Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• The tale of the teenagers who remade "Raiders of the Lost Ark"
  When "Raiders of the Lost Ark" hit the big screen in 1982, Indiana Jones' exploits thrilled millions of people of people. In Mississippi it thrilled Eric Zala and Chris Strompolos so much they decided to remake the film with themselves in the starring roles. The fact that they were respectively 11 and 10 years old didn't concern them. Now "Raiders of the Lost Ark:The Adaptation" is being screened in Minneapolis.4:50 p.m.
• Northwest Airlines: As fixed as it can get?
  Northwest Airlines has fixed the cost issues that pushed it into bankruptcy in the first place. Some observers point to serious challenges ahead.5:19 p.m.
• Strib cuts affect arts coverage
  Friday marks the deadline for Star Tribune staff writers to decide whether they'll take buyouts the paper is offering as part of the recent budget cuts. While we still don't know the full effect of the cuts on the paper, we do know substantial changes are being made to the Star Tribune's arts coverage.5:53 p.m.
• Builders of the Cathedral: One hundred years later
  Catholics in Minnesota are celebrating this weekend. It is the 100th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of the Cathedral of St. Paul.6:22 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• May Is Third-Deadliest Month for U.S. in Iraq War
  At least 122 U.S. troops died in Iraq in May, making it the third-deadliest month since the war began. And as more troops head to Iraq, even higher numbers of U.S. casualties are expected.
• Seeking Perspective on the U.S. Death Toll in Iraq
  Casualties in Iraq are high. May has been a brutal month for American soldiers in Iraq; but it would be a mistake to think that it's the number of deaths alone that is creating the sense of national urgency to improve the situation in Iraq.
• Study: Human Ancestors Walked Upright Early
  When our human ancestors first descended from the trees, they scurried around on all fours before eventually learning to walk upright. Or did they? A report in the journal Science argues orangutans actually learned to walk upright while they were still living in trees.
• Textbook-Free: Checking In at Laptop High
  In the fall of 2005, Empire High School in Vail, Ariz., ditched its textbooks and gave each student a laptop instead. The experiment was meant to foster creativity and put the most current material in front of students. It is now the end of another school year, and time to see how the switch measures up.
• Finding the Balance Between Rap and the Books
  Keith Shine, 17, is a junior at Curie High School in Chicago. He wants to go to college — but he also wants to be a rapper. In a piece produced by Curie Youth Radio, Shine shares his dilemma.
• Lawyer Files Gender Bias Suit Against GE
  A high-ranking lawyer fighting her demotion has sued General Electric, accusing the company of gender discrimination. The lawsuit alleges that GE pays female lawyers and women in entry-level executive jobs less than it does men in similar positions.
• The Pill, Forty Years On
  When the pill was first introduced four decades ago, it created a revolution in women's sexuality. A look at what's changed about the pill, and future trends in birth control.
• Florida Towns May Feel Homeowners' Tax Pains
  Years of rising home values have brought local governments buckets of property tax money. But now, in Florida and other states, taxpayers are saying "enough." Florida's legislature is expected to roll back property taxes next month — imposing big cuts on cities and counties. Local officials say the rollback may force police and firefighter layoffs.
• Have a Stagnant Pool? Call the Mosquito Guy
  In the Sacramento, Calif., area, housing prices are way down. In the past year, sales volume has dropped by almost one-third. That means there are more vacant houses than usual, which means more untended swimming pools, which means more breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
• Bush Urges Curbs on Greenhouse Gases by 2009
  The United States will engage in new international negotiations to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, according to a plan President Bush announced Thursday. The president heads to Germany next week to discuss climate change with other world leaders.

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