Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Does SPCO, Minn. Orchestra musicians' skill justify their pay?
  As the Minnesota Orchestra and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra continue high-stakes contract talks with their musicians, there is one thing both sides agree on: The general public may not fully appreciate what it takes to play in Minnesota's internationally renowned music ensembles.4:49 p.m.
• As Congress wraps up work, much left undone
  The House of Representatives finished up work Friday and won't come back until after the November elections. The Senate is also poised to go on a break, and there's a lot of work that this Congress has left unfinished.5:18 p.m.
• PoliGraph: Ad hitting Cravaack goes one for two
  A recent ad criticizing Rep. Chip Cravaack mixes truth and fiction.5:22 p.m.
• PoliGraph: Ad from Coleman's group goes a step too far on Medicare
  A new ad implies that 8th District DFL candidate Rick Nolan wanted to take health care coverage away from seniors all together when he was in Congress in the 1970s. That's misleading.5:24 p.m.
• Mpls. City Council revamps police misconduct review system
  The Minneapolis City Council on Friday morning approved a controversial overhaul of the city's civilian police oversight system.5:51 p.m.
• No charges for officers who allegedy gave pot to Occupy protesters
  The Hennepin County Attorney's Office has decided not to file any charges against officers involved in a now-suspended drug training program run by the State Patrol.5:55 p.m.
• The Cube Critics: 'The Master,' 'Liberal Arts'
  This week, arts reporter Euan Ker and Movie Maven Stephanie Curtis discuss a film that penetrates a post World War II cult, and a dramedy about a college alum who finds an unlikely romance on the campus of his alma mater.6:25 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Romney's 2011 Tax Return Shows He Paid At 14.1 Percent Rate, Campaign Says
  That rate is in line with earlier statements the candidate made about how much he paid in taxes last year. He's also releasing a summary of his taxes from the past 20 years — which may not satisfy Democrats who want him to offer more details.
• Week In Politics: The '47 Percent,' Senate Races
  Robert Siegel talks to regular political commentators, E.J. Dionne of The Washington Post and Brookings Institution, and David Brooks of The New York Times. They discuss Mitt Romney's "47 percent," new polls on the presidential race, and close Senate races.
• 'No Place Like Home' Shoes Use GPS To Get You There
  British artist Dominic Wilcox has designed a pair of shoes called "No Place Like Home," inspired by Dorothy's red slippers in The Wizard of Oz. The shoes are equipped with GPS and tell the wearer how to get to his or her destination with a click of the heel. Audie Cornish and Robert Siegel have more.
• In Calif., Some Ex-Inmates Get Help In New Ways
  Under California's criminal justice realignment program, counties are taking over responsibility from the state for low-level felons. That has affected how inmates with histories of mental illness move through the system even after they're released.
• Bullets And Buddies On The Streets Of South Central
  Action thrillers about the LAPD have become a staple in Hollywood, but NPR's Bob Mondello says End of Watch approaches the genre with an emotional authenticity that's often missing in lesser films.
• Obama, Ryan Talk Medicare At AARP Convention
  President Barack Obama and Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan addressed the annual AARP convention in New Orleans on Friday.
• In Wisconsin, Political Circus Leaves Voters Wounded
  Emotions are still raw in Wisconsin after the bitter fight over public unions and the unsuccessful vote to recall Gov. Scott Walker. As the presidential election approaches, many people are deeply pained by the divide between political extremes, and wishing they felt better about this race.
• Book Review: 'The People Of Forever Are Not Afraid'
  Critic Alan Cheuse reviews the novel, The People of Forever Are Not Afraid, by Shani Boianjiu, a young woman veteran of the Israeli Defense Force.
• Chimney Rock Becomes Newest National Monument
  An ancient beauty in southwestern Colorado, Chimney Rock became the third national monument named by President Obama on Friday. More than just a spectacular feature, Chimney Rock's towering sandstone pillars were of astronomical importance to the ancestral Pueblo people over 1,000 years ago.
• One Afghan Girl's Healing Journey To The U.S.
  Arefa, 6, suffered a life-threatening wound on her head as well as severe burns when her family's tent in Afghanistan was engulfed in flames from an IED. Doctors treating her at a hospital in Los Angeles say her struggle to stay alive for three years is nothing short of a miracle.

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