Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Art Hounds
  Each week Minnesota Public Radio News asks three people from the Minnesota arts scene to be "Art Hounds." Their job is to step outside their own work and hunt down something exciting that's going on in local arts.4:44 p.m.
• Farm bill debate begins
  The debate over the farm bill begins as farmers are flush with money due to high crop prices and as talk of fiscal austerity has taken over Washington. The bipartisan bill spends nearly a trillion dollars over the next 10 years but phases out direct payments to farmers and expands federally backed crop insurance.4:49 p.m.
• 22 arrests in Twin Ports heroin sweep
  Charges are expected by the end of this week against 22 people arrested for trafficking heroin in the Twin Ports area.4:54 p.m.
• Schulze leaves Best Buy early; next step is unclear
  Best Buy founder and chairman Richard Schulze is stepping down from his board position earlier than originally planned to explore options for his hefty 20 percent stake in the company.5:20 p.m.
• N. Minn. bog to be site of massive global warming study
  A $50 million project in a remote bog north of Grand Rapids could help researchers over the next decade answer critical questions about global warming.5:24 p.m.
• Religious leaders unite to oppose marriage amendment
  About 120 religious leaders of different faiths today announced the formation of Clergy United for All Families, which will work to defeat the marriage amendment on the November ballot.5:49 p.m.
• Monocultural churches still the norm in diverse US society
  Ethnic diversity is shaping Minnesota's culture in many ways, and there's a small but growing movement in the United States to make Sunday morning church services more culturally diverse. However, the vast majority of the nation's religious services remain monocultural, with just one language, race or ethnic group represented.5:53 p.m.
• Dining with Dara: Kombucha the hottest new thing in iced tea
  This rash of summer-like weather has us considering a pitcher of iced tea. But have you ever thought of adding yeast and fermenting it?6:20 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Clinton: Syria Won't Be Peaceful Until Assad Is Gone
  Former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan was at the United Nations in New York City on Thursday to lay out his ideas for salvaging a peace plan for Syria. There are about 300 unarmed U.N. monitors in the country, but the violence has continued and none of the six points in the peace plan are holding.
• Annan's Peace Plan Turns Focus To Syria's Supporters
  Robert Siegel speaks with David Ignatius, columnist for the Washington Post. He says he believes Kofi Annan's plan to involve Russia and Iran in stopping the violence in Syria might work.
• New Farm Bill Focuses On Reaping, Not Sowing
  The Senate will spend the next several weeks hashing through the farm bill. The legislation deals with everything from crop insurance subsidies to food stamps.
• Mexico's Once Dominant Party Poised For A Comeback
  The front-runner in Mexico's presidential race says his party, the PRI, has changed since it was ousted from power in 2000. Many Mexicans yearn for the peace and order the country experienced under PRI rule. But others worry about the rampant corruption that brought about the party's downfall.
• Drink Up! Idaho OKs 'Five Wives' Vodka
  Originally banned because its name and label might offend women and Mormons, the vodka can now be sold there. The state reversed course after a lawsuit was threatened.
• Federal Reserve Predicts Moderate Economic Growth
  Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke appeared before the Joint Economic Committee on Thursday. Bernanke said the economy is facing some "headwinds," but that he expects it to continue growing at a moderate pace.
• Calif. Governor: 'Pension Reform Is Imperative'
  The public employee unions that unsuccessfully opposed the recall of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker suffered two other defeats on Tuesday. Voters in San Diego and San Jose, Calif., approved measures to curb city pensions. Firefighters in those cities vow to take the matter to court but public support for the cutbacks was overwhelming.
• Egyptian-American Returns To Cairo For NGO Trial
  Robert Siegel talks with Sherif Mansour, a former senior officer at Washington, D.C.-based group Freedom House. The Egyptian government has accused Mansour and other employees of pro-democracy groups of operating illegally in the country. Mansour, an Egyptian-American, chose to return to Cairo to stand trial.
• Damon Lindelof Risks The Wrath Of Loyal Fans Again
  The Lost writer, who was a producer on the 2009 Star Trek reboot, is co-writer of the new Alien prequel Prometheus. He talks about science fiction, unsatisfied fan bases and how best to enjoy Prometheus.
• Romney Leapfrogs Obama In May Fundraising
  In May, Mitt Romney outraised President Obama for the first time. The former Massachusetts governor took in about $17 million more than Mister Obama. What's the significance of the shift?

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