Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• DFL prepares budget without tax increase, less money for schools
  Gov. Pawlenty was not involved in the negotiations on the new budget bills, and Senate Republicans were concerned his absence is a recipe for more vetoes.5:20 p.m.
• Fire gives birth to Cook County's second-largest city
  The second-largest city in Cook County wasn't there two weeks ago -- it's the fire camp up on the Gunflint Trail, and it's been home for about 1,000 people working the Ham Lake fire.5:24 p.m.
• States told to improve American Indian student achievement
  Education officials from Minnesota and four other states say states need to do a better job of teaching both Indian and non-Indian students about American Indian culture.5:50 p.m.
• South Dakota's wind potential
  South Dakota has the potential to generate enough wind energy to power half of the nation's electrical needs. But in reality, the state's wind production isn't enough to create even a slight breeze for the nation's power markets.5:54 p.m.
• Bar owners react to statewide smoking ban
  Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed the statewide smoking ban into law Wednesday. Beginning this October, smoking in bars, restaurants and other establishments will be illegal.6:20 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Blurring the Church-State Line: Falwell's Flaw
  David Kuo, the former deputy director of the office of faith-based community initiatives in the Bush administration, says that the Rev. Jerry Falwell's most enduring and most troubling legacy is that he almost single-handedly blurred the line between Christianity and conservative politics — to the detriment of both. Kuo is the author of Tempting Faith.
• Sarkozy Takes Power, Promises Reforms
  The new president of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, has taken the reins of power in a ceremony in Paris. Sarkozy, who has promised to usher in a period of deep reforms, was declared the 23rd president of the French republic in a small ceremony after the departure of Jacques Chirac.
• West Nile Did Severe Damage to Bird Species
  Many Americans think of dead birds when they think of the West Nile virus. That's because birds such as crows and jays seemed to drop like flies as the virus swept across the country. A new study names the birds that were the hardest hit and finds that some species may never be the same.
• What's With This 'Czar' Talk?
  Following the appointment of Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute as President Bush's so-called "war czar" for Iraq and Afghanistan, Andrea Seabrook and Michele Norris explore the history of the term "czar" in American politics. Apparently, the term first surfaced in reference to Second Bank of the United States president Nicholas Biddle in 1832.
• Lute Named to War Post; Duties Remain Unclear
  The White House has named Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute to serve on President Bush's National Security Council and to oversee the current fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some are calling him the "war czar," but it's not clear just how much power Lute will actually have, or how he will fit into the military-civilian mix.
• How America's 'Czars' Fare in Their Work
  While it's possible that Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute could be successful in overseeing the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, previous interagency "czars" have not had much effect, as Anthony Cordesman tells Andrea Seabrook. The White House appointed Lute to the position of "war czar" Tuesday.
• Calderon Fights Mexico's Gangs with Little Success
  Mexico's President Felipe Calderon has put an unprecedented number of soldiers and federal police on the streets to battle drug gangs. But the war isn't going well. Violence is soaring, the army is being accused of human rights abuses, and drugs shipments across the border continue unabated.
• Senate Rejects Bill to Cut War Funds in Early 2008
  Congress has the power to end the war in Iraq by cutting off funding, but a procedural vote in the Senate on Wednesday showed that it does not have the political will at this point. Senators rejected a measure to cut war funding by Mar. 31, 2008, by a 29-67 vote. In another vote, a majority supported a measure with benchmarks for the Iraqi government.
• MySpace, My Corporation, My Friend?
  Large companies are using social networking sites such as MySpace to market to young people. But they're not just buying ads; the companies create their own profiles in the hope that they will prove popularity. Youth Radio's Jordan Monroe reports that young people are pretty savvy about marketing — but they "friend" the fast-food and movie promos anyway.
• Get Trombone. Add Water. Let the Magic Happen.
  Listener Brian Allen of Lake Jackson, Texas, offers a SoundClip of water in a trombone. Allen says he just wanted to hear what it sounded like; who can blame him for that?
• Hamas, Fatah Clash in Gaza; Israel Strikes by Air
  Gaza saw a fourth day of intense fighting between the military wing of Hamas and forces loyal to Hamas's rival, Fatah. Then, yet another cease-fire was announced. The latest truce declaration came after a bloody day that left at least 15 Palestinians dead and dozens of others wounded.
• Evangelical Voters May Be Up for Grabs in '08
  The death of the Rev. Jerry Falwell marks a changing of the guard for religious conservatives that's been under way for years. Younger Christians are becoming restive, interested in issues beyond abortion and gay rights. Some pollsters say theirs votes could be up for grabs in 2008.
• TV Upfronts: Ritual Gives Glimpse of Fall Shows
  Television networks have begun their annual ritual of presenting their fall seasons to advertisers. ABC is trying out a series based on the cavemen characters from the Geico commercials, while NBC is taking a supernatural angle.
• The Falwell Faithful Consider His Political Legacy
  The Rev. Jerry Falwell is remembered fondly on the campus of Liberty University, which he founded — but there is also some doubt that anyone could gain the fame and influence Falwell did. The political legacy of Falwell, who helped define political activism among evangelicals, is still being written.
• Can a Debate Be Presidential in 2007?
  Crowded debates among the major-party presidential candidate should be abandoned in favor of more extensive, head-to-head debates between just the nominees.

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