Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Ingredients for a homecoming
  In the next few weeks, thousands of National Guard troops will be returning to their lives in Minnesota. While it's bound to be a joyful time for family members, the reintegration process has its challenges and stresses, too.5:20 p.m.
• The New San Marco gives Duluth alcoholics a helping hand
  A new building for homeless people who are struggling with alcoholism hasjust opened in Duluth. Organizers hope the San Marco will not only improve the lives of the people who live there, but make downtown business owners happier too.5:50 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Kamchatka's Wild and Remote Allure
  With dozens of active volcanoes and stunning snow-peaked mountains, Kamchatka is called the land of fire and ice. The 750-mile peninsula also has a unique population of salmon and bears, and hot sulfurous geysers. Its remote location at the eastern edge of Russia has kept the area pristine, and tourists say there's no other place like it.
• 'Rescue Dawn': Back to the Jungle, With Stars
  All Things Considered film critic Bob Mondello reviews a Vietnam War film from Werner Herzog. Herzog had told this same story before, in a documentary. This time he cast Christian Bale as captured U.S. fighter pilot Dieter Dengler.
• McCain, Petraeus Join Troops in Iraq
  The Fourth of July cookout at Camp Victory in Iraq drew some big-name visitors this year. Gen. David Petraeus, U.S. commander in Iraq, was there to preside over re-enlistment ceremonies for some 160 soldiers. And Sen. John McCain, struggling in his campaign for president, told the troops that the country is behind them.
• Freed British Journalist: 'Like Being Buried Alive'
  BBC reporter Alan Johnston has been freed after nearly four months in captivity. He was held by the Army of Islam, a small radical Islamic group in the Palestinian city. At a press conference in Jerusalem, Johnston described his captors as "unpredictable and dangerous," and his ordeal as terrifying.
• In U.S., Calls Grow for U.K.-Style Security Cameras
  Britain dropped its terror threat rating from "critical" to "severe." Police say they have arrested all the key suspects in last week's series of failed car bombings, and that there's no imminent danger of additional attacks. Security officials credit a national network of surveillance cameras for helping the inquiry — something U.S. law enforcement officials wish they had.
• Yahoo Struggles to Chip Into Google's Act
  Yahoo claims 500 million users around the world at a time when Internet advertising revenues are growing industry-wide. But Yahoo isn't doing anywhere near as well as Google. Recent management shakeups are part of Yahoo's struggle to capitalize on its big user base.
• State Dept. Scrambles to Clear Passport Backlog
  Foreign Service officers are under pressure days to sign up for tough assignments, from Baghdad to Kabul. Now, add one more to the list — facing angry Americans waiting for their passports. The State Department is trying to work through a huge backlog of applications — and it is calling on officers both current and retired to pitch in.
• The Rest Stop to End All Rest Stops, in Kentucky
  If you've ever needed to use a highway rest stop, you know they can house dirty toilets and run-down facilities. But that's not the case at one Interstate 75 rest stop in rural Kentucky. It has become so popular that motorists go out of their way to stop and take a break.
• Hot Dog Eating Competition Crowns King for 2007
  The 92nd annual hot dog eating contest was held today on New York's Coney Island. It was billed as a battle of the titans. Six-time winner Takeru Kobayashi had a well-publicized sprained jaw; he faced his arch-rival, Joey Chestnut, who recently broke Kobayashi's record by eating 59 and a half dogs.
• International Fireworks Competition in Macau
  Every year, China hosts an international fireworks competition in Macau. Independent producer Jake Warga went to watch the American team. He captured the sounds and sights for an audio postcard.
• On July 4, Bush Relates Iraq to American Revolution
  With support for the war in Iraq declining even among his Republican allies, President Bush argues for staying in Iraq and achieving what he called "victory." His call for continued support for the war comes days before the Senate is to take up a defense policy bill that may include amendments to wind down the U.S. presence in Iraq.
• Indonesia Marks Successes in Terrorism Fight
  There is one part of the world where authorities appear to be winning the war against terrorists: Southeast Asia. The al-Qaida-linked group Jemmah Islamiyah and its splinter groups carried out a number of high-profile attacks against Western targets after 2001. But now they are on the run.
• Giant Bird Could Have Flown at 150 MPH
  Over two decades ago, the fossilized remains of a giant bird were found. Now, a new study suggests that this 6 million-year- old bird from Argentina — the Argentavis magnificens — could actually fly at speeds of up to 150 mph.
• Analyzing the Hidden Costs of EZ Pass Tolls
  Electronic Toll Collection Systems like EZ-Pass save drivers time. But passengers who move through tolls more quickly also might be paying more money. Robert Siegel talks about the hidden costs with MIT's Amy Finkelstein.
• Building New Refinery a Difficult Prospect
  An Arizona company has overcome significant hurdles toward building the first new U.S. oil refinery in three decades. But it still can't get financing or an assured supply of oil. With a push for bio-fuels and ethanol, big oil seems reluctant to spend billions for conventional refining — which could keep supplies tight and prices high.

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