Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Art Hounds: CONvergence, Alex Kuno and Sunset Rubdown
  This week, our Art Hounds introduce us to the geeky, the creepy and the magical.4:44 p.m.
• Rochester copes with emerging gang problem
  Police have fought the gang problem in the Twin Cities for years, but smaller cities, like Rochester, are facing the same challenges.5:20 p.m.
• Taking lessons from elm losses, Minneapolis prepares for ash borer
  Minneapolis city forestry officials are preparing for the arrival of an unwanted guest -- the emerald ash borer.5:24 p.m.
• Commentary: Black water and Michael Jackson
  The memorial service for pop star Michael Jackson has tentatively been set for Tuesday, July 7. Like many people, commentator Gordon Stewart heard the news last week while driving in the car.5:54 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Gen. Jones: Afghan Op Meant To Build Confidence
  National security adviser Gen. James Jones says the Marine operation in Afghanistan's Helmand Province is designed to bring confidence to the people of the region. He says, however, that Afghans must see their own authorities take charge of the country.
• N.H. Town Seeks An Identity — And A Slogan
  The winner of a contest to come up with a new slogan for Raymond, N.H., will appear on Oprah — except she doesn't know it. Resident Paul Brown came up with the idea for the contest, which is open to anyone and encourages cheating and plagiarism.
• Sen. Nelson: No Partisan Vote Despite 60 Senators
  Al Franken's victory in the long-running U.S. Senate race in Minnesota gives Democrats their 58th senator and gives them — with help from independents — a 60-member majority. But Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) says though the party's majority doesn't guarantee 60 votes.
• Korean School Preps Students For Ivy League
  With admissions getting more competitive every year, spots at top American colleges are becoming a globally coveted commodity. In South Korea, one elite prep school has become the envy of many upper-crust U.S. prep schools with its success.
• Post Draws Criticism For Bid To Sell Access
  A flier from The Washington Post offered health care high-rollers access to top officials of the Obama administration and to Post reporters, too. Politico first reported on the salons, which have been canceled following the revelations.
• New Owner Spurs Optimism At Saturn
  Many Saturn dealers and customers were relieved after hearing that Roger Penske would buy the company from General Motors. Penske has a reputation as a dynamo in his many business endeavors, but the company will be entering uncharted waters with the Saturn venture.
• Economist: Stimulus Appears To Be Working
  More jobs were lost last month than expected, but the Obama administration's economic stimulus package promises to create 600,000 jobs by the end of the summer. Mark Zandi, the chief economist at Moody's Economy.com, says that without the stimulus, the numbers would be worse.
• From Atop Sears Tower, A Ledge With A View
  A new ledge opens at the Sears Tower Skydeck in Chicago. The enclosed glass box extends 4 feet from the building and allows visitors to stare 1,353 feet down to the ground.
• U.S. Shed 467,000 Jobs In June
  The Labor Department reported Thursday that U.S. businesses shed a bigger-than-expected 467,000 jobs in June. The unemployment rate rose slightly to 9.5 percent, the highest in nearly 26 years. The Dow Jones industrial average fell more than 200 points on the news.
• Obama Disappointed By Jobs Numbers
  President Obama said Thursday he is "deeply concerned" about unemployment. The remarks to The Associated Press came after the Labor Department said U.S. businesses shed 467,000 jobs in June and that the unemployment rate increased to 9.5 percent.
• Letters: Doctors, Sanford
  Just how much can doctors earn before you stop feeling sorry for them? And Michael Jackson isn't the only story listeners are sick of this week.
• Report: SEC Official Raised Madoff Concern
  In 2004, an investigator with the Securities and Exchange Commission warned superiors of inconsistencies in convicted fraudster Bernard Madoff's trading practices. She was, however, told to focus on other investigations. Zachary Goldfarb, a business and economics reporter with The Washington Post, offers his insight.
• Marines Battles Taliban In Helmand Valley
  Thousands of Marines have descended upon the Helmand River valley in Afghanistan, a Taliban stronghold that is known for poppy growing. The Marines plan to stay, one of the first concrete examples of the Obama administration's new strategy for Afghanistan.
• Hundreds Of Calif. Homeless March For Land Rights
  In Sacramento, hundreds of homeless demonstrate in hopes of securing land to sleep on. In recent months a tent city and a city shelter have closed. With laws that prohibit sleeping in public places, these individuals say it is now illegal for them to exist.
• In IMF Bonds, A Possible Rival For The U.S. Dollar
  The U.S. dollar has long been the world's reserve currency — a haven in times of economic trouble. Countries like China and Russia would like to change that. They may have found a way in new bonds from the International Monetary Fund.

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