Regular season opens April 5th.  Find schedules, statistics, player information and news at Major League Baseball.  Minor leagues and fantasy baseball are also covered.

"A Sense of Wonder", the new film based on the life and writings of environmentalist Rachel Carson: Minneapolis Premiere at the Bell Museum of Natural History, partnering with the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy : Wednesday, April 22, 2009; 7:00 p.m., with Earth Day panel to follow.

Check out the latest news from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue by visiting the White House Blog.

Mom Culture events are a fun way to do something enriching for yourself while connecting with other parents of 0-5 year old children.

Mom Culture events are a fun way to do something enriching for yourself - and bring some balance into your life - while connecting with other parents of 0-5 year old children (pre-first grade.)

Responding to the water, food and climate crises requires an integrated approach toward more sustainable practices in agriculture, finds a new IATP (Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy) report by Shiney Varghese. The World Water Forum this week in Istanbul offers an opportunity to address these challenges together.

in the Star Tribune to be reminded.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently completed a multi-year redesign of the naturalization test. The revised test, with an emphasis on the fundamental concepts of American democracy and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, will help encourage citizenship applicants to learn and identify with the basic values we all share as Americans.
Go to the USCIS website , then choose the New Naturalization Test from the link on the left side.
An applicant who
**  files the Application for Naturalization, Form N-400, BEFORE October 1, 2008, and is scheduled for his or her naturalization interview ON or AFTER October 1, 2008 up until October 1, 2009, can choose to take the old test or the new test.
* * files the Application for Naturalization, Form N-400, ON or AFTER October 1, 2008, will take the new test.
**is scheduled for his or her naturalization interview ON or AFTER October 1, 2009, regardless of when he or she filed* the Application for Naturalization, Form N-400, will take the new test.

There are things I haven't figured out with the latest revamp.  I'm going to read this post from Mashable, and hopefully it will help!  (I don't like how apps are in the newsfeed.  Let me opt out!)

According to the Car Care Council, April and October are Car Care months.  See the electronic Car Care Guide at carcare.org.

A recent broadcast on NPR describes the convoluted federal grants application process that cities, counties and states face.   According to one speaker, the grants.gov site is very difficult to use.   For an overview of the how the monies will be allocated, read Vice President Joe Biden's opening remarks at the Recovery and Reinvestment Act Implementation Conference that was held on March 12, 2009.

Get current flood news on Google News.  Keep up with the spring flooding in Minnesota on the MN Dept. of Health page.  It includes links to finding help, preparation for floods, current situations, news and more. Use the NDSU Fargo Flood page for current and historic info on ND flooding.  Want to help?  Check the City of Fargo flood page for info. For additional info on responses from state agencies check the Mn Dept. of Public saftety news release.

From Afrikaans to Tongan and many languages in between, Digital Dialects has free, fun animated activites for language learners to practice their vocabulary in over 50 languages.

...as a musical.  With puppets.  On YouTube!

Mars is now on Google Earth -- read about it in Google's press release, watch the video, and then give it a try. 

The Citizens League Water Policy Study Committee includes the Nine Mile Creek watershed district.  The district includes Minnetonka, Edina, Eden Prairie, Bloomington and Richfield.

Some of the changes in tax law for 2008 are highlighted on the IRS website.

Looking for the perfect educational travel adventure? Elderhostel has hundreds of programs for under $600.00.

To pay tribute to women who have demonstrated a commitment to nature and the planet, a number of national institutions have joined together with a website for Women's History Month. The honorees include scientists, engineers, business leaders, writers, filmmakers, conservationists, teachers, community organizers, religious or workplace leaders, or others whose work has shown exceptional vision and leadership to save our planet. The website is a resource on women leaders. The list of those being honored includes three from Minnesota. Click on the 2009 theme box to be connected with the list and a brief sketch of the woman's contributions.

Interested in finding news about your old neighborhood?  Finalizing plans for your next vacation?  The Minnesota Newspaper Directory can help by offering access to over 250 online newspapers in Minnesota.  Unique features include a variety of of special interest publications and a growing list of college and university newspapers.

Need ideas for your Spring Break Vacation?  Want to go some place warm, different, exciting, and cheap?  Check out priceline.com as one place to look  for great discounts on flights, hotels, and vacation packages!

Read the article at TwinCities.com and judge.

Check the Minnesota State High School League for tournament dates, locations and results.

The March equinox marks the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere and autumn in the southern hemisphere.   For Minnesota, this year's equinox occurs March 20th at 6:44am.

Bush era policy limiting federal funding for stem cell research was repealed by an executive order signed by Obama.  Find more details on the news from CNN.  Learn more about stem cells from the National Institutes of Health.

In 2007, the most recent year for official statistics, Minnesotans were granted 2.920 patents, making us the12th most prolific in the nation. Check the U.S. Patent and Trade Office site for the full report.

Spring is the time to purchase a "share" of a Community Supported Agriculture Farm. Your shopping time will be reduced and you'll receive a weekly delivery of chemical-free meat and/or produce. Click on Minnesota Grown or The Food and Farm Connection for a list of CSA's in your area, and learn more about how food comes from the farm to your table.

Birds of North America Online includes comprehensive life histories for over 716 species, with  video, audio, and photo galleries.

Are you searching for meaningful work? Perhaps you want to give back to a community that supported you. If a job in the non-profit sector is what you desire, search Idealist.org and attend their Minneapolis Career Fair April 14th.

CNN.com reports the jobless rate hit 8.1% in February.  Locally the StarTribune reports the jobless rate in MN at 7.6%.  Find resources for locating jobs, creating resumes, or even starting your own small business on the Jobs & Careers Subject Guide.  The U of MN offers lists of services that can help you cope with difficult times.

The 2009 State Wrestling Tournament opens Wednesday, March 4, and runs through Saturday, March 7, at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

and, with April 15th approaching, not a minute too soon.  Let Der Spiegel report.

Reading a newspaper in a language is a great way to immerse yourself in the language and culture of a country. With the database NewspaperDirect Press Display you can read international newspapers from across the world. Learning Spanish? Try reading a newspaper from Latin America or Spain. Traveling to Brazil? Read a newspaper from Sao Paulo.

Check out the database Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center to learn different sides of many controversial issues.

Billboard Online  is the online version of Billboard Magazine, the highly respected music industry weekly. It provides readers with daily music news, charts, record reviews and more.

Sandra Day O'Connor, retired Supreme Court Justice, has launched a project for teaching students about the three branches of government and of course her favorite topic, the Supreme Court. Students can send comments to O'Connor.

The Newseum website displays daily front pages from over 700 newspapers worldwide. Links to the newspapers' websites are also provided.

Household Products Database from the National Library of Medicine includes information on potential health effects of over 2,000 ingredients contained in over 8,000 common household products.

It's that time of the year to begin your search for the ideal summer camp.

The FCC has this map tool, where you enter your zipcode, and it will return which stations are digital.  I noticed that KTCA had fully converted to digital, and wanted to see which other stations were digital.

Find where to get help filing your taxes, where to get that needed form, and lots of tax advice, and more on our Taxes subject page, part of our new and improved Government Information guide.

What's in nail polish, kitty litter, liquid bandages, self-tanners, hair coloring, margarine, tattoo ink, asphalt, sunscreen, MSG?  Check out "What's that Stuff?"  for the answers.