Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• I-35W engineer answers concerns about the new bridge
  The engineer overseeing construction of the new I-35W bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis says the span may open as early as mid-September, which has caused some to wonder about its safety.4:50 p.m.
• NTSB to investigate plane crash that killed eight
  Eight people are dead following a plane crash in Owatonna Thursday morning.5:19 p.m.
• Group questions pesticide's health effects
  People have been reporting more and more health problems from a pyrethrin pesticides, according to a report from a Washington-based public interest group.5:23 p.m.
• Documentary shows high school life is little changed
  Documentary filmmaker Nanette Burstein says most movies and TV shows about teenagers just plain get it wrong. When she made her film, she and her crew shot in a high school evey day for 10 months. The resulting film is called "American Teen."6:21 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Scientists Make Stem Cells From ALS Patient
  Scientists wanted to clone human embryos because they wanted to make stem cells tailored to an individual's disease. Now, using a technique that mimics cloning but doesn't involve a human egg, scientists have made stem cells from a patient with ALS.
• Detroit Mayor's Woes Spill Into Mother's Primary
  Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-MI) represents parts of Detroit. The main issue facing her in the Aug. 5 primary is her son, embattled Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. The mayor refuses to resign and the congresswoman is defending him.
• Calif. Budget Battle Gets Heated
  With a $15.2 billion shortfall, California's budget is a month late. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will sign an order Thursday to cut 200,000 state employees' salaries back to minimum wage to save the state money. He wants a budget proposal by Friday.
• Tycoon Pickens Backs Town Halls To Spur Wind
  Texas oil and gas tycoon T. Boone Pickens is launching town hall meetings across what he calls the "Wind Belt" of America. The first meeting is in Kansas where there is an intense battle between supporters of wind energy and coal-fired power plants.
• U.N. Debates Darfur Peacekeepers
  The U.N. Security Council is debating the extension of the mandate of a peacekeeping force for Sudan's Darfur region. It also criticized the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court for trying to arrest Sudan's president.
• Karadzic Says He'll Defend Himself
  Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic has told a judge at the U.N. war crimes tribunal in The Hague he will defend himself against charges of genocide and crimes against humanity. His appearance at the tribunal is his first since he was arrested July 21.
• Letters: In Character
  Many listeners responded to Wednesday's installment of the In Character series about Auntie Mame.
• Administration Puts Ideology First
  NASA and the Environmental Protection Agency have suppressed research findings, and the Justice Department used ideology to hire candidates for nonpolitical positions. The Bush administration is putting ideology ahead of policy — and the facts.
• Texting While Walking May Be Dangerous
  This week, the American College of Emergency Physicians issued an alert warning of the dangers of text-messaging while walking and driving. Dr. Angela Gardner, an emergency physician at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, says texting while walking is a growing problem that is growing bigger every day.
• GDP Data Add Fuel To Recession Debate
  The U.S. gross domestic product grew at an annual rate of 1.9 percent in the second quarter of 2008. But some economists note that GDP doesn't account for the plummeting house prices and job losses squeezing American consumers.
• Stockton, Calif., Hopes To Gain From Housing Bill
  Stockton, Calif., has the worst foreclosure rate of any city in the country: One out of every 25 homes has received a foreclosure filing. The housing-rescue bill signed by President Bush this week could help those in the city affected by the downturn.
• Bush Expands Intel Chief's Role
  President Bush has signed an executive order revising rules for intelligence agencies and expanding the national intelligence director's powers. Congressional Republicans are irked over what they say is disrespect for congressional oversight in the process.
• What Will Happen To Justice Department Hires?
  A recent report found that the Justice Department illegally hired conservative lawyers who were sometimes unqualified, and now some wonder how to fix the situation. One plan would remove civil service protections from those hired through the flawed process.
• The Humble Roots Of Old-School Bachata
  Before it took over Latin dance halls worldwide, bachata arose from Dominican shantytowns as a kind of lower-class party music. Now, a recent CD and a series of concerts are bringing the genre's early acoustic tradition back into the spotlight.
• Obama Campaign Denounces Ludacris Song
  The Atlanta rapper has released a song in which he claims to be the senator's "favorite" and calls Hillary Clinton, John McCain and the president derogatory names. Washington Post associate editor Kevin Merida talks about how the song could affect Obama's image and how the campaign has dealt with other unexpected statements of support from celebrities.

Services

• Hourly Newscast
• HD Radio
• iPhone App / Mobile
• E-mail newsletters
• RSS feeds
• Podcasts
• Submit your photos
• Videos
• Weather
• Most e-mailed stories

Become a Sponsor