Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Art centers help more than artists
  Many Minnesota cities take pride in their local arts centers. But what good do they really do? A new Humphrey Institute report says they not only offer crucial help to artists, they can even help revitalize neighborhoods and communities.6:50 a.m.
• Marine from Superior, Wis. killed in Iraq
  A Marine from Superior, Wisconsin, with only 15 days of active combat duty left in Iraq was killed by a roadside bomb there. Adam VanAlstine, 21, was killed Saturday in Ramadi outside of Baghdad, according to his sister.7:20 a.m.
• A burning hot new market for corn farmers
  Some corn farmers can't keep up with the demand to dry their corn for use in corn stoves. Such stoves won't ever replace ADM as a global corn market, but they are bringing money into farmers' pockets in a new way.7:50 a.m.
• Should birds be vaccinated against the flu?
  France has begun vaccinating more than 300-thousand geese and ducks against avian flu. French officials hope the vaccination program will help convince other countries to continue accepting its poultry products. Still, some countries, including Japan, have indicated that they won't accept meat from vaccinated animals because of possible health risks. Dr. David Halverson is a professor and extension veterinarian in avian health at the University of Minnesota. He discusses the pros and cons of vaccinating birds to prevent the spread of H5N1 bird flu.8:24 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• 'Old Hawaiian' Life Fading with Loss of Maui School
  The last one-room school in the state of Hawaii closed in 2005, just a few weeks before the school year began. There had been a school in the village of Ke'anae, on the north coast of Maui, for 96 years.
• Listeners' Letters About Danny Perasa
  Danny Perasa died last week after fighting pancreatic cancer for months. Morning Edition first met Danny and his wife Annie two years ago when they interviewed each other for StoryCorps. Danny Perasa will be buried today. Steve Inskeep and Renee Montagne read from listeners' letters.
• Coast Guard Report Aired Concerns on Ports Deal
  The political turmoil continues on Capitol Hill over the operational takeover of some U.S. port facilities by a Dubai-based firm. In a Senate briefing on Monday, lawmakers asked about a Coast Guard evaluation from last year that raised security concerns about the deal.
• Lundi Gras Revives New Orleans' Cheer
  It's been six months since Hurricane Katrina swept ashore. Tourists have returned to New Orleans and some have discovered that Lundi Gras, or Fat Monday, can be as much fun as Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday.
• Coast Guard Leads Post-Katrina Salvage Effort
  The Coast Guard is overseeing efforts to salvage more than 2,000 boats that were damaged or sank during Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. It's a huge and expensive operation.
• U.S. Works to Add Allies in War on Terrorism
  Although the Bush administration is known as unilateralist in some circles, it is reaching out to other nations for help in fighting the war on terrorism. The new emphasis on international cooperation comes at a time when the United States is stretched militarily, economically and diplomatically because of the prolonged war in Iraq.
• Utility's 'Voltage Reduction' Plan Saves Energy
  A Washington state public utility is using "voltage reduction" to save energy, and light bulbs. By sending lower voltage down the lines, less power is used.
• Senate Probe Raises Questions About Red Cross
  A Senate investigation of the American Red Cross has resulted in the release of thousands of pages of internal documents. They show that even volunteers, board members and staff are concerned about how the organization is managed. The documents question the group's response to Katrina and how it spent its money.
• Vermont Challenges Tie Between Speech, Spending
  The Supreme Court considers a challenge to a Vermont law that would overturn three decades of federal campaign finance law. Current precedent limits the amount of money individual donors can give candidates, but not the amount candidates can spend in a campaign. Vermont wants to set spending limits on gubernatorial candidates.
• U.S. at a Crossroads in Response to Darfur Conflict
  The United States ambassador to the United Nations says he's hoping the Security Council will move quickly to impose targeted sanctions on people linked to atrocities in Darfur, Sudan. John Bolton says this is a case of say what you mean and mean what you say. But the U.S. hasn't kept its own pledge to sanction militia leaders in Darfur. Michele Kelemen reports.
• Mexico Confronts History of Government's 'Dirty War'
  A leaked draft of a Mexican government report accuses former presidents of planning and carrying out an anti-insurgency campaign from the 1960s to the 1980s. According to the report, soldiers carried out summary executions, raped women and set entire villages on fire.
• Vietnamese Refugees Finish Long Journey to U.S.
  More than 15 years ago, the United States government changed the rules on Vietnamese who were fleeing their country. Many got stranded in the Philippines while their refugee status was being reviewed. Now, the last of the Vietnamese who have been living in limbo are heading for the U.S.
• Dubai Reacts to Ports Deal Controversy
  The controversy over the takeover of operations at some U.S. ports by the state-owned Dubai Ports World has made few headlines in Dubai. In private, business and political leaders in the sheikdom say it smacks of racism and hypocrisy, and may discourage future investment in the United States.
• Foreign Investors Seek Safety for their Money
  Monty Graham, senior fellow at the Institute for International Economics, talks with Steve Inskeep about foreign investment and national security. Graham says legitimate foreign firms will make every effort to protect American assets because anything else would be bad for business.
• Anna Nicole Smith Case Reaches Supreme Court
  The Supreme Court hears a case involving celebrity Anna Nicole Smith and millions of dollars. She is attempting to establish her claim to part of her late husband's estate.

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