Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• St. Paul teens make their voices heard
  A group of St. Paul high school teens are adding their voices to some serious discussions, and they're being heard.4:50 p.m.
• Ventura says he's serious about possible Senate campaign
  Former Gov. Jesse Ventura tells Minnesota Public Radio he's seriously considering a run for U.S. Senate and had some strong words for the other candidates in the race.5:15 p.m.
• Agents confirm two people involved in deadly bus crash
  A federal agent confirmed today that two people were in the van which struck a school bus near Cottonwood last February and killed four students.5:20 p.m.
• Seniors struggle with higher prices
  As the price of food and gasoline continues to rise, older Americans on fixed incomes are finding it more difficult to make ends meet.5:45 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Connecting with White Middle-Class Voters
  NPR Senior Washington Editor Ron Elving talks with Michele Norris about what Barak Obama needs to do to overcome the resistance of white, working-class voters.
• Letters: Earthquake Coverage
  Michele Norris reads from listeners' e-mails. We've been inundated with responses to our coverage of the earthquake in China's Sichuan province.
• Yao Ming: Olympics Have Changed
  Houston Rockets center Yao Ming is playing basketball for his native China this summer at the Olympic Games in Beijing. Yao discusses the earthquake that has devastated southwest China, the popularity of basketball among the Chinese and his view of politics surrounding the Olympic Games.
• McCain Predicts War Can Be Won by 2013
  In a speech in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday, Republican presidential candidate John McCain says he believes the Iraq war can be won by 2013 and that he envisions Osama bin Laden will be dead or captured during his first term as president.
• Kraft Launches Oreo Ad Blitz in Land of Biscuits
  Kraft, the maker of Oreos, is unveiling a big advertising campaign in Britain. Stuart Payne runs the Web site Nice Cup of Tea and a Sit Down, where he reviews cookies (or "biscuits" in the Queen's English). He tells Michele Norris the Oreo may have a hard time in Britain.
• Bush Takes Swing at Iran Before Knesset
  In a speech before the Knesset in Jerusalem, President Bush criticizes one of Israel's enemies, Iran, saying it is the world's leading sponsor of terrorism. He also says negotiating with terrorists and radicals is the false comfort of appeasement, an apparent swipe at Barack Obama.
• Action Needed to Halt Staggering Cost of Beer
  The world's most important liquid is more expensive than it used to be. No, not oil. Beer. The cost of two of beer's main ingredients have skyrocketed over the past year. Microbrews and imports are often $3 more per six-pack than a year ago. Our leaders must step in.
• Reporting in a Crisis Zone
  Nearly 20,000 people have been declared dead in the wake of Monday's earthquake in southwestern China. NPR's Melissa Block and Robert Siegel were on the ground, covering the quake and its aftermath from the beginning. Today, they take a step back to discuss their experiences with Michele Norris.
• New G.I. Bill Proposes 'Patriot Tax'
  Congressional Democrats are pushing forward with plans for a new G.I. Bill to give veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan money to go to college for four years. House Democrats want to pay for it with what they've dubbed a "patriot tax" on people earning more than $500,000. In the Senate, one Republican who notably isn't on board is John McCain, a Vietnam veteran who says the proposal is too expensive and could encourage service members to leave the military.
• Shot-Putter Changes Technique Ahead of Olympics
  U.S. shot-putter Adam Nelson is training for the upcoming U.S. Olympic trials, where he hopes to qualify for his third Olympic Games. But in his quest for a gold medal, he's tweaking his technique in what may be a risky move.
• California Court Strikes Down Gay Marriage Ban
  The California Supreme Court has overturned a ban on gay marriage, paving the way for California to become the second state where gay and lesbian residents can marry. The ruling overturns a California voter-approved law that defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
• Confronting Bigotry on the Campaign Trail
  Campaign workers for Barack Obama have faced racial slurs and slammed doors around the country. In Indiana, one campaign office was vandalized. The Obama campaign has chosen not to publicize the incidents. Washington Post reporter Kevin Merida talks with Michele Noris about race and the Obama campaign.
• Esperanza Spalding: Voice of the Bass
  There are many gifted jazz singers, and there's no shortage of accomplished acoustic bass players. But 23-year-old Esperanza Spalding's new album features both her soaring, flexible vocals and the low-end thump of her double bass.
• After Apple Records: Musician-Run Labels
  When The Beatles' members started Apple Records 40 years ago, they still depended on larger companies for the basics. Independent labels, including some run by musicians, have come a long way since. A small but growing number of musicians are taking the idea of the independent label even further.
• Chinese Line Up for Water Three Days After Quake
  In the Sichuan town of Gong Xing, north of Chengdu, residents are desperate for water and food following the earthquake. Some criticize the government for their lack of water; others are worried about making the government look bad.

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