Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Pressure mounts on superdelegates
  Minnesota's three Democratic Party superdelegates who are still uncommitted are coming under intense pressure from supporters of both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.5:20 p.m.
• Private college loans may spell trouble for students
  In recent years, students have turned to private lenders to cover escalating costs.5:24 p.m.
• Hastings residents anxious about planned bridge repair work
  Much-needed repair work on the Highway 61 bridge in Hastings is set to begin next month.5:50 p.m.
• Minn. Health Dept. pulls curtain on smoke-ban loophole
  The Department of Health today announced plans to start cracking down on bars that have been exploiting an exemption in the statewide smoking ban. The ban outlaws smoking in restaurants and bars, but allows it for theatrical productions.5:54 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Grand Canyon Flush Aims to Revive Colorado River
  The Grand Canyon will get a bath Wednesday — literally. The federal government hopes a 60-hour, controlled flood will help revitalize the Colorado River and replenish backwaters for several of the river's endangered species.
• Clinton Fans in Akron Celebrate Her Ohio Victory
  Hillary Clinton's presidential primary victories in Rhode Island, Ohio and Texas came with support from older women, blue collar workers and white men — a group Clinton has been unable to garner much support from in recent weeks. On primary night in Ohio, some of the folks who threw their support behind Clinton explain why.
• Bush Endorses McCain's Candidacy for President
  President Bush has endorsed the Republican nominee-in-waiting, John McCain. The president made the announcement with McCain in the White House Rose Garden after a lunch meeting. McCain says he looks forward to campaigning with President Bush at his side, and he says the president could be helpful in states such as Texas.
• Vatican, Muslim Scholars Announce Alliance
  The Vatican and a delegation of Muslim scholars have agreed to start a permanent dialogue to discuss theological, social and political issues. The Catholic Muslim forum will meet every two years, alternating between Rome and a Muslim country. Pope Benedict will attend the first forum in November.
• Howard Dean Weighs In on Clinton-Obama Battle
  Robert Siegel talks with the Democratic National Committee chairman, former Vermont governor and former presidential hopeful Howard Dean. With Hillary Clinton's victories Tuesday, it's clear that she and Barack Obama both will continue to vie for the Democratic nomination in a protracted battle.
• Panel Shoots Down Wider Ballistics Database
  In recent years, some lawmakers and gun control groups have pushed for a national database that would record the ballistics signature of every gun sold in the United States. But a new report from the National Research Council says the database would return too many potential matches to be practical.
• Delegates Hold Keys to Democratic Nomination
  Delegates hold the only keys to the Democratic presidential nomination. We have an update on where the pledged delegate count between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama stands Wednesday, and where it's likely headed. We also hear about the superdelegates and the two big states — Michigan and Florida — that lost their delegates.
• Klamath River Dams' Removal Hinges on Owner
  The endless wrangling over the rights to water from California's second-largest river may finally be over. The deal hinges on the destruction of four hydroelectric dams along the Klamath River. If they come down, it will be the largest dam removal in U.S. history. Will the dams' owner cave to pressure from all sides?
• Navigating the Texas Delegate System
  Sen. Hillary Clinton won the popular vote in the Texas Democratic presidential primary Tuesday night, and she eked out a 92-91 delegate victory over Sen. Barack Obama. But the caucus results are still outstanding, and Obama could well walk away with a majority of the delegates.
• Risks for Clinton, Obama in Defeating Each Other
  The momentum in the Democratic presidential contest swung in a new direction Tuesday with Hillary Clinton's big wins in Ohio and Texas. But as the fight for the nomination goes on, Clinton risks alienating the black and young voters as well as losing the excitement that Barack Obama has brought to the campaign, and Obama risks his halo.
• Spain Fights Fla. Treasure Hunters' Shipwreck Claim
  Lawyers for Spain and a treasure hunting company based in Tampa, Fla., square off in federal court over what may be the most valuable shipwreck ever found. Spain believes the half-billion dollars in silver and gold coins may be its property and that the company that recovered it is withholding information that may show that to be the case.
• Congress Grills Air Force over Airbus Deal
  Congress summoned top Air Force officials Tuesday to defend the decision to purchase French-built Airbus air tankers. The decision by the Air Force has most of Congress fuming, with some members demanding that the Air Force rescind its offer to EADS-Northrop.
• Letters: Candidates' Books, 'D and D,' Bogus Memoir
  Robert Siegel and Melissa Block read listener responses to stories, including: a discussion about books by former presidents and people who want to be president; a remembrance of the co-creator of Dungeons and Dragons; and a conversation about the publication of an entirely fabricated memoir.
• Deportation Pact Alarms Vietnamese Immigrants
  In January, the U.S. Immigration Service signed a pact with the Vietnamese government, agreeing to deport thousands of illegal Vietnamese immigrants who are currently under deportation orders. Prior to this pact, the Vietnamese government refused to take in deportees.
• GM Official: Hydrogen-Powered Cars Impractical
  General Motors and Toyota officials are expressing doubts about how soon people will be driving hydrogen-powered cars. Speaking at an auto show in Geneva, GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz indicated that fuel cells are still too expensive to be practical for most consumers.

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