Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• His mission: make new citizens voters
  In Minnesota, one man has made it his mission to make sure new citizens are ready to exercise the right to vote.4:49 p.m.
• MIA tries to quell concerns of local artists
  The Minneapolis Institute of Arts is holding a community meeting with local artists to reassure them their voices are still being heard.4:54 p.m.
• That new bus smell
  Metro Transit is rolling out more than 100 new buses this summer. They've got traditional diesel engines, but they're built for the Internet age.5:19 p.m.
• Following the laws of physics in superhero movies
  MPR's Tom Crann talks to Jim Kakalios, University of Minnesota physics professor and author of "The Physics of Superheroes," about this summer's comic book inspired movies.5:50 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Independent Groups Step Up On-Air Ads
  Independent groups have yet to unveil an ad as damaging as the Swift Boat Veterans spot that hurt Sen. John Kerry's presidential bid in 2004. But as the summer goes on, more groups are producing radio and TV spots targeting the presidential race and key Senate battles.
• Letters: Batman, Pianist Marc Yu
  Some listeners' feathers were ruffled because of the interview with Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan. And more than a few tears were shed during the interview with a young piano prodigy.
• U.S., Iraq Agree On 'Time Horizon' For Withdrawal
  President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki have agreed on a "time horizon" to cut the number of U.S. troops in Iraq. The move signals the two sides are moving closer to an interim accord to keep U.S. forces in Iraq beyond the end of the year.
• Getting Mortgages Is More Difficult
  In today's economic climate, many Americans are finding it more difficult to obtain mortgages. Ken Wade, CEO of NeighborWorks America, points to fewer low down-payment mortgage programs and piggyback loans, as well as higher credit score requirements.
• Political Influence-Peddling Gains Finesse
  These days, influence peddling in politics rarely takes the form of outright bribery. Instead, through political action committees and other means, the identity of donors and recipients of campaign funds are often disguised.
• A Salute To 'The Heart Of NPR,' Gary Smith
  Longtime NPR Greeter and Client Services Coordinator Gary Smith passed away this week. For years, he sat at the reception desk at NPR's Washington headquarters. Smith was a force field of good cheer; he was a big man who became the heart of NPR.
• Analyst: Falling Oil Prices May Be Start Of Decline
  Oil prices have spiked all year. This week, however, they fell. Phil Flynn, an analyst at Alaron Trading Corporation, says the stock market's rally put a damper on oil prices. He said as long as there's no bad news, there may soon be good news at the pump.
• Federal Conservation Program At Risk
  The Conservation Reserve Program pays farmers who own environmentally important areas to leave them idle. But in recent years, the demand for crops such as corn has prompted calls to put many of these protected wildlands back under the plow.
• Where's Gas Cheaper? It's Relative
  Gasoline prices can vary widely from place to place. What seems expensive in Tucson, Ariz., can seem downright cheap just up the road in Phoenix. In fact, the difference in the two cities provides a good example of how geography often affects what you pay at the pump.
• In Concert, A Moment Of Sudanese Solidarity
  At a time of outright genocide in Darfur, and civil unrest throughout the Sudan, an unprecedented gathering of musicians from across the war-torn country presented a contrasting picture — one of harmony and unity — at the Sudanese Festival of Music and Dance in Chicago.
• 'Buffy' Creator Proves Doogie Howser Can Sing
  This week, in an unusual first, television producer Joss Whedon unveiled Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, a musical comedy written for — and released exclusively on — the Internet.
• Remembering Nelson Mandela's Pivotal Moment
  When he stood up in a South African courtroom during his treason trial in 1964, Nelson Mandela declared that he was "prepared to die" for his cause. As Mandela turns 90, a documentary studies the pivotal moment when he became a worldwide symbol of the struggle for freedom and democracy.
• Tiny Texas Cafe Fills Up After Barbecue Award
  Every five years, Texas Monthly chooses the best barbecue in a state that reveres smoked meat. Snow's BBQ in Lexington was unprepared for the onslaught of customers following its first-place win.
• Candidates Spar Over Iraq War Policies
  Barack Obama and John McCain diverge in their approaches to handling the war in Iraq. Obama says he will withdraw troops in his first 16 months in office. McCain wants to evaluate conditions on the ground before pulling troops.
• Carter's New Thriller Mixes Murder, Love And Politics
  Novelist Stephen Carter, who is also a professor at the Yale Law School, says his latest novel, Palace Council, is a thriller, a conspiracy, a love story and historical fiction. And the process of writing it was "utterly exhausting."

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