Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Ralph Arlyck is "Following Sean"
  In 1969, documantarian Ralph Arlyck caused controversy with a short film about a 4 year old boy who said he smoked pot. Thirty-five years later, Arlyck returned to find out what had happened to the boy. The result is a new film, "Following Sean."6:50 a.m.
• 'The Burn Journals:' To the brink of suicide and back
  When Brent Runyon was just 14, he soaked his bathrobe in gasoline, stepped into the tub and set himself on fire. The story of his suicide attempt, his painful recovery and self-discovery is told in his memoir "The Burn Journals," the latest selection in the Talking Volumes regional book club.6:55 a.m.
• GOP files ethics complaint against Dean Johnson
  Republican state senators filed an ethics complaint Wednesday against Democratic Majority Leader Dean Johnson, assuring the controversy over his gay marriage comments won't fade anytime soon.7:20 a.m.
• Amending state constitution is not uncommon
  A proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages and civil unions is one of several consitutional amendments under consideration at the Legislature this year. To better understand the amendment process, we talked with Fred Morrison, a professor of law at the University of Minnesota.7:25 a.m.
• Taking Legal Aid on the road to Hennepin County Medical Center
  Legal aid lawyers have opened a clinic at the Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) to help those who need legal assistance. The idea is that people who are at HCMC probably have more than a few emergencies in their lives and could use some help navigating the legal system.7:50 a.m.
• Many candidates want to replace Rep. Martin Sabo
  The field is already crowded with candidates vying to replace U.S. Representative Martin Sabo. DLFer David Brauer, a longtime observer of Minneapolis politics, discusses the race.7:55 a.m.
• Minnesota Opera's next season includes "Grapes of Wrath"
  The Minnesota Opera's upcoming season will include a production of "The Grapes of Wrath," an adaptation of John Steinbeck's novel set during the Great Depression. Altogether, the Opera will perform five productions, ranging from the classical period of Mozart to the present day.8:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Film Revives Cowboy's Matchmaking Business
  In Casas Grandes, Mexico, lives one of the great characters of the borderlands -- an old horse trainer who arranges marriages between lonely American men and willing Mexican women. He's now the subject of a documentary film called Cowboy del Amor.
• Rules Weighed for Online Political Campaigning
  Congress and the Federal Election Commission are considering new regulations to govern campaigning on the Internet. Some say the Internet is the last bastion of free speech and unfettered democracy in political fundraising. Others says it's only a matter of time before those blocked from direct involvement in elections set up shop on the Internet.
• David Seymour's 'Reflections From The Heart'
  David Seymour chronicled wars and the lives they shattered from the 1930s to 1950s. He took pictures from his heart. And the photog who went by the nickname Chim somehow found a way to get close enough to capture the spirit of his subjects.
• Colombian Rebels Indicted by U.S. on Drug Charges
  The largest drug trafficking indictment in United States history charges 50 leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia -- a rebel group known as FARC -- with exporting more than $25 billion worth of cocaine to the U.S. and other countries. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said three of the top FARC leaders named in the indictment are in custody in Colombia, and that the U.S. has begun extradition proceedings.
• Biggest SUVs May Face Fuel Economy Standards
  The Bush administration is considering a requirement that some of the biggest SUVs meet fuel economy standards for the first time. Vehicles weighing between 8,500 and 10,000 pounds have been exempt from the standards. If regulators change the rules, automakers would likely have until 2011 to meet the new targets.
• Peace Group Grateful for Rescue of Iraq Hostages
  The rescue of three Christian peace activists held hostage since last November comes as an enormous relief to their colleagues. Renee Montagne talks to Anita David, a member of Christian Peacemaker Teams in Baghdad.
• Workers Skeptical of GM Buyout Offer
  General Motors and Delphi, its former subsidiary, will offer early retirement and buy-out packages to more than 100,000 workers. In a deal negotiated with the United Auto Workers union, GM will offer incentives ranging from $35,000 to $140,000 each. While some workers said they were waiting to see the details, many said they doubted the package was attractive enough to induce them to retire. Jerome Vaughn of Detroit Public Radio reports.
• FDA Committees Disagree on ADHD Drug Warnings
  Drugs to treat attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder prompt continued debate. An advisory committee to the Food and Drug Administration has recommended "black box" warnings for all, but a second panel, made up mostly of child psychiatrists and pediatricians, says the dangers do not merit such a warning.
• ETA Bows to Changed Political Landscape with Cease-fire
  The Basque separatist group ETA bows to a changing political landscape in Spain -- where political solutions have become more effective than violent solutions -- and announces a permanent cease-fire. The announcement apparently ends a decades-long campaign of violence against the government in Madrid. Renee Montagne talks to reporter Jerome Socolovsky.
• U.S. Weapons Sanctions Against Iran Draw Mixed Reviews
  The Bush administration has relied on sanctions in its efforts to block foreign companies from selling anything to Iran that could be used to develop nuclear or chemical weapons. Many critics question whether such sanctions are effective, and some say they're actually counterproductive.
• Medical Charity Care Losing Ground in U.S.
  Americans are getting less charity care from doctors. The number of physicians providing charity care has remained relatively stable. But the number of uninsured people has gone up over the past decade.
• Chicken Stuffing is Million-Dollar Idea
  Anna Ginsberg had no idea when she tried using frozen waffles as stuffing for chicken that she'd get a million dollars for the recipe. The Austin, Texas, woman says she's still shocked that her name was called out as this year's Pillsbury Bake-Off winner.
• Mid-Majors Make Their Mark on NCAA Tournament
  The Sweet Sixteen round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament is here. The tournament, so far, has been filled with upsets by schools such as George Mason, Bradley and Wichita State. Jonathan Ahl of member station WCBU reports.
• Russia in the Middle of Stalled U.N.-Iran Nuclear Talks
  Olga Oliker, senior international policy analyst at the RAND Corporation, talks with Renee Montagne about Russia's role in the stalled United Nations talks on Iran's nuclear enrichment program.
• Iranians Want Nuclear Power and U.S. Relations
  Behzad Yaghmaian talks with Renee Montagne about the competing factions in Iranian politics. The majority of Iranians support the government's call for nuclear energy. But, at the same time, many support a normalized relationship with the United States. Yaghmaian is the author of Social Change in Iran: An Eyewitness Account of Dissent, Defiance, and New Movements for Rights.

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