Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Pete Seeger's life story told on film
  Pete Seeger has been singing for more than seven decades. He sings songs of protest and activism, and he sings in the hope that others will join in. Despite this long history he has never agreed to a biographical film of his life -- until now.4:50 p.m.
• Judge in Craig case says no quick ruling on plea request
  Lawyers for Sen. Larry Craig asked a Hennepin County judge to withdraw Craig's guilty plea in an airport sex sting. The outcome hinges on whether Craig's attorneys can convince Judge Charles Porter that the Idaho senator's plea was a mistake.5:20 p.m.
• Democrats want Molnau to quit MnDOT
  Some DFL lawmakers are calling on Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau to leave her other job as state transportation commissioner.5:23 p.m.
• Private colleges' Web site challenges traditional rankings
  More than a dozen Minnesota private colleges are part of a new national Web site to give prospective students information to compare schools.5:50 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• In Iraq, Violence Again Rises During Ramadan
  US military spokesmen acknowledge Iraqi insurgents have escalated attacks over the past week or so, since the beginning of Ramadan. The Ramadan offensive has been a hallmark of the insurgency.
• GM-UAW Deal May Change American Car Industry
  The United Auto Workers' two-day strike against General Motors ended after the company will shift responsibility for retiree health care onto the union. The tentative contract, in which the union earned commitments to keep manufacturing jobs in the United States, could reshape the U.S. auto industry.
• Bird's-Eye View May Include Magnetic Fields
  A new study finds that migratory birds can "see" magnetic fields. Henrik Mouritsen, professor of neurosensory science at the University of Oldenberg in Germany, and his team observed the sensory abilities of garden warblers to learn how they sense compass directions.
• Massive Underwater Forests Found in Pacific
  A team of scientists says it has found a string of vast, rich forests in an unexpected setting: far below the coral reefs found in the tropical Pacific Ocean. The new forests are made out of kelp plants that harbor a huge range of plants and animals.
• Myanmar: A History of Near-Misses, and Protests
  Pro-democracy marches that are pitting Buddhist monks against Myanmar's ruling military junta recall the rallies of 1988, which led to the overthrow of the long-time military dictator General Ne Win. But democracy did not take root. Instead, army generals took over. And they have ruled Myanmar ever since.
• Columbia's Bollinger on Iran's Ahmadinejad
  Robert Siegel speaks to Columbia University President Lee Bollinger about the introduction he gave a speech by Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the school. Bollinger told Ahmadinejad that his policies made him appear to be a cruel and petty dictator.
• Deaths Reported in Attack on Myanmar Protesters
  As the United States and other nations condemn Myanmar's crackdown against pro-democracy demonstrators, details of what happened there today are still not entirely clear. The military regime acknowledges it opened fire on protesters, killing one. But by other accounts, as many as eight were killed.
• A Dream Team, a Dream Musical: 'West Side Story'
  The musical West Side Story premiered on Broadway 50 years ago today. While it is now an indelible part of American culture, with well-loved versions of film and music, the show's success was not assured back in 1957. It was the work of director and choreographer Jerome Robbins, playwright Arthur Laurents, lyricist Stephen Sondheim and composer Leonard Bernstein.
• Stevens: High Court's Supreme Dissenter?
  Justice John Paul Stevens was nominated to the Supreme Court by President Gerald Ford. He views himself as a conservative, but at 87, Stevens is viewed as a liberal justice. Jeffrey Rosen, who wrote a profile of Stevens for The New York Times Magazine called "The Dissenter," talks with Robert Siegel.
• Ex-Diplomats Gauge Russia-U.S. Relations
  This week, 10 former ambassadors from Russia and the United States gathered in Washington at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Robert Siegel talks with two former diplomats involved in the Cold War: Jack Matlock was a U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union during the Gorbachev era; Yuly Vorontsev was Russia's ambassador to the United States in the 1990s.
• Russian Candidates Leap Toward Putin Parties
  Critics of Russia's President Vladimir Putin say he helped bring back authoritarianism back to Russia, with the Kremlin consolidating its control. As campaigning gets under way for December parliamentary elections, legislators are responding to tough new elections laws by flocking to join pro-Kremlin parties. Observers say it may be the last major political realignment of the Putin era.
• Americans Give Ahmadinejad Cold-War Treatment
  Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad received a variety of responses at Columbia University and other places in the United States. That brings to mind the treatment given to Soviet leaders when they visited during the Cold War.
• UAW Members to Vote on New GM Contract
  General Motors auto workers are returning to their jobs, after a two-day strike that shut down 82 GM facilities in the United States. At union halls and factory gates, there was a sense of relief that the strike is over. But there was also some uneasiness about the future. UAW workers will vote over the weekend on whether to ratify the new contract.
• Pentagon Asks for $190 Billion in War Funds
  Defense Secretary Robert Gates and the Pentagon are seeking another $190 billion from Congress to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The figure is about $50 billion higher than earlier estimates. Much of the extra money will be used for new more heavily armored military vehicles.
• Nike Tailors Sneaker for Native American Buyers
  Nike has launched a sneaker designed specifically for Native Americans. It's built to fit their feet and in hopes of promoting physical activity within a community that struggles with obesity-related diseases. Melissa Block talks with Sam McCracken, manager of Nike's Native American Business program.

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