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.
• The St. Croix River: Balancing nature with development
  The scenic character of the St. Croix River has made it a magnet for rapid development -- and the pollution that comes with it. The job of cleaning up the St. Croix largely falls to local officials, who are looking for more ways to balance development with conservation.4:54 p.m.
• Mpls., state, feds team up to clamp down on gun violence
  Under a new collaborative program, criminals who use and sell guns could face longer federal sentences.5:20 p.m.
• 'Donor chain' makes organs available to more patients
  Five patients from Minnesota and North Dakota have new kidneys after participating in a "transplant chain" organized by three hospitals.5:24 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Exxon After Valdez: Lessons For BP?
  Before the BP explosion in the Gulf of Mexico, the worst domestic oil spill was the 1989 Exxon Valdez in Alaska. The accident gave the oil giant a jolt and prompted the company to rethink its approach to safety. Now, Exxon does considerably better than the industry average on several safety-related measures.
• Oil Companies Create Spill Response System
  Four of the biggest oil companies are putting up at least $1 billion to design and build what is essentially a giant oil cleanup machine in case there's another spill in the Gulf. The effort may impact the environment, but the companies also want to see politics shift a little in their favor.
• Is Climate Change Leading To Super Marmots?
  A new study published this week in the journal Nature says yellow-bellied marmots in Colorado are getting bigger in size and population. Climate change may be the reason. Robert Siegel talks to UCLA marmot scientist Dan Blumstein.
• GOP Senators Stall For Time As Elections Near
  With hopes for big gains in this year's midterm elections, Senate Republicans appear to have settled on a strategy of both running out the clock and forcing votes that put vulnerable Democrats in a tight spot.
• Massey Floats New Theory For Cause Of Mine Blast
  Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship spoke at the National Press Club in Washington on Thursday as his company floated a new theory for the cause of the April 5th explosion that killed 29 mine workers. The theory appears to be the latest attempt by the company to deflect criticism of its own safety practices.
• China Complicates North-South Korea Tensions
  On Sunday, the U.S. and South Korea will launch large-scale military exercises designed to send a signal to North Korea in response to its attack on a South Korean naval vessel in March. The two countries have been slow to respond -- in part because of pressure from China.
• Beijing Finds Common Cause With Chinese Buddhists
  In recent years, China's communist government has taken a new, proactive approach to religion. In particular, it has bolstered support for Buddhism, which provides needed charity work and financial aid — and also serves as a counterweight to the explosion of Christianity in China.
• Letters: The Firing Of Shirley Sherrod
  Robert Siegel and Michele Norris read from listeners' e-mails about our coverage of the fallout from the firing of former USDA official Shirley Sherrod.
• Schleck Takes Stage Of Tour De France
  The riders in the Tour de France climbed to one of its highest stages on Thursday, as the competition reached its climax. Andy Schleck won the stage, but crossed the line nearly shoulder to shoulder with defending champion Alberto Contador. The race ends this Sunday in Paris.
• A Driverless Car Race From Rome To Shanghai
  Next week, a group of Italian researchers begin a bold auto experiment. It's an 8,000-mile road trip from Rome to Shanghai, featuring two driverless cars. Robert Siegel talks to the projects director, Professor Alberto Broggi of the University of Parma.

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