Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Alfonso Rodriguez Jr. appeals 1980 conviction
  An attorney for Alfonso Rodriguez, Jr. asked a Minnesota Court of Appeals panel to order a new trial for a Minnesota conviction from 26 years ago. Rodriguez goes to trial next month in North Dakota on charges he kidnapped and killed Dru Sjodin.5:19 p.m.
• Checking out the library's new role in the community
  The recent opening of the Minneapolis Public Library drew a lot of attention to the new look of libraries, with state-of-the-art technology, cafes and comfy chairs. But libraries aren't just changing physically.5:47 p.m.
• Metro Transit Police test new way to patrol
  Metro Transit Police in Minneapolis have a new way of getting around town: Two new Segway Human Transporters. The electric, two-wheeled vehicles allow Transit Police to see above crowds and move quickly to potential trouble spots, particularly at the Metrodome and along Hennepin Avenue and Nicollet Mall. Metro Transit Police Chief Jack Nelson says the vehicles are an experiment for the department.6:21 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Memorial for America's Losses at the Pentagon
  The site for a memorial to the victims of the 9/11 attack has been unveiled at the Pentagon. The memorial is for the 184 people who died when American Airlines flight 77 slammed into the Pentagon. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld called the area just beyond where the plane crashed "sacred ground."
• U.S. Identifies Egyptian as Zarqawi's Successor
  U.S. military officials believe they've identified the new chief of al-Qaida in Iraq. They've released a photo and details about the terrorist background of Abu Ayyub al-Masri. The Egyptian, who trained in al-Qaida camps in Afghanistan, is said to have been close to Zarqawi. But there are lots of questions about how close he may be to al-Qaida central, and whether he'll employ the same grisly tactics his precedessor did.
• Alito, Roberts Sway Court on Police Searches
  The Supreme Court rules that police in Michigan can use the evidence they gathered in a search warrant at a home, even though they waited only a few seconds after announcing their presence before entering the house. In the past, the justices have wanted police to wait longer.
• Bill Gates Plans His Exit from Microsoft
  In a surprise announcement, Bill Gates said he plans to leave Microsoft, the company he co-founded more than 30 years ago, to focus full-time on the work of his foundation. Speaking at the company's headquaters, Gates said he will gradually step down over the next two years.
• A Guatemalan Returns to Help Find the 'Disappeared'
  The U.S. government is planning to spend about $3 million to help several countries in Latin America set up DNA testing facilities. The idea is to help groups such as the Guatemalan Forensic Anthropolgy Foundation, which has been digging up that country's brutal history.
• At Tribune Co., an Insider Pushes for Profits
  One of the nation's most prominent media companies is under assault from members of its board of directors. Six years ago, the prominent Chandler family sold the Los Angeles Times and other papers to the Tribune Co. and became the company's second-largest shareholder.
• Plans for Hawaiian Monument Laid in 1999
  Robert Siegel talks with Bruce Babbitt, Secretary of the Interior under President Clinton. In 1999, Babbitt began work to declare the northwestern islands of Hawaii a national monument, which President Bush has just done.
• Debates on Iraq Dominate Congress
  For the first time since the U.S. led the recent invasion of Iraq, the House and Senate are both debating the war. In the House, Democrats are attacking the policies of President Bush, while Republicans are defending them as part of the war on terror.
• The Swarm of Talk Around 'Indicted Yet?'
  In light of the Karl Rove non-indictment, commentator and National Review editor Richard Lowry talks about how both the right and the left love to talk about who is going to be indicted in whatever administration is in power. He asks that we ban the "I" word from our discussion of politics entirely.
• Letters: Zarqawi's Death, Vioxx and SoundClips
  Michele Norris and Robert Siegel read from listeners' letters and emails. Listeners wrote in about the killing of Iraqi insurgent leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a Vioxx report from NPR's Snigdha Prakash, Norris' story on over-scheduled kids, and soundclips sent in by listeners.
• As School Ends, Band Practice Pays Off
  Friday marks the last day of class for Chicago Public Schools. Carlos Maeda is a senior at Curie High School in Chicago. He's spent a lot of time in the past few months practicing for his end-of-the-year concert. This piece is produced by Curie Youth Radio.
• Republicans Get Some Relief; Questions Linger
  Michele Norris talks with E.J. Dionne, a columnist for The Washington Post, and David Brooks, columnist for The New York Times, about the good news for the White House and Republican Party this week, and whether it's enough to help the party keep their seats in the up coming elections.
• Whaling, Once Bygone, May Return Soon
  Environmentalists consider the ban on commercial whaling imposed in 1982 to be one of their greatest victories. Now, they are braced for a major setback. For the first time since the ban took effect, pro-whaling nations are poised to take control of the International Whaling Commission, the body that imposed the ban. While it's not likely that the ban will be lifted immediately, big changes are on the way.
• Work in Colored Lights Nets Millennium Prize
  Professor Shuji Nakamura from the University of California, Santa Barbara, was awarded the $1.2 million Millennium Technology Prize for inventing blue, green and white LEDs and a blue laser. The prize, which is backed by the Finnish government, was awarded for the second time (it's biennial) since it was established in 2002.
• Cuba Uses Power Play, Literally, on U.S. Station
  On June 3, the Cuban government cut power and water to the U.S. Interest Section in Havana. After the story was reported by the international media, power and water were restored. Robert Siegel talks with Michael Parmly, chief of the U.S. Interest Section in Havana.

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