Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Press leaks shape world events
  With the major Iraq-related news of recent days, press leaks seem to have shaped events as much as any political figure. The long-awaited Iraq Study Group report showed up in the New York Times a week before its authors officially planned to share it with President Bush. That was followed by a leaked report from Bush's national security advisor, expressing a lack of confidence in the Iraqi prime minister. Then there was a leaked memo from Donald Rumsfeld, suggesting a "major adjustment" in tactics in Iraq -- written just days before he resigned.Our regular media analyst David Brauer is here to talk about what is up with all this leaking.4:52 p.m.
• Film crew revisits Indian boarding schools
  A new film being shot in northern Minnesota is shedding light on Indian boarding schools, one of the darker chapters in the recent history of Native Americans.4:53 p.m.
• Rep. Olson dumped from House GOP caucus
  Republicans in the Minnesota House have voted to suspend Rep. Mark Olson from their caucus just five days before Olson is scheduled to make a court appearance on domestic assault charges.5:22 p.m.
• New insurance plan targets young adults
  Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota has come up with a new insurance plan targeting those who are least likely to purchase health insurance for themselves. The plan, called Simply Blue, is designed to attract young adults -- though people of any age can purchase it. It covers preventive care, prescription drugs, and could prevent a financial catastrophe in case of an accident.5:26 p.m.
• Is a merger in Northwest Airlines' future?
  Shares in bankrupt Northwest Airlines are up nearly 50 percent today on speculation that the carrier might merge with another airline.5:49 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• The Listeners Weigh In
  This week we've been hearing about favorite gadgets - from people who design and sell them. Many listeners wrote in to tell us about favorite gadgets, too. Three listeners join us: John Sturdevant, Eve Leedy and Vince Lupo.
• Book Tracks Holocaust's 'Lost Stories'
  Middle East historian Robert Satloff has written Among the Righteous, subtitled "Lost Stories from the Holocaust's Long Reach into Arab Lands." He documents many instances of Arabs protecting Jews in North Africa from the Holocaust.
• Barack Obama, Still on the Rise
  Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) has been in office for just under two years. He has few legislative accomplishments. His previous job was state senator from Illinois. But he has somehow become a "dream candidate" for the 2008 presidential race. What's up?
• House Leadership Chided for Foley Scandal
  The House Ethics Committee says GOP leaders were "negligent" in handling reports a colleague was harassing congressional pages. But they say no rules were broken.
• Panel Member Reflects on Foley Report
  Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH), a member of the House Ethics Committee -- and a sub-panel that investigated the handling of the Foley situation -- offers her thoughts on Friday's report.
• Jeane Kirkpatrick and the Cold War
  Jeane Kirkpatrick, the U.N. ambassador during the Reagan administration, was a strong supporter of forceful dealings with the Soviet Union. In the wake of Kirkpatrick's death, Thomas Mann, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, looks back at her impact.
• Link Between Mideast Talks, Iraq Peace Questioned
  One recommendation of the Iraq Study Group is for the U.S. to deal directly deal with the Arab-Israeli conflict. But will progress in that area translate to peace in Iraq?
• Iraqi Moderate Finds He Can't Go Home Again
  Laith Kubba, an Iraqi exile, supported efforts to topple Saddam Hussein. He served in the first government following the ouster. But he says there is no room for moderates in Iraq -- and he doesn't see himself going back anytime soon.
• Rumsfeld's Detainee Liability Case Advances
  A federal judge hears arguments in Washington, D.C., on whether former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld can be held liable for harsh treatment of detainees by the military.
• The Sounds of Buddhists Chanting
  Some of our listeners collect sounds when they travel. One of them is Scott Van Dutton from Oceanside, Calif. He shares a soundclip of the sounds of Buddhist chanting in Nara, just outside Kyoto, Japan.
• Zen Dissident Ousted from Chinese Temple
  A Zen Buddhist master is expelled from his temple in southern China, accused of illicit relations with women in the congregation. He denies the charges, and there are suspicions he is being persecuted for his political beliefs.
• 'Next' from Crichton: Genetic Technology
  Michael Crichton, best-selling purveyor of the sci-fi thriller genre, writes a novel about genetic technology and its potential results. But he's not really writing about the future in Next; it's all happening now.
• Wild Camels Run Amok in Australia's Outback
  Hundreds of thousands of feral camels roam Australia's outback. The descendants of dromedaries imported in the 19th century, these animals are now raced for fun, slaughtered for their meat and hunted to thin their vast numbers.
• NFL TV's Game Coverage Finds Limited Audience
  The NFL Network -- the National Football League's cable channel -- offers exclusive telecasts of games played on Thursday and Saturday nights. But many large cable systems don't carry the channel. Stephan Fatsis of The Wall Street Journal and Robert Siegel talk about the business issues involved.
• Rumsfeld Begins Exit from Pentagon Post
  Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld holds a last "town hall" meeting for Pentagon employees. He spoke of the Iraq war, the Abu Ghraib prison scandal and his own place in history.

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