Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Koochiching County hopes emerging gasification technology could solve garbage woes
  A proposed $30 million facility in Koochiching County could convert municipal waste to energy with minimal emissions. It would be the first of its kind in North America. Some environmentalists say the technology might be too good to be true.4:48 p.m.
• Flight attendants reject new contract with Northwest
  Flight attendants at Northwest Airlines have rejected the latest attempt at a cost-cutting contract with the bankrupt company. The vote escalates the standoff between the two sides, with the airline planning to impose pay cuts, and the flight attendants planning to strike.5:24 p.m.
• The front lines of the BWCA fire
  More than an inch of rain over the weekend helped firefighters get better control of the Cavity Lake wildfire. As of Monday, it's about 65 percent contained. But fire managers say crews will be in the wilderness battling the fire for a good long time. We went out to the edge of the fire to see how it's done.5:47 p.m.
• Bruce Carlson's friends remember musical visionary
  Services will be held Sunday at Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis for a local music visionary. Bruce Carlson, director of the Schubert Club, died of complications from leukemia, leaving behind him a legacy of several decades of gorgeous music.6:19 p.m.
• Albert Lea loses Love
  A beloved -- if controversial -- newspaper columnist in Albert Lea has died. Love Cruikshank was known for her outspoken newspaper columns, and her wholehearted embrace of life and community.6:24 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• California, U.K. Enter Global Warming Pact
  California and Great Britain agree to become partners in the fight against global warming. The deal was sealed at the port of Long Beach, where British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger promised to share clean-air technology and research.
• For Toddlers, a World Laden with Advertising
  For many weary parents of preschoolers, television can be a godsend. And some of the programming might even be educational. But some experts say that even the most positive children's television can carry messages that aren't good for children.
• Gibson Apologizes for Outburst After Arrest
  Actor Mel Gibson has issued an apology for remarks he reportedly made after being arrested for driving under the influence early Friday. The arresting officer reported that Gibson unleashed an anti-Semitic rant and attempted to flee the scene.
• The Health Legacy of a Heat Wave
  Heat waves like the one currently sweeping the nation have an impact on public health, especially among the poor and elderly. Michele Norris talks with Eric Klinenberg, author of Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago.
• Baseball's Brewers Put Chorizo in the Running
  There was a standing ovation at baseball's Miller Park in Milwaukee this weekend, as a new athlete took the field for the first time. Standing about eight feet tall -- including his sombrero -- "El Picante" was the star of the show during the Brewers' 6th-inning entertainment: the sausage races.
• 'Crazy' for a Summer Anthem
  Youth Radio's Anyi Howell would like to nominate a tune for the title "Song of the Summer": "Crazy," by Gnarls Barkley. It may not be the No. 1 hit, but it's the song that seems to be everywhere right now.
• A Georgia District's Schoolkids Are Back in Class
  Many students around the country still have weeks left of vacation, but for students in Rockdale County, Ga., the school year began today. The early start is part of a trend of shortened summer breaks in some pockets of the country. Susanna Capelouto of Georgia Public Broadcasting reports.
• U.S. Hands Part of Afghanistan to NATO Control
  With a symbolic changing of flags, the command of troops in southern Afghanistan shifted from United States to NATO control Monday. NATO will now lead forces from 37 countries in six southern Afghan provinces. The area has seen the worst fighting since the Taliban was overthrown in 2001.
• Back to the Salt Mines, in Sound
  Listener Chris Eden takes us on a ride down a 650-foot-deep elevator, into a salt mine used for storage under the soil of Hutchinson, Kan. The elevator shakes and shimmies as it drops, and we listen to its sounds as part of our "SoundClips" series.
• International Aid Groups Rush to Lebanon
  The United Nations and other aid agencies scramble to dispatch supplies to southern Lebanon, during what Israel says will be a 48-hour pause in airstrikes. The French and Iranian foreign ministers travel to Beirut, both voicing support for an immediate cease-fire -- and outrage over an Israeli attack that killed more than 50 civilians.
• FDA Promises Movement on 'Morning-After' Pill
  The Food and Drug Administration says it hopes to move forward on making emergency contraception available without a prescription. The agency made the announcement a day before a hearing on Capitol Hill on the nomination of Andrew von Eschenbach to be the FDA commissioner.
• Will Power Shift Due to Israel-Hezbollah Fight?
  NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr discusses the nearly three-week long conflict between Israel and Hezbollah and how that could lead to a shift in power in the region.
• Kansas Set for School Board Primary
  The Republican Party's primary elections for the Kansas state school board are Tuesday. The outcome could shape the direction of the board, which has garnered national attention for questioning the inclusion of evolution in its science curriculum. Of the six conservative seats on the board, four are up for grabs. Moderates are hoping to regain control -- and reverse policies they say have made Kansas a punchline on late-night TV.
• Rally Racing Hits It Big in 'X Games' -- and in Maine
  Rally-style racing, long popular in Europe, is now becoming more common in the United States. Independent producer Joshua Gleason sends an audio postcard from Maine, where street-car drivers are going off-road in the hopes of a thrilling win.
• Israel Stages Limited Attacks on Lebanon
  Israeli ground forces continue attacks inside southern Lebanon. Israel's defense minister says the army needs more time to complete the offensive against Hezbollah, but diplomatic pressure for a cease-fire is growing.

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