Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Charter school's religious activities focus of state investigation
  State education officials say they're investigating claims that a publicly-funded Inver Grove Heights charter school is offering religious instruction to students in violation of the law. Tarek ibn Zayad Academy in Inver Grove Heights focuses on Middle Eastern culture.6:50 a.m.
• The metaphorical piano
  Using a mix of drama, dance, clowning and classical music, a new theatrical production tells the story of a lonely piano tuner whose unfulfilled dreams get caught up in a family that's falling apart.6:55 a.m.
• Passage of health care reform legislation still possible, supporters say
  Health care reform legislation still faces big hurdles at the Legislature.7:20 a.m.
• People hampered by criminal records looking to Minn. Supreme Court
  A case scheduled for arguments next month at the Capitol affects anyone who's been arrested or convicted of a crime.7:50 a.m.
• A year later, Willmar still feels effects of immigration raids
  One year ago today, federal immigration agents began a four-day, house-to-house operation in Willmar, detaining 49 illegal immigrants.7:55 a.m.
• Governor's veto pen hurts some arts organizations
  A handful of arts and cultural organizations in Minnesota are facing a future without money from this year's bonding bill at the State Capitol. Gov. Tim Pawlenty used his line-item veto earlier this week to take out several arts and cultural projects. Morning Edition arts commentator and St. Paul Pioneer Press theater critic Dominic Papatola discusses the possible effects of those line-item vetoes.8:25 a.m.
• Rare corpse flower blooming at Como Park's conservatory
  The conservatory in St. Paul's Como Park smells like rotting flesh this morning. That's because a rare plant called the Amorphophallus titanum, or the Corpse Flower, is in bloom. Morning Edition host Perry Finelli talked with Margaret Yaekel-Twum, a horticulturist at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Como Park.8:40 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Breaking Iraqis of Dependence on U.S. Funding
  When the U.S. invaded Iraq, the Bush administration promised that Iraqi oil profits would pay for reconstruction. Instead, five years and billions of American taxpayer dollars later, the U.S. is still funding projects that should be the purview of the Iraqi government.
• GI Bill Proposal Expands College Benefits for Vets
  World War II veterans knew they could attend any college in the country, courtesy of the government. Iraq war veterans, however, must pay for most of the expenses themselves. A new bill aiming to change that is gaining traction everywhere but at the Pentagon.
• Rice-Producing Nations Cut Exports amid Shortage
  Growing demand and poor harvests are causing a severe shortage of rice in Asia and elsewhere. Where rice is available, prices are high. Rice-producing countries, such as India and China, have limited exports to assure adequate supplies at home.
• Toilet Rage, Custom Tags Prompt 'Muzzle' Awards
  Advocates of free speech gave their annual awards to people who seem to block it. A "Muzzle" award goes to New York state's Department of Motor Vehicles and to the Scranton, Pa., police.
• 'Baywatch' Beats Out 'Bad Influence' Bart Simpson
  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez deemed the American cartoon The Simpsons "a bad influence on children," and the country's TV regulator forced it from the morning lineup. The replacement? Reruns of Baywatch Hawaii — so kids will now be able to watch voluptuous gals cavorting on the beach.
• Assessing Iraq's Security Forces
  The top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, emphasized the growth of Iraq's security forces in his opening statement to a House committee Wednesday. Ex-assistant secretary of defense Bing West, who has been visiting Iraq since the start of the war, weighs in.
• White House, Congress Bring Housing Fixes to Table
  In Washington on Thursday, lawmakers are holding more hearings on legislation to aid distressed homeowners. Congress is considering several bills to help stem rising foreclosures. The Bush administration Wednesday proposed expanding a Federal Housing Administration program.
• American Airlines Cancels 900 More Flights
  American Airlines grounded 900 flights Thursday to inspect the wiring in the wheel wells. It's the latest in a string of cancellations since the Federal Aviation Administrative began a sweeping audit of all U.S. carriers.
• Oil Prices Hit Another Record High
  Oil prices have climbed to another record: $112 a barrel. The price was pushed up in a frenzy after a government report Wednesday showed an unexpected drop in inventories of crude oil. The steady rise in fuel costs is a key reason for troubles in other industries.
• Pacific Salmon Fishery Faces Limits, Closure
  The Pacific Fishery Management Council meets Thursday in Seattle to decide whether to limit or totally ban fishing off the Pacific Coast. Stocks of chinook salmon have fallen off the charts — and regulators are worried about further declines.
• N.C. Man Wins $100,000 Fantasy Fishing Prize
  Reginald Pickett of North Carolina won $100,000 in a fantasy fishing tournament. Fantasy fishing is like other online fantasy sports: you don't play it on the computer. The competition comes from choosing the best players — real professional anglers.
• Protests Boost Chinese Torchbearers' Resolve
  The Olympic torch relay was supposed to be a victory lap, showcasing China's peaceful emergence on the world stage. Instead, it has become a public relations disaster for the government, pitting protesters critical of Beijing's human rights record against China's loyal citizens.
• All Eyes Are on Tiger as Masters Tournament Starts
  Tiger Woods is again a favorite to win the Masters tournament in Augusta, Ga. With an improved game, Commentator John Feinstein says, Woods is better and more intimidating than ever.
• Protests Keep Fans From Seeing Olympic Torch
  San Francisco's moment of Olympic torch glory was marred Tuesday by security concerns. Instead of running the streets of downtown among cheering crowds, torchbearers were part of a hide-and-seek game as city officials tried to avoid a repeat of disruptions in London and Paris by anti-China protests.
• Police Comb Polygamist Ranch After Girls' Removal
  More than 400 girls and women were taken from a polygamist compound in West Texas after multiple phone calls from a 16-year-old girl to a family shelter in San Angelo. Three people have been arrested at the ranch, two for interfering with police and one for destroying evidence.

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