Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• New environmental coalition wants lawmakers to think long-term
  A group calls on politicians to make the state's natural resources a priority that is equal in importance to education, health care and transportation. Envision Minnesota says it is focusing its attention on the 2006 gubernatorial candidates.5:19 p.m.
• The "most endangered" places in Minnesota
  Two barns, one fire station, a hotel, and one Minneapolis street are among the most endangered historic places in Minnesota, according to a list announced by the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota.5:23 p.m.
• A look at the district conventions
  The crowded field of Minnesota congressional candidates could thin a bit this weekend as party endorsing conventions convene to annoint their choices for the November election. In two of the most contested races, 5th District DFLers will try to pick the person they want to replace Congressman Martin Sabo, who is retiring this year, and Republicans in the 6th District will try to unite behind a candidate to replace Rep. Mark Kennedy, who is running for U.S. Senate. Tom Crann is joined by political reporters Laura McCallum and Tim Pugmire.5:50 p.m.
• Brauer on TV sweeps week
  May is sweeps month for local television stations, and that means they'll do just about anything to attract viewers' eyeballs. TV news programs produce flashy reports about hot-button topics and then flood commercial breaks with promotions for those reports. All Things Considered's regular media analyst, David Brauer, talks about what Twin Cities news stations have produced so far this sweeps period and how the pressure for ratings can affect the quality of journalism.6:20 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• U.S. Detainee Abuses Come Under Questioning
  A U.N. panel wants to question U.S. officials on issues ranging from Washington's interpretation of the absolute ban on torture to its interrogation methods in prisons such as Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay.
• Bobby Lounge, Wild Man of JazzFest
  When Bobby Lounge played at last year's New Orleans Jazz Fest, he made a powerful impression. Bobby Lounge is, in fact, a pseudonym for a reclusive, middle-aged art teacher from rural Mississippi. His lyrics conjure the weirdness of Southern gothic writing. Reporter Adam Burke visits Lounge.
• Reporters on BALCO Case Subpoenaed for Sources
  The U.S. Justice Department has subpoenaed two reporters to find out how they got grand jury testimony surrounding the BALCO laboratories performance enhancing drug investigation. Michele Norris talks with NPR's David Folkenflik.
• Kennedy Plans Rehab Visit After Crash
  Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) announces that he will seek treatment at a rehabilitation center for addiction to prescription drugs. Kennedy, who ran his car into a barrier near the Capitol early Thursday morning, admits that he took the popular sleeping drug Ambien. No one was injured in the incident.
• Goss Is Latest to Leave Bush Administration
  The sudden resignation of CIA Director Porter Goss comes as changes in the Bush administration have included the resignation of Press Secretary Scott McClellan and a new job for advisor Karl Rove. President Bush said he accepted Goss's resignation with regret.
• CIA Chief Goss Quits After Nearly 20 Months
  CIA Director Porter Goss resigns unexpectedly, leaving behind a spy agency still battling to recover from intelligence failures leading up to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, as well as faulty information that helped bring about the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
• Tennessee Williams Films, Now in One Box Set
  Blanche depending on the kindness of strangers; Maggie and Brick trying to get on Big Daddy's good side. Those moments and others are now available in a DVD box set of films based on the plays of Tennessee Williams.
• A Walk in the Park for a Fake ID
  If you want a fake identification card in Los Angeles, you'll probably head to MacArthur Park, where identities are sold by fraudsters operating in the open. Authorities break up the rings regularly but they can't stamp out the trade in bogus IDs.
• California Episcopal Diocese May Elect Gay Bishop
  The Episcopal Diocese of California, which includes the Bay Area counties, will elect a new bishop May 6. Three of the seven candidates are gay. The national Episcopal Church has been roiled by the election of a gay bishop, Gene Robinson. Conservatives in the church are already warning against the election of another gay bishop. The election would have to be confirmed by the national church convention in June.
• Four Unbeatens in Kentucky Derby Field
  Entrants in this year's Kentucky Derby will line up on Saturday for a chance to win the fabled race -- and the first third of a possible Triple Crown. Four main horses are unbeaten going into the race: Barbaro, Showing Up, Lawyer Ron and the favorite Brother Derek. On the eve of the 132nd running of the race, Michele Norris talks with legendary former rider and current ABC commentator Jerry Bailey.
• In Tight Times, a Barber Who Shaved Ladies' Legs
  In the 1970s, as mini-skirts came into vogue, Iowa barber Al Thompson offered to shave women's legs in his shop. The extra money came in handy, Thompson says. In addition to being a "leg" man, Thompson was also the subject of the first feature story on All Things Considered, back in 1971.
• Nepal Maoist Leader: Women Driving Movement
  The most senior woman in Nepal's Maoist insurgency is known as Comrade Parvati. In a rare interview from hiding in India, she explains why women are drawn to the insurgency, how children are used in the insurgency and why killing is sometimes neccessary.
• Goss's Time at CIA Helm Was Limited
  CIA Director Porter Goss spent less than two years at the helm of the intelligence agency. Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA), a ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, discusses the resignation with NPR's Michele Norris.
• Army Recruiting Gap May Force Compromises
  Internal military documents show that the Army continues to fall short of its recruiting goals. It expects to be 7,000 short of its 80,000 recruiting goal by Sept. 30, the end of the recruiting calendar year. The shortfall -- the same as last year -- is detailed in documents given to the Army Secretary. The concern is that the Army will have to scramble to plug holes in units heading over to Iraq and shift more soldiers from support jobs, such as training and logistics, into combat units.
• U.S. Economy: Perception and Reality
  The economy is growing briskly, pleasing many job seekers and investors. But many average Americans remain unconvinced. Polls indicate that only about a third of Americans think the economy is doing "well" or "very well." That result suggests a surprisingly high percentage believe things aren't going well at all.

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