Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Pulitzer prize-winning 'Fences' opens tonight in St. Paul
  Tonight is opening night for Penumbra Theatre's latest production, "Fences" by August Wilson. The Pulitzer prize-winning play is part of Wilson's "20th Century cycle".4:49 p.m.
• Duluth tries to trim budget hole with civic yard sale
  The City of Duluth, which is facing a large budget crisis, is considering selling part of its cultural and natural heritage to settle the budget gap.5:19 p.m.
• Candidates for Minnesota's 3rd district hold first debate
  The three major party candidates hoping to succeed retiring Republican Rep. Jim Ramstad appeared on stage together for the first time Thursday.5:23 p.m.
• Huge surge seen in methadone prescriptions nationwide
  Doctors are prescribing the drug methadone for pain more and more often. Methadone is a narcotic that has been used for years to wean drug addicts off heroin. Methadone a powerful and effective drug, but is itself highly addictive and in some cases it's deadly.5:50 p.m.
• Minnesota State Fair: What's that sound?
  The Minnesota State Fair has been going since last Thursday and it's always a feast for the senses. You might even say, sensory overload. Great people watching and visual distraction everywhere. The smells of the deep fryer, and the swine barn.5:56 p.m.
• Minnesota State Fair by the numbers
  More than 1.5 million people make their way to the Minnesota State Fair each year, which kicked off Thursday. However, those are not the only significant numbers of the Great Minnesota Get-Together.6:23 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Candidates Would Ease Up On Executive Power
  The Bush administration has dramatically expanded executive authority over the past seven years. John McCain and Barack Obama have generally distanced themselves from President Bush's stance on executive power — but some scholars want a more resounding renouncement.
• U.S. Softball Team Fouls Out In Gold Medal Match
  The U.S. women's softball team lost 3-1 to Japan in the gold medal match, which they were widely favored to win. The U.S. women's soccer team won 1-0 against rival Brazil.
• Mice Can Sniff Out Fear, Study Finds
  Scientists have isolated an organ in a mouse's nose that can detect alarm pheromones emitted by other mice. This kind of chemical signaling of danger or fear is known in fish, insects and even plants, but it has not been extensively studied much in mammals.
• U.S., Iraq Near Pact On Troop Withdrawal
  Iraq and the U.S. reached a preliminary agreement including the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraqi cities by next June if security conditions allow, Iraq's foreign minister said Thursday. The draft document still must be approved by the U.S. and Iraq governments.
• NFL's Gene Upshaw Dies
  Gene Upshaw, the longtime president of the NFL Players Association, has died. The former all-pro offensive lineman was a member of the Hall of Fame. He led the union into the era of free agency and negotiated one of the most generous contracts in professional sports.
• Computing In The Cloud: Who Owns Your Files?
  Cloud computing — whereby users work and store information on the Internet — is becoming more and more popular. But what happens if you get locked out of your Flickr account?
• Condom A Capella Ringtone Fights HIV In India
  The BBC World Service Trust has begun an unusual, new campaign to help prevent the transmission of HIV in India. It's a ringtone — for your cell phone. It features the word "condom" repeated over and over in a catchy, a capella arrangement.
• Convention Host Committees Flush With Funds
  More money than ever is flowing into the "host committees" that supposedly support the conventions with funding from proud local businesses. And more than ever, the host committee money is being raised nationally by the presidential campaigns.
• Podesta: Progressive Politics Will Cure U.S. Ills
  In his new book, the head of the Center for American Progress and former chief of staff for President Clinton says the U.S. needs to create community activists, reform immigration law and form a stronger government; that will lead to a more fair society, he says.
• McCain's Homes Are Focus Of Latest Political Flap
  Sen. John McCain told Politico he's not sure how many homes he and his wife own. Sen. Barack Obama seized on that remark, telling an audience there's a fundamental gap of understanding between McCain's world and what Americans are going through.

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