to have their pants scared off. Morning Edition arts commentator and St. Paul Pioneer Press theater critic Dominic Papatola does not fall into that last group, but he summoned up the courage to speak with Minnesota Public Radio's Cathy Wurzer about various Halloween hauntings in the metro area and around the state.8:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Cable Subscribers Increase Before Digital Transition
  Comcast Corp., the nation's largest cable service provider, announced Wednesday that earnings were up. The company says it lost some basic cable subscribers, but that the decline was offset by new digital subscribers. One non-profit group is urging Congress to investigate whether Comcast and other cable companies are trying to profit from the upcoming transition from analog broadcast TV to digital.
• Currency Swings Tricky For U.S. Exporters
  The dollar has risen in recent months, especially against the euro. Currency traders say it has to do with something called the carry trade, which is also pushing up the yen. These wild fluctuations in currency values make life a lot more complicated for U.S. exporters.
• In Florida, McCain Focuses On Security, Economy
  To win next Tuesday, Republican John McCain likely has to hold on to most, if not all, the states President Bush carried in the last two elections. And one of the big ones is Florida, where McCain spent all day Wednesday. In addition to the economy, he focused on his own political strength — national security.
• Obama Hopes To Capitalize On Media Exposure
  With Election Day fast approaching and early voting underway, Barack Obama's campaign pulled out all of the stops Wednesday. There were big outdoor events in North Carolina and Florida, a 30-minute prime-time infomercial, an appearance on Comedy Central and the first joint campaign rally with Bill Clinton.
• Disruptive Jewish Settlers Anger Israeli Officials
  There is a growing confrontation between the Israeli government and radical Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank. After security forces destroyed an unauthorized settler outpost, the settlers called for violence against Israeli soldiers and rampaged through a Palestinian village. Senior Israeli officials are pushing for tougher action against the right-wing settlers.
• Phillies Win World Series, 4-3, Over Rays
  The Philadelphia Phillies are the new World Series champions. They won Wednesday night's decisive fifth game, 4-3, over the Tampa Bay Rays. The game took two days to complete following Monday's rain delay.
• Gen. Petraeus Supports Talks With Taliban
  Gen. David Petraeus, who once led U.S. troops in Iraq, becomes head of the U.S. Central Command Friday. That position includes responsibility for the war in Afghanistan. Petraeus already has endorsed reaching out to less-extreme Taliban elements. He also is expected to send more troops and air power to support the war in Afghanistan.
• The Beatles Sign 'Rock Band' Video Game Deal
  MTV Networks announced Thursday a deal to use songs by The Beatles in its popular "Rock Band" video game series. This would be the group's first digital licensing deal. It would also be a huge coup for Viacom, which owns "Rock Band." The company's been vying with rival video game, "Guitar Hero," for the valuable repertoire.
• Mortgage Modifications Won't Benefit Everyone
  With millions facing foreclosure, there's more pressure on mortgage lenders to cut deals with troubled borrowers. One of the toughest challenges is designing a system that helps the greatest number of homeowners without creating what's known as a moral hazard. That means creating a system that doesn't encourage people to stop paying their mortgage, in hopes of cutting a better deal.
• Government Plan Would Guarantee Some Mortgages
  The federal government appears to be on the verge of announcing a massive plan to help homeowners struggling to avoid foreclosure. The plan could involve hundreds of billions of dollars in government loan guarantees.
• Why Some Anti-Abortion Catholics Support Obama
  Over the past quarter-century, most anti-abortion Catholics have voted Republican in hopes of overturning Roe v. Wade. But some conservative Catholics are rethinking their strategy on abortion and other social issues because they believe the battle over Roe is lost.
• Turning Clocks Back Could Help Your Heart
  The time change this weekend could be good for your heart. Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday. In Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine, Swedish researchers report they found fewer heart attacks the Monday after clocks were turned back an hour. They examined 20 years of records. The researchers said that moving the clocks ahead appeared to have the opposite effect.
• How Vietnam Shaped John McCain's Worldviews
  The presidential candidates' experiences abroad have shaped their worldviews, and those views offer clues about how they would govern. Both Barack Obama and John McCain have expressed those views in memoirs. Newsweek editor Jon Meacham talks with Steve Inskeep in the second of two conversations about the candidates' worldviews, finishing with McCain's experiences as a POW during the Vietnam war.
• Letters: Opinions Vary On Race Conversation
  The conversations with voters in York, Pa., about race and the election got a lot of attention from listeners. One letter writer from Tucson, Ariz., says she wished the piece had come earlier in the campaign. A listener from Laramie, Wyo., asked, "How much did the McCain campaign pay you to air this discussion of race less than two weeks before the election?"
• Australian Gambler Sues Over Lost Millions
  Harry Kakavas is suing a casino in Melbourne after losing nearly $1 billion during a 14-month gambling spree. Kakavas claims that at a time when he was already banned from every casino in Australia, managers at the Crown Casino deliberately lured him back to their baccarat tables, even offering a line of credit. He's alleging the casino breached gambling laws.

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