Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Urban heat island effect
  Thursday's sudden storms may have been initiated and enhanced by the Twin Cities urban heat island. NASA's study with video animation of this phenomenon.3:48 p.m.
• Rescuers recover body of second missing sewer worker
  The body of a second sewer worker who was caught beneath the city's streets during a heavy rain was recovered from the Mississippi River on Saturday, authorities said.5:20 p.m.
• Medtronic to acquire spinal device maker Kyphon for $3.9 billion
  Fridley-based Medtronic is buying a rival to expand its spinal business. The big medical device maker announced Friday a $3.9 billion purchase of spinal implant maker Kyphon.5:25 p.m.
• Airlines could see a shortage of pilots
  Eagan-based Northwest Airlines recently announced it will again start hiring pilots after years of retrenchment. But Northwest and other carriers could be facing a shortage of pilots.5:51 p.m.
• Arts crawl spotlights the positive side of north Minneapolis
  The second annual Northside ArtsCrawl showcases talents of artists who live and work in north Minneapolis. Organizers hope the activities will shine a positive light on the area's redevelopment efforts.6:19 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Murakami's 'After Dark' Set in Tokyo
  The Japanese neo-modernist fiction writer Haruki Murakami first entered the U.S. literary scene in 1989 with A Wild Sheep Chase. He has since published close to a dozen works in English translation. Murakami's latest short novel — set in Tokyo — is titled After Dark.
• 'Moliere' Director Compares U.S., French Cinema
  French director Laurent Tirard's second film, Moliere, has been likened to a French version of Shakespeare in Love. Tirard is the screenwriter and director of the movie, which has its U.S. release Friday. The movie imagines an undocumented period of the great French playwright and actor Moliere. Tirard talks with Robert Siegel about learning to be a director in America and learning about the differences between French and American cinema.
• Tour de France Scandal: Who's to Blame?
  Sportswriter and regular commentator Stefan Fatsis says it's been a bad week for cycling, with tour leader Michael Rasmussen removed from the race for missing drug tests. Fatsis says coaches, doctors, and "other enablers" are also to blame.
• N.Y. Governor Faces Ethics Investigation
  New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who got elected with a promise to clean up New York government, is under investigation by a State Ethics Panel after members of his adminstration collected dirt on a political rival, planning to leak it to a newspaper.
• Groups Push for End to Crop Subsidies
  Several groups pushed for major changes to the renewed farm bill, especially to the crop-subsidy programs that dole out billions to farmers of certain commodities. Ken Cook, the director of one of those groups, talks with Michele Norris.
• House Passes Farm Bill Despite Veto Threat
  The Democratic-controlled House passed legislation Friday that combines billions in aid to farmers with funds for low-income nutrition programs — this, despite a veto threat from President Bush.
• Details of U.S.-India Nuclear Pact Unveiled
  Details of a civilian nuclear power agreement between the U.S. and India were announced Friday. Many arms-control experts and members of Congress say it will weaken the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
• AT&T, Verizon Fight Google's Wireless Bid
  AT&T and Verizon are fighting to keep Google out of a government auction for a wireless broadband spectrum. What's the significance of Google's bid?
• Google Makes a Bid for the Wireless Market
  Google has offered $4.6 billion for the new wireless broadband spectrum that the government is auctioning off. Chris Sacca, head of Special Initiatives at Google, says his company wants to offer consumers new options for wireless service.
• Elvis Statue Unveiled at 'Aloha from Hawaii' Site
  A life-size statue of Elvis Presley has been unveiled at the site of the rock icon's legendary 1973 "Aloha from Hawaii" concert.
• Nervous Investors Send Dow Tumbling
  The Dow continued to drop Friday, capping an ugly week for the stock market. Investors have become jittery over the prospect that tighter credit will slow the pace of mergers and cause consumers to curb spending.
• Cacophanies from Metal on Dry Ice
  Professional sound recordist Andy Aaron shares some sounds from his collection — various pieces of metal reacting with dry ice, with surprisingly varied results – for this installment of SoundClips.
• Letters: Qualities of a Good Leader
  A July 20 story about Columbus, Ohio, residents' thoughts on important traits of leadership featured a request that listeners write in with their ideas on the qualities of a good leader. Michele Norris and Robert Siegel read some of the listeners' responses.
• On the Road with John Edwards
  NPR's Linda Wertheimer travels with Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards on the back roads of Iowa, where he is extremely popular with voters since his 2004 campaign.
• Foreign Policy Stokes Clinton-Obama Rivalry
  In Monday night's Democratic debate, Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton traded sharp words after Obama, responding to a question, said he would be willing to meet with foreign dictators without preconditions. Now, there is a full-fledged squabble over foreign policy and experience.

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