Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• U.S. Senate candidates go country at Farmfest
  The candidates for Minnesota's U.S. Senate seat sparred over agriculture policy today at Farmfest near Redwood Falls. Republican Mark Kennedy and Democrat Amy Klobuchar both said it may be a good idea to extend current federal agriculture programs instead of writing a new farm bill next year. They disagreed over which one is the true friend of the farmer.5:20 p.m.
• Task force assesses drought situation
  Rain has been falling in parts of the state, and it's helping, but it isn't enough yet to quench the state's drought. At a meeting Tuesday of the State Drought Task Force, members concluded that, despite the recent precipitation, not much has changed across the state in the past two weeks.5:23 p.m.
• How chaotic would CHAOS be for Northwest?
  Northwest Airlines flight attendants have set the clock ticking toward a possible strike, one day after union members rejected a negotiated package of pay and benefit cuts. The union says on Aug. 15 its members will begin a strategy of intermittent work stoppages, called CHAOS, designed to confuse airline management, and lead travelers to book elsewhere.5:48 p.m.
• Honeycrisp apple joins the list of Minnesota state symbols
  The popular Honeycrisp apple today takes its place on the list of official Minnesota state symbols.5:50 p.m.
• Dr. Jon Hallberg on sports doping
  Tour de France champion Floyd Landis is expected to learn the results of his "B" sample doping test Saturday. If the sample confirms the positive result of his first test, Landis could be stripped of his title and banned from the sport for two years.6:20 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Porches Knit Together New Urbanist Communities
  New Urbanism advocates communities with small-town-like layouts that encourage walking and decrease reliance on cars. The front porch, which had gone out of vogue after World War II, has played a key role in fostering community in such developments.
• Tweens and Media: What's Too Adult?
  From ads to music, the airwaves and circuits are filled with messages and images about sex. Tweens -- kids roughly between the age of 8 and 12 -- are especially vulnerable to these suggestions, since they are what marketers call "age aspirational."
• Fierce Fighting Marks Mideast Conflict
  Thousands of Israeli ground forces pouring into southern Lebanon are meeting strong resistance from Hezbollah guerrillas. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says an immediate cease fire is not in Israel's best interest.
• Christian Village Caught in the Crossfire
  Christians in the southern Lebanese village of Ein Abel are trapped between combatants Israel and Hezbollah. Guerrillas have fired rockets from just outside the village, drawing Israeli return fire. Parts of Ein Abel are in ruins.
• Syria, Iran Wild Cards in Mideast Diplomacy
  A "marriage of convenience" between Syria and Iran is likely to complicate diplomatic efforts to halt fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Many observers feel there can be no peace deal without Iran and Syria's consent.
• Fidel or Raul? Simmering Debate Nears a Boil
  Raul Castro, 75, now holds power in Cuba as older brother Fidel Castro recovers from surgery. The development has intensified power struggles in Havana between two sets of loyalists: Fidelistas and Raulistas.
• 'Cuba Is Right There for Me'
  For many who fled Castro's Cuba -- even those who were small children at the time -- the island nation still holds powerful memories decades later. One woman now living in Lexington, Mass., finds her thoughts turning often to a doll she left behind.
• Buy the House, Lease the Land
  Community land trusts allow first-time buyers to have a house while merely leasing the land it occupies. A trend familiar to towns such as Burlington, Vt., and Boulder, Colo., is spreading nationwide as big cities -- such as Seattle and Chicago -- try to hold on to middle-class homeowners.
• Ink Makes Boiling Eggs a 'Timeless' Process
  A special ink coating may allow boiled-egg lovers to toss out their timers. The ink reflects how fully the egg has been cooked: soft, medium or hard. Angie McGrandles of the British Egg Information service tells Melissa Block how it works.
• Castro's Move Stirs Speculation in Cuba
  How is Cuba reacting to President Fidel Castro's temporary absence from power? Gary Marx, foreign correspondent for Chicago Tribune offers his insights.

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