Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Festival reflects, returns Bolcom's big embrace
  VocalEssence is celebrating the wide-ranging creative output of composer William Bolcom with the two-week festival "Illuminating Bolcom." Artistic Director Philip Brunelle describes Bolcom as the quintessential American composer.6:50 a.m.
• Citizens' board gives 3M a victory in chemical controversy
  A citizen's board has postponed the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's request to declare the release of two 3M perfluorchemicals into the environment as hazardous substances.7:20 a.m.
• How Minnesota found its poetic voice
  For decades Minnesota poetry has been characterized by images like cornstalks and writers such as Robert Bly. But as a new poetry anthology shows, today's Minnesota poets mix diverse politics and heritage with prairie soil.7:25 a.m.
• Debate over dangerous dogs
  The Twin Cities has seen four serious animal attacks this month. Aggressive dog breeds tend to get the most blame and media attention, but there are many cases involving other breeds that don't get such publicity.8:38 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Earth-Like Planet Discovered in Libra
  A team of astronomers has discovered an Earth-like planet orbiting a red dwarf star 20.5 light-years away. It is the first planet outside of our solar system that could be home to liquid water — or maybe even life.
• Fall Classic of '47 a Favorite Halberstam Moment
  One of writer David Halberstam's favorite sports memories came from the 1947 World Series between the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers.
• Halberstam Brought Truth to Sports, Too
  The late writer David Halberstam earned most of his accolades with hard-hitting accounts of American political issues and institutions, but he also gave us great books on sports. He applied rigorous journalism to sports writing.
• Moroccan Village Funnels Suicide Bombers to Iraq
  Moroccan authorities believe the village of Tetuan has sent as many as 30 suicide bombers from the North African village to Iraq. Scott Atran, senior fellow at City University of New York's Center on Terrorism, briefed the National Security Council on the issue in March.
• Car-Rental Pioneer Avis Dies at 92
  Warren Avis, who founded Avis Rent-a-Car in 1946, has died at 92. Avis was the first car rental business to be located at an airport. Warren Avis, a pilot, came up with the idea when he couldn't find ground transportation once he landed. He sold the business in 1954 for $8 million.
• Apple's Jobs Clear of Stock-Options Scandal
  The Securities and Exchange Commission has filed fraud charges against two former officers of Apple Inc. They're accused of backdating stock options. It appears that Apple CEO Steve Jobs is in the clear.
• Dept. of Education Launches Student-Loan Probe
  A federal Department of Education task force will examine the relationship between lenders and college financial aid officers. College officials are accused of accepting kickbacks from companies that want to be on a list of preferred lenders.
• Checks Against Gun Purchases Miss Mentally Ill
  Federal law prohibits many people with mental illness from buying a gun. Their names are supposed to be stored by the FBI. But critics say the bureau's database is full of holes.
• Alabama Farmers Seek Relief for Crop Losses
  Farmers in Alabama lost up to $75 million in crops during the recent spring freeze. They're asking the federal government for help. But the relief is tied to the Iraq military spending bill which President Bush says he will veto.
• Fort Bragg Families Told of Iraq Deaths
  Officials at Fort Bragg, N.C., met Tuesday with the families of paratroopers killed a day earlier in Iraq. A truck bomb claimed the lives of nine members of the Army's elite 82nd Airborne Division, based at Fort Bragg.
• Hill Panel Probes Army's Story on Tillman, Lynch
  A House committee heard testimony Tuesday about why military officials gave misleading accounts of two high-profile incidents in Afghanistan and Iraq: the death by friendly fire of Army Ranger Pat Tillman and the capture and rescue of Army Spec. Jessica Lynch.
• FDA Broadens Probe of Tainted Pet Food
  The Food and Drug Administration is dramatically expanding its investigation into contaminated pet food, after some U.S. companies suggested the contamination was no accident. It also appears the contaminant involved — melamine — could reach human food.
• McCain Set to Make White House Run Official
  It might seem he has been running for some time, but Wednesday, Sen. John McCain of Arizona officially announces his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination. Republican political consultant Mike Murphy talks about McCain's prospects.
• High Court Takes Up Campaign-Ad Issue
  The Supreme Court hears arguments on whether certain political ads may be paid for by corporate money under the McCain-Feingold law. Groups who want to run the ads say their speech should not be restricted.
• Abortion Debate: The Abortion Rights View
  Following the Supreme Court's decision to ban the medical procedure known by some as partial-birth abortion, abortion opponents and advocates of a woman's right to choose are pondering their next moves. An advocate of a woman's right to choose offers insights on strategy.

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