Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Homegrown summer children's books
  You can travel to an archeological dig in Belize, or join a pack of roaming dogs near the Minnesota-Canadian border. Minnesota children's book author Mary Casanova is out with two new books this summer and both are packed with adventure.4:48 p.m.
• Bar owners live with smoking ban by building patios
  Now that St. Paul bar owners have given up their attempts to repeal the city's smoking ban, they say they want help to make the ban work. They also say they need the city's help to get back business they've lost because of the ban. To do that, they need to create special places for smokers.5:19 p.m.
• Duluth gets tough on butts
  Duluth was one of the first cities to institute a smoking ban. And that pushed a lot of people onto the streets. Now downtown Duluth has a new campaign -- against cigarette butts.5:23 p.m.
• Consumer groups oppose new food labeling bill
  A federal food labeling proposal in the U.S. Senate is drawing criticism from Minnesota consumer groups.5:49 p.m.
• Grand Avenue bans the big box
  In St. Paul, a victory for those who like the charm and character of the Grand Ave. neighborhood. After years of back and forth debate, the St. Paul City council has voted 6-0 to limit the size of buildings on the popular shopping street.5:53 p.m.
• Popular science in the blogosphere
  There are more than 46 million blogs on the Internet, and his is the most read science blog. Pharyngula, by PZ Myers, is the world's 179th most read blog on any topic. MPR's Tom Crann tried to find ou why it's so popular.6:24 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Arrests Made in Fresno Gang-Rape of Girl, 11
  Two college athletes in Fresno, Calif., have been arraigned and charged in the gang-rape of an 11-year-old girl. Authorities confirm that the child was assaulted last Saturday by as many as 10 men, at least six of whom are local college football players. The victim had run away from a Fresno group home.
• Thom Yorke's 'Eraser' Prompts a Letter
  Thom Yorke, lead singer of the band Radiohead, has just released his first solo record, The Eraser. Music critic Will Hermes says while the music may seem depressing, Yorke has actually written a soul-record for the 21st century.
• North Korean Launch Tests Chinese Diplomacy
  The United Nations Security Council is delaying its formal response to North Korea's July 5 missile tests, as diplomats give China time to persuade its longtime ally to cooperate. The tests are challenging China's credibility as an effective diplomatic broker.
• Bush's Germany Trip Highlights an Ally
  Demonstrators opposed to U.S. actions in Iraq and Guantanamo are expected to greet President Bush when he travels to northern Germany to visit with Chancellor Angela Merkel. Merkel wants to show the president her constituency in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in the former communist East Germany.
• Lebanon's Hezbollah Ties
  Two weeks ago, NPR Senior News Analyst Ted Koppel was in southern Lebanon, the area Israeli forces recently attacked after two soldiers were abducted by Lebanon-based Hezbollah. The incursion is Israel's first since pulling out of Lebanon in 2000. Melissa Block talks with Koppel.
• Mumbai Death Toll Nears 200; Suspects Named
  The death toll in Tuesday's bomb attacks on trains in Mumbai, formerly Bombay, has risen to nearly 200, and police have detained hundreds of people for questioning. India's Anti-Terror Squad released the names and pictures of two suspects.
• Israel Blocks Lebanon's Air and Sea Ports
  Israeli forces block Lebanon's ports and put its international airport out of commission, while extending a search for two captured Israeli soldiers near the border. The conflict has sparked two days of heavy fighting between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas in southern Lebanon.
• Plame Sues Cheney, Rove and Aide over Leak
  Former CIA agent Valerie Plame and her husband, former ambassador Joseph Wilson, file suit against Vice President Dick Cheney, presidential aide Karl Rove and former vice presidential aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby for their roles in the disclosure of Plame's classified work at the CIA operative.
• Weaving the Land into Stories, and History
  Storyteller Kevin Kling has just returned from the South Australian Outback. The region isn't just far away from home, Kling says: The familiar is very unfamiliar; the stars in the sky are different, and even the lakes are dry much of the time, quite different from Minnesota. The visit gave him perspective on the land and how the land and stories weave together to create a history.
• Beirut Reacts to Israeli Army's Advance
  Melissa Block talks with Anthony Shadid, foreign correspondent for The Washington Post. Shadid is in Beirut and talks about the reaction in Lebanon to the clashes between Israel and Hezbollah on the Lebanese border. It started with the Hezbollah kidnapping of Israeli soldiers in an effort to arrange a swap for prisoners in Israel. The Israeli military has moved into South Lebanon in response.
• Senate Panel: Use Military Code for Detainees
  Top current and former military lawyers tell the Senate Armed Services committee that they favor using the military code of justice, with some modifications, as the method of trying detainees on war crimes charges. Also at the hearing, two senators said they thought they had agreement from the White House to use that method, but are now unsure of President Bush's intentions.
• Iraqi Violence Centers Around Baghdad
  In Iraq, British and Australian troops handed over security duties to Iraqis in a relatively peaceful southern province in that country. However, sectarian violence continues in other parts of Iraq -- particularly near Baghdad.
• G-8 to Focus on Health Care Issues
  With the G-8 countries meeting in Russia, health care is expected to play an important role in discussions. The host country has an enormous AIDS problem that most health experts consider out of control. There is little spending on prevention or treatment.
• First Tour Sans Lance Is Up for Grabs
  Melissa Block talks with former Tour de France rider Frankie Andreu about the 2006 Tour de France, and American contender Floyd Landis, who is competing while enduring shooting pains in his hips. Andreu is a commentator for Outdoor Life Network, the U.S. broadcaster of the tour.
• Barbaro Is Struggling, May Not Survive
  The racehorse Barbaro is near death. NPR's Julie Rovner reports.

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