Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• DNR working fast on ATV trail system
  The DNR continues to designate ATV trails for the state's four million acres of forest land. And the process continues to be controversial.5:19 p.m.
• Detroit Lakes area soldier killed in Iraq
  A Detroit Lakes area soldier was killed in Iraq when a roadside bomb went off near the Humvee he was driving, relatives said Sunday.5:25 p.m.
• Drought called 'catastrophic' for region's farmers
  Farmers and ranchers in the Dakotas and western Minnesota are facing their fourth and fifth year of abnormally dry weather. U.S. Sen. Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota calls the recent dry spell in the region "catastrophic."5:46 p.m.
• Concordia unveils Arabic language camp
  Arabic is one of the most spoken languages in the world, yet few Americans can speak it. Concordia Language Villages hopes to change that with its new Arabic Language Camp in northern Minnesota.5:50 p.m.
• Power Trips: Minnesota members of Congress defend travel
  In the last few years, Minnesota members of Congress have traveled to Hawaii, Alaska, Israel, South Africa, China, Germany, Turkey, Mozambique and other spots around the globe. Taxpayers didn't foot the bill for these trips -- private interest groups did.6:19 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Congress Weighs Options on Tribunals
  Members of Congress are evaluating their options now that the Supreme Court has rejected the Bush administration's plan to try terror detainees in military tribunals. The court's ruling at the end of last month means that Congress must now decide whether to pass legislation authorizing such tribunals, or set up an alternative. Michele Norris talks with Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
• In Spain, Pope Meets with Secularist Zapatero
  Pope Benedict's visit to Spain this weekend highlighted the sharp divisions between church and state in Spain. The pope, who was attending a Catholic conference on the family, believes the institution is being threatened by the increasing secularization of western societies.
• Tax Revenues Rise Above Predictions
  Higher-than-expected tax revenues in the United States are expected to make a dent in the federal deficit, according to early reports. According to The New York Times, corporate taxes, taxes on stock-market profits and taxes on executive bonuses are mostly responsible for the higher revenues.
• Iraqi Democracy: Walkout or Timeout?
  As Saddam Hussein's trial resumes, commentator Melissa Waters describes what she calls "The Great Iraqi Walkout." She has seen it many times in her job training Iraqi judges and lawyers. Waters says the Great Iraqi Walkout looks like chaos to Americans -- but in fact, it's the way many Iraqis defuse tension.
• Chechen Rebel Leader Dies in Explosion
  The man who claimed responsibility for the bloody Beslan school siege is dead, according to the Russian government. Officials say Chechen rebel leader Shamil Basayev was killed as he was planning an attack to coincide with this week's G8 summit in St. Petersburg.
• Judge Affirms FBI Search of Congressional Office
  A federal judge upholds the FBI's search of the office of Rep. William Jefferson, the Louisiana Democrat at the center of a bribery investigation. The judge also denied a request to have the materials seized in the May raid returned.
• Getty Museum to Return Greek Artifacts
  The Greek government and the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles announce an agreement to return two works currently held in the Getty's collection. The return comes after the Greek government was able to prove the two antiquities were stolen.
• Dickie Calls for a Zoo Companion
  Listener Linda Cieslick plays us a recording she made in 1993 when she was working as a zookeeper at the Milwaukee County Zoo -- and one of her charges started vocalizing. His name was Dickie, a male orangutan. We hear Dickie issuing a mating call.
• Ethnic Identity vs. Experience
  When commentator Yvette Doss recently read the graphic novel La Perdida, she thought she would identify with its author, Jessica Abel. She was wrong. Yvette Doss is managing editor at Ciudad magazine.
• French Have a Word for Zidane: Pourquoi?
  Say it ain't so, Zizou! The French soccer star Zinedine Zidane returned home to Paris, a day after being ejected from the World Cup finals for head-butting an Italian player. France is now trying to understand why its legendary star disgraced himself in his final game before retirement. Michele Norris talks with Francois Picard, website news director of cable channel Eurosport.
• U.S. Report Outlines Castro's Ouster
  The State Department's "Cuba transition coordinator" is expected to issue a report today on what a post-Castro Cuba might look like -- and how the United States can encourage the transition. The last such U.S. report led to tighter travel restrictions on the communist island nation. This time around, the government is expected to create a "democracy fund" worth over $80 million. Cuban officials say they are facing U.S. aggression. NPR's Michele Kelemen reports.
• Sunnis Targeted in Baghdad Killings
  Over the weekend, Shiite militiamen were seen targeting residents of a Sunni neighborhood of Baghdad in response to a car bomb attack against a Shiite mosque. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who has been calling for national unity, faces divisions within his own cabinet. Robert Siegel talks with NPR's Jamie Tarabay, who's in Baghdad.
• Fuentes Novel 'The Eagle's Throne'
  Alan Cheuse reviews the latest novel by Mexico's pre-eminent novelist, Carlos Fuentes. It's called The Eagle's Throne.
• Basayev's Death and Putin's Standing
  Robert Siegel talks with Andrew Meier, author of Chechnya: To the Heart of a Conflict about how Shamil Basayev's death may help Putin at the G8 Summit meetings.
• Bush Juggles Schedules, Tough Issues
  When President Bush travels overseas later this week, he will be getting away from some tough domestic issues, says NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr. But the president will be faced with difficult diplomatic problems, including the situations with Iran and North Korea.

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