Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Jane Hamilton celebrates families in her own special way
  Early on in Jane Hamilton's new novel "When Madeline was Young," Mac the narrator discovers what he thinks is a family secret.4:48 p.m.
• GOP picks Twin Cities for its 2008 convention
  The Twin Cities won the bid over New York, Cleveland and Tampa - St. Petersburg.5:20 p.m.
• Why does the GOP want to come here?
  Minnesota is a traditional DFL state. So why do the Republicans want to come here? All Things Considered host Tom Crann talks about that with Larry Jacobs, who directs the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute.5:24 p.m.
• Despite questions, Dolan takes a step toward becoming Minneapolis police chief
  Tim Dolan cleared a significant hurdle Wednesday toward becoming Minneapolis' next police chief.5:49 p.m.
• The future of carp control
  One University of Minnesota professor hopes to develop a new way to control carp. But first he'll do a detailed study of carp, something he says has never been done before.5:53 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Democrats Hope for 'Abramoff Effect' in Montana
  Montana is one state Democrats hope to turn from red to blue this fall. Republican Sen. Conrad Burns, the incumbent, received the most money from convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, and his challenger, state Senate President Jon Tester, is pounding away at the issue. Note: This story contains language that some may find inappropriate.
• Iva Toguri D'Aquino Dies at 90
  The Japanese-American woman who was convicted of treason for being "Tokyo Rose" died at age 90 Tuesday. Iva Toguri D'Aquino served six years in prison, but she was later pardoned by President Gerald Ford. Melissa Block talks with Ronald Yates, whose stories in The Chicago Tribune helped D'Aquino win her pardon.
• Special Effects Liven Up Action Figures
  Listener Andrejz Jones, 8, of Brooklyn, N.Y., contributes his vocal sound effects that he uses to accompany his action-hero stories he imagines. He does an especially good version of "Batman's Cape Unfurling."
• Idi and Me: 'The Last King of Scotland'
  The Last King of Scotland stars Forrest Whitaker as charismatic -- and unfathomably murderous -- ruler Idi Amin. In the film adapted from a bestselling book by Giles Foden, the Ugandan dictator's bloody reign is seen through the eyes of a young Scottish doctor who finds himself thrust into Amin's inner circle.
• 7-11 Drops Citgo, Citing Ties to Venezuela's Chavez
  7-Eleven is dropping Citgo as the gasoline supplier to its 2,100 stations. The companies' contract was due to expire, but 7-Eleven has been uneasy with its ties to Citgo, a subsidiary of Venezuela's national oil company. Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez attacked President Bush in a recent speech at the United Nations, calling him "the devil."
• Both Parties Find Ammo in Threat Summary
  Both Democrats and Republicans are finding political ammunition in the four pages of the National Intelligence Estimate summary on global terrorism that was released Tuesday. President Bush and his allies say it bolsters their argument that Iraq is central to fighting terrorism -- but Democrats argue that the report proves the Iraq war has been a massive blunder.
• House Approves Bush's Anti-Terrorism Plans
  President Bush's package of anti-terrorism powers wins approval in the House and moves toward passage in the Senate. Despite vocal opposition from the Democratic minority, the Republican-run House approved landmark legislation setting standards for trying and interrogating suspected irregular foreign combatants.
• Economist Warns of Housing Market Decline
  Recent federal reports have shown that existing home sales -- the figure that economists say most closely influences pricing -- are in a general decline. Analysts say that could be trouble, despite today's report that sales of new houses rebounded in August from a dip in July. Hear Michele Norris and economics professor William Wheaton.
• White House Urged to Release Full Intel Report
  Over the weekend, several newspapers published portions of the National Intelligence Estimate that suggested the war in Iraq has fueled terrorism in the Muslim world. President Bush responded by declassifying parts of the once-secret document, saying that when taken in context, it supports U.S. policy in Iraq.
• IEDs Now Form a Part of Army Base's Training
  Improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, kill more American soldiers in Iraq than any other weapon. The military spent more than $3 billion last year trying to fight them through better armor and better detection. Now it's adding another approach: hands-on IED training exhibits. It's intended to help soldiers who will be sent to the war zones know what to look out for.
• Poll: Iraqis Want U.S. Out, Strong Leadership
  A new opinion poll shows that most Iraqis want American troops to withdraw from the country within a year. It shows growing confidence in Iraq's own security forces, as well as broad support for a strong central government, despite the push by Shiite and Kurdish political leaders for greater regional autonomy.
• Strike May Cost Detroit Schools in Student Aid
  Michigan schools are hoping plenty of students showed up for class Wednesday, the day schools report the number of students they have in attendance for the purpose of receiving state aid. The Detroit school district estimated last week that some 25,000 students were missing after a 16-day teachers' strike. Sarah Hulett of Michigan Radio reports.
• Cluster Bombs a Vestige of Israel's Lebanon Fight
  Melissa Block talks with Anthony Shadid, foreign correspondent for The Washington Post, about the problem of small, unexploded cluster bombs in southern Lebanon. About the size of a soda can, they may number more than 1 million. Most were dropped during the last three days of the fighting.
• Hire My Talented New Orleans Friends
  Commentator Andrei Codrescu praises New Orleans singer Linnzi Zaorski. Codrescu suggests that she star in a movie soon, because she looks like a cross between an icy Hitchcock blonde and a silent-movie era comedienne. Codrescu says the script could reveal Zaorski as a spy who is condemned to death by a military court. But mostly, he wants his New Orleans friends to get work.
• Critics Target China's New Rules on Media
  China's government has come under fire for new rules that critics say could limit freedom of information. The rules would limit reporters' coverage of court cases and other breaking news. Critics admit that some the measures were originally intended to ensure freedom of information but came out differently than planned.

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