Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• PUC decision delayed on Big Stone power plant
  Members of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will wait to make a decision on a proposed coal power plant in South Dakota.5:20 p.m.
• Gas prices hamper home care providers
  Many of the nearly 250 home care agencies around Minnesota say they can't afford to pay more for gas mileage, so some home care providers are thinking about switching jobs.5:35 p.m.
• St. Paul plan aims to increase minority contracts
  The city of St. Paul announced a new plan today designed to boost the amount of business the city does with businesses owned by women and people of color.5:50 p.m.
• A performance in plain sight amongst unknowing crowds
  If you have ever stood in a crowded mall and wondered about the individual stories behind the people around you, the Back to Back Theater Company from Australia may have an answer.5:53 p.m.
• Congress passes budget plan after months of debate, be a Budget Hero in minutes
  Congress has approved plans for the 2009 federal budget. The House of Representatives approved a $3-trillion budget plan earlier today. The Senate passed their plan yesterday. Both spending outlines would eliminate deficits in four years, but they leave some tax and Medicare decisions for the next president. Democrats and Republicans argued over the details of these budget bills for months, but in just a few minutes time, you can try your hand at the budget process. 'Budget Hero' is Minnesota Public Radio's new online game that lets people take a stab at proposing their own federal budget.6:20 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• The Campaign's Rich Cast of Characters
  The 16-month campaign that has left us with two presumptive presidential nominees featured hard-to-beat reality TV, full of many highlights.
• Choosing a Vice President: No Simple Task
  Now that the Democratic and Republican presidential nominations have been clinched, NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr talks about the complicated calculations that go into choosing a running mate.
• Does Clinton Know the Race Is Over?
  On Saturday, Sen. Hillary Clinton is expected to congratulate Sen. Barack Obama on winning the Democratic presidential nomination. But she still isn't releasing her delegates — so it's unclear whether she fully accepts that her bid has fallen short.
• Accused Sept. 11 Planner Seeks Martyrdom
  Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks, tells a military judge in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, that he would welcome the death penalty. He and four others face 2,973 counts of murder.
• McCain Defends Stance on Florida Issues
  John McCain on Thursday was back in Florida, a state that's expected once again to be a target in the general election. The presumptive GOP nominee faced criticism for his positions on issues near and dear to locals — including the creation of a national catastrophe fund.
• As Food Prices Rise, There's No Dancing in the Aisles
  Rapidly rising food prices have impacted Americans in different ways. Three women with very different financial circumstances tell how they're adjusting to the increased costs.
• Hillary Clinton's Slow Retreat
  As Sen. Hillary Clinton slowly brings her presidential campaign to a close, even some of her most fervent backers are lamenting how long it's taking her to call it quits. But could it be that reverse sexism is holding up the process?
• Turkey's Foreign Minister on Iraq
  Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan discusses ongoing instability in Iraq, Turkey's efforts to fight Kurdish militants and efforts to broker negotiations between Israel and Syria.
• Poster Artist Alton Kelley Dies at 67
  Alton Kelley, whose posters and handbills helped define the look of 1960s San Francisco, has died at 67. Kelley and his lifelong collaborator, Stanley "Mouse" Miller, came up with the idea for the skeleton-and-roses motif that became The Grateful Dead's logo.
• Senate Panel Completes Iraq Intelligence Review
  The Senate Intelligence Committee releases the final chapter in its long-running review of Iraq-related intelligence. It repeated earlier findings that some pre-war statements were true, some were exaggerated and some were totally unsubstantiated.
• Town Hall Meetings for McCain, Obama?
  Sen. John McCain has challenged Sen. Barack Obama to a series of town hall meetings. If the plan materializes, what can voters expect? Presidential historian Richard Norton Smith offers his insights.
• U.S. Ambassador on Trouble in Zimbabwe
  U.S. and British diplomats are detained as they travel outside Zimbabwe's capital to investigate political violence. The Bush administration called the incident outrageous. James D. McGee, the U.S. ambassador to Zimbabwe, speaks with Robert Siegel.
• Gates Forces Out Air Force Chiefs
  Defense Secretary Robert Gates has obtained the resignations of Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley and Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne. The move follows a series of embarrassments.
• Obama Sets Sights on Winning Virginia
  Warming to his role as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Sen. Barack Obama holds two events in Virginia. He's hoping to put the state in the Democratic column this fall.
• Detroit Faces Decision on Trash Incinerator
  Detroit doesn't just throw out and bury its trash — it is one of only a few large U.S. cities that still burn refuse. But the city must now must decide whether to keep open or close its controversial incinerator. Signs point to the end of an era.

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