Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Live from the Republican State Convention
  Midday broadcasts live from the Republican State Convention in Rochester, featuring interviews with Republican candidates for Congresss, a look ahead to the Senate race for incumbent Sen. Norm Coleman, and a look back at 1978's "Minnesota Massacre," when Republicans took the state by storm.3:06 p.m.
• How Tarsem Singh's obsession became a movie
  Film director Tarsem Singh admits he's been obsessed by the idea of telling a story about storytelling for 27 years. The resulting film called "The Fall" opens in the Twin Cities this weekend.4:50 p.m.
• Reporter's Notebook: The Hugo tornado
  Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Weber considers his week of covering the tragic tornado in Hugo, in this slideshow on MPR's News Cut blog.4:54 p.m.
• State GOP endorses Coleman for re-election
  Republicans meeting for their state convention in Rochester endorsed incumbent U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman to run for a second term.5:20 p.m.
• Franken worries ripple through DFL
  A week before DFLers meet to endorse a challenger to U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, concerns ripple through the party over potential fallout from candidate Al Franken's past.5:24 p.m.
• What's up with the Shubert Theater?
  The Shubert Theater renovation project in downtown Minneapolis undergoes more modifications. It's also pushing back its opening date by more than a year.5:54 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Spelling Bee Heads to Last Word
  The Scripps National Spelling Bee concludes Friday. The 81st edition of the competition began Thursday with a record 288 contestants.
• Obama Tops Clinton, in a Manner of Speaking
  Commentator Daniel Pinkwater says Barack Obama has the advantage over Hillary Clinton in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, because Obama talks in public as if he were talking in private. She doesn't.
• Letters: Formaldehyde, Space Toilets
  Listeners respond to recent coverage, including a story on formaldehyde in FEMA trailers, and the use of "slang" in a story about the ongoing toilet problems aboard the international space station.
• Organizer of 'Bodies' Exhibit Offers Refunds
  People who paid to see "Bodies: The Exhibition" in New York City can get their money back as the result of a legal deal. Some visitors complained that they didn't know beforehand about the origins of the cadavers used in the exhibit.
• Parents to Sue Government for School's Collapse
  Parents are still standing in the ruins of Juyuan Middle School in Sichuan province and asking what went wrong. In a meeting Friday, they discussed suing the local education bureau. But there's no guarantee that the parents will find justice under the communist-controlled legal system.
• NASA 'Gravity Probe B' Project Winds Down
  NASA researchers spent nearly 40 years on Gravity Probe B, a satellite designed to test some of Albert Einstein's theories. As the $700 million project winds down, NASA is rejecting a request for another 18 months of funding.
• Obama, McCain Tussle over Western States
  Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama spent much of this week out West — visiting states his campaign says he can win in November. But Sen. John McCain won't let them go without a fight.
• My Wife, the Celtics Fan
  A man who admits he knows little about pro basketball attends a Boston Celtics game with his wife, a devoted fan. But it was like they were watching two different events.
• Politics: McClellan's Book; Delegate Battle
  Big stories in politics this week include criticism of the Bush administration in a memoir by former White House spokesman Scott McClellan — and a battle among Democrats over seating delegates from the states of Florida and Michigan.
• After Earthquake, Animal Lovers to the Rescue
  The massive earthquake that hit China earlier this month has spurred many civic groups into action, including animal lovers. Chen Yunlian, who runs an animal shelter, has saved more than 70 cats and dogs from the quake zone with the help of volunteers.
• Iraqis Balk at Long-Term U.S. Troop Deal
  Opposition is growing among Iraqi politicians to a long-term agreement for a continued troop presence in Iraq. The current U.N. mandate permitting a U.S. presence runs out this year. U.S. officials are seeking a long-term accord.
• Weighing News of Al-Qaida 'Setbacks'
  CIA Director Michael Hayden says al-Qaida has suffered "significant setbacks" around the world. But analysts say the terrorist network's problems are largely of its own making — not the result of U.S. counterterrorism strategy.
• The Bill Clinton Factor
  Bill Clinton has actively campaigned for his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton, with mixed results and not a few stumbles. Carol Felsenthal, author of Clinton in Exile, reflects on the role the former president is playing.
• Stress Prompts Graduation Nightmares
  Graduation season is a time to celebrate, but also a time of stress. Often that stress prompts bad dreams. Dream studies professor Kelly Bulkeley tells Michele Norris about common graduation nightmares.
• Battles over Party Nominees Are Old Hat, Bad News
  This year's fight for the Democratic presidential nomination may seem dramatic and unprecedented. But history offers several examples of nomination battles that lasted until the parties' conventions; most ended badly.

Services

• Hourly Newscast
• HD Radio
• iPhone App / Mobile
• E-mail newsletters
• RSS feeds
• Podcasts
• Submit your photos
• Videos
• Weather
• Most e-mailed stories

Become a Sponsor