Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Ground broken on million-dollar mosque expansion
  A mosque in north Minneapolis is undergoing a $1.5 million renovation and expansion to accomodate its growing membership.5:20 p.m.
• Life in line
  For many wannabe stars, today just might be the biggest day of their lives. The popular television show American Idol is looking for the country's next great singer. And it's holding auditions in downtown Minneapolis. An estimated 10,000 people converged on the Target Center early this morning, hoping to get their shot in front of the show's judges. Reporter Nikki Tundel put together a little audio sample of the talent in line this morning.5:50 p.m.
• What Bert said
  Recent incidents of profanity getting on the broadcast airwaves in the past week has brought the FCC guidelines about profanity and indecency back to the spotlight. Because of a switching problem during the State Fair, some off-air banter between the DJ at the fair and the studio inadvertently made it to the air. Then, over the weekend, Twins announcer Bert Blyleven swore on the air before a Twins game. The FCC has increased the fines for each occurance to $325,000. Moreover, there's concern from broadcasters that the rules and penalties have been applied unfairly. We asked our media commentator David Brauer what the FCC won't allow on the broadcast airwaves.5:52 p.m.
• Town ball
  Over 240 teams play in Minnesota's amateur leagues in the summertime. That may sound like a lot, but consider this: in 1950 there were almost 800 teams.6:20 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• The Tao of 'Star Trek'?
  The Star Trek science-fiction franchise turns 40 today. The original TV series only lasted three seasons. But in syndication, it became a viewer favorite, spawning spin-off shows and a series of big-budget movies. Brooke Gladstone, the host of NPR's On the Media, is proud to be a "trekkie." She explains the enduring success of the Starship Enterprise and its sister ships.
• Fla. Journalists Paid to Hasten Castro's Ouster
  The U.S. government paid at least 10 journalists in southern Florida tens of thousands of dollars for coverage that undermined Fidel Castro's communist government in Cuba. The Miami Herald has fired three journalists who received payments from the U.S. Office of Cuba Broadcasting.
• Lebanese Businesses Cope with Deaths, Rebuilding
  With its land and sea blockade of Lebanon lifted, Israel remains worried about arms shipments for Hezbollah fighters crossing over from Syria. But in northern Lebanon, villagers are trying to recover from the recent conflict. Dozens of Syrian migrant farm workers were killed in one village, and Lebanon's largest milk plant was destroyed.
• Israel Ends Naval Blockade of Lebanon
  Israel lifts its nearly two-month naval blockade of Lebanon. European warships are now patrolling the waters to keep weapons shipments out of the hands of Hezbollah guerrillas. Israel also says it will withdraw the last of its troops from Lebanon in two weeks.
• Calif. Will Probe Hewlett Packard's Anti-Leak Efforts
  The controversy over Hewlett Packard's efforts to root out the source of a media leak has intensified. The California Attorney General's office is investigating how contractors for the company accessed the phone records of employees and journalists.
• Students Revisit Their Words of Sept. 2001
  High school student Emily Mason presents interviews she recorded in the days after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Five years after her initial discussions, Mason spoke again with the same group. Listening to their thoughts from that day, several laughed at themselves for sounding like little experts -- and say they did that to hide the fact they were scared.
• U.K. Case Highlights Consciousness Debate
  News that a severely brain-damaged woman in the United Kingdom showed the same mental responses as a normally conscious person when given certain commands has led to speculation of how best to care for similar patients. Michele Norris talks with Dr. Joseph Fins, who works in the field of neuroethics.
• Senate Panel: No Saddam-Qaida Ties Before War
  There is no evidence that Saddam Hussein had any relationship with the late terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi or with al-Qaida, the Senate Intelligence Committee says in a new report. The partially declassified review of U.S. intelligence in Iraq prior to the toppling of Saddam Hussein refutes several claims made by the Bush administration.
• Plans for Nuclear Dump in Utah Likely Derailed
  A controversial plan to store tons of nuclear waste on a Utah Indian reservation seems to have been defeated. For 10 years, the Skull Valley Band of Goshute Indians has fought for permits for a temporary repository for spent fuel rods from nuclear power plants.
• ABC's 'Path to 9/11' Movie Criticized
  The ABC mini series The Path To 9/11, scheduled to air Sunday and Monday, is a dramatization based in part on the 9/11 Commission Report. But the movie is already drawing angry criticism from former members of the Clinton administration whom it depicts. They say some of the scenes about the lead-up to the attacks are fabricated. The show's writer and producer have responded that their goal is not to make a documentary.
• New Arizona Stadium Is Built to Soak Up Sun
  The Arizona Cardinals open the NFL season this weekend in their brand-new stadium in suburban Phoenix. In a feat of architectural engineering, the facility balances the need to keep fans comfortable in the desert heat -- while still providing real grass for the players. The stadium's roof is retractable, and so is the playing field. On off-days, the entire grass field sits outside the stadium to catch the sunshine. And on game days, it gets rolled inside.
• Life in the Commonwealth
  Commentator Bill Harley lives in the town of Seekonk. That's in Bristol County, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. And recently, he was reminded of the role his town plays in the commonwealth.
• Tarot vs. Psychiatry in the Hope for Help
  Commentator and psychiatrist Elissa Ely meets a patient who, like her, works helping people with their problems. But he takes a completely different approach than she does.
• Catching Up on Homeland Security
  Robert Siegel talks with Frances Townsend, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism. Townsend talks about mistakes made before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks -- and President Bush's counter-terrorism policies and proposals.
• Report Faults Tomlinson for Broadcasting Violations
  A new investigation of the Broadcasting Board of Governors finds that its chairman repeatedly violated federal statutes. The chairman, Kenneth Tomlinson, has been in hot water before as head of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, but he tells NPR it's all politics.

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