Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Art Hounds: Week of May 14
  Each week Minnesota Public Radio News asks three people from the Minnesota arts scene to be "Art Hounds." Their job is to step outside their own work and hunt down something exciting that's going on in local arts.3:35 p.m.
• What does the Google outage tell us about the Internet giant?
  If you trying to do an internet search earier today or have G-mail, you may have noticed some trouble with access to Google. The internet giant is reporting that some users couldn't access those e-mail accounts, or even the search engine for sometime this morning.4:15 p.m.
• Minneapolis police officer surprises court with guilty plea
  A Minneapolis police officer pleaded guilty to several charges in U.S. District Court as the corruption case against him was about to go to the jury.4:48 p.m.
• Pawlenty says he will balance budget on his own
  Gov. Tim Pawlenty promised Thursday to bring Minnesota's deficit-ridden budget back into balance on his own if the session ends Monday without an accord, using line-item vetoes and executive powers to shave billions in spending.5:15 p.m.
• UND's Fighting Sioux nickname going away
  North Dakota's Board of Higher Education has voted to get rid of the University of North Dakota's Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.5:22 p.m.
• Chrysler lists 20 dealers for closure in Minnesota
  Chrysler LLC wants to close 20 Minnesota dealerships as part of a nationwide move to eliminate 789 dealerships.5:44 p.m.
• Pawlenty: 'There will be significant layoffs'
  Democrats in the Minnesota Legislature are criticizing Gov. Pawlenty's management style in light of a Minnesota Public Radio News report that found the state workforce increased during a hiring freeze. Pawlenty implemented the hiring freeze in early 2008 but thousands of hires have occurred since then.5:48 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• N.J. Mystery Isn't Lost In French Translation
  Mystery writer Harlan Coben grew up in Livingston, N.J. He manages to take a bland suburban community and use it as a background for intrigue. The stories are so specific to New Jersey that it is a surprise how well one of the books, Tell No One," transfers to the screen and DVD in a French setting.
• Ex-Chinese Leader's Memoir To Be Published
  Two decades after his downfall and four years after his death, reformist leader Zhao Ziyang has shattered the official silence cloaking the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown in memoirs he recorded in secret under house arrest.
• Congress Begins Haggling Over Climate Bill
  Push is coming to shove on a climate bill that's been perking in the House of Representatives. Congressman Henry Waxman of California has got most Democrats in line to limit emissions of greenhouse gases, but the more than 600-page bill is expected to generate hundreds of amendments.
• Once Touted, GM's Saturn Out Of Orbit
  Automaker GM plans to cut its Saturn brand at the end of the year, though it was once meant to be the automaker's answer to fuel-efficient cars coming from Japan. Saturn was first built in Spring Hill, Tenn. Though Saturn left Tennessee a few years ago, many in and around that town still cling to its past.
• Slain Lawyer's Claims Creates Stir In Guatemala
  A Guatemalan lawyer killed over the weekend left behind a recorded message in which he accused the country's president, Alvaro Colom, of being behind his death. Now, a U.N.-backed commission says it will investigate the explosive allegations. Juan Carlos Llorca, a reporter for The Associated Press who is covering the story, offers his insight.
• U.S. Seeks Greater Oversight Of Derivatives
  The government's top economic officials want to regulate the powerful financial instruments known as derivatives that contributed to the economy's meltdown. The markets for these derivatives are largely opaque and free from oversight.
• Pelosi Says She Was Misled On Waterboarding
  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday the CIA had lied to her about the use of waterboarding in September 2002 against detainees in the war on terrorism. The speaker said she asked about the technique that many consider torture and was told it was not being used.
• Obama Pushes For Credit Card Legislation
  At a town hall meeting in New Mexico Thursday, President Obama touted legislation designed to protect consumers from fluctuating credit card rules. He also urged Congress to act quickly on legislation to end credit card practices deemed abusive.
• Lobbying Firm's Earmark Role May Not Be Illegal
  The Justice Department is continuing its investigation of a lobby firm that won numerous earmarks while funneling campaign contributions to the earmarking lawmakers. It is far from clear, however, that such a relationship is actually illegal.
• In Utah, 'Zion Curtain' Comes Down
  Until recently, Utah bartenders could not serve alcoholic drinks to patrons over the bar counter. Instead, bartenders and patrons were separated by a partition called the "Zion Curtain," a reference to the Mormon Church. But under a new law that took effect this week, restaurants can rip out that barrier. Catherine Lauderback, assistant manager at Salt Lake City's Faustina restaurant, offers her insight.
• Letters: Credit Card Debt, America's Cup, Corrections
  Listeners respond to the story on credit card debt. Melissa Block and Robert Siegel also offer an update on the story on the America's Cup yacht race, as well as corrections.
• Chrysler Seeks To Reduce Dealership Numbers
  Automaker Chrysler wants to close nearly a quarter of its dealerships. In a bankruptcy court filing Thursday, the company said that 789 dealership are slated to be shut because their sales are too low. GM is expected to make a similar move.
• Habitat For Humanity Gets $100M Gift
  Habitat for Humanity Board Chairman J. Ronald Terwilliger pledged $100 million to the organization. Habitat calls this a "legacy gift." It will come from Terwilliger's estate after he dies. The organization estimates that amount of money will help some 60,000 families.
• Cannes Film Festival Showcases Directors
  This year's Cannes Film Festival is being called the year of the director. The film festival on the French Riviera opened Wednesday. Xan Brooks, film correspondent for the Guardian newspaper, offers his insight.
• Steve Earle's Hero, Heckler: Townes Van Zandt
  Van Zandt's songs of loners, lovers and misfits made a deep impression on Earle, so much so that he's made a new album of covers. Earle tells Melissa Block about Townes, a tribute to his friend and musical mentor.

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