Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Deal reached on reducing mercury emissions
  Minnesota lawmakers announced they have reached an agreement on a plan to drastically reduce mercury emissions at the state's largest coal-fired power plants.6:25 a.m.
• New Wellstone community center opens in St. Paul
  Immigrants and immigration reform are hot topics at the state Capitol and in Washington. Immigration is always the topic at Neighborhood House, a St. Paul community center providing services for the growing numbers of immigrants and refugees in the metro area.6:50 a.m.
• Wet weekend ahead
  Cathy Wurzer talked with University of Minnesota Climatologist Mark Seeley about the rainy weekend ahead.6:55 a.m.
• Senate committee throws curveballs at stadium plans
  The prospect for ballparks and stadiums got a bit murkier as the main action has moved from the Minnesota House to the Senate. A key Senate committee Thursday began addressing funding requests for the Twins, the Vikings and the University of Minnesota, taking a substantially different approach to the stadium situation than the House.7:20 a.m.
• Singleton brings message of optimism to Pioneer Press staff
  St. Paul Pioneer Press staff met their new boss Thursday. Dean Singleton, head of the Denver based MediaNews Group, is buying the paper from the McClatchy Co. Singleton has a reputation as a tough businessman who doesn't like to spend a lot, but he did his best to dispel some of those worries.7:25 a.m.
• "Camp Out" at the International Film Festival
  A locally-produced documentary explores the first Bible camp for gay, Christian youths.7:50 a.m.
• Teen musicians face off in groups of four
  String quartet competitions for high school students are rare. Organizers of the first St. Paul String Quartet Competition are introducing the idea to the Twin Cities and hope the competition will become an annual event.7:55 a.m.
• Minneapolis Schools researcher disappointed in tutoring program
  A Minneapolis Public Schools researcher is disappointed by the results of an after-school tutoring service. Researcher David Heistad says students didn't show significant gains in reading after undergoing tutoring offered through Catapult Learning. Minneapolis Schools hired the company, which used to be known as Sylvan Learning, in an effort to comply with No Child Left Behind. Cathy Wurzer talked with Sarah Snapp who coordinates programs under No Child Left Behind for Minneapolis Public Schools.8:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• American Apparel, an Immigrant Success Story
  The debate over immigration has been dominated by politicians, pundits, and activists with differing viewpoints -- we hear from the owner of an L.A.-based garment factory owner who employs 3,800 workers, most of them immigrants.
• When Soldiers Deploy, Fort Stewart Stores Struggle
  It's hard not to notice when 18,000 people pick up and leave town all at once. Each time the soldiers at Fort Stewart are deployed, the residents of Hinesville, Ga., feel the absence keenly.
• Healing Music in New Orleans Festival's Gospel Tent
  On Friday morning, New Orleans kicks off its first jazz festival since Hurricane Katrina. This year, the Jazz & Heritage Festival has adopted the motto "Witness the Healing Power of Music." Nowhere will this be more evident than in the festival's Gospel Tent.
• Two Heisman Winners Highlight NFL Draft
  Steve Inskeep talks to John Feinstein about the NFL draft that takes place on Saturday at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
• U.S.'s Cultural Ignorance Fuels Iraq Insurgency
  The U.S. military's lack of cultural understanding of Iraq helped create the conditions for the insurgency there, according to a military adviser who has written a new book on the insurgency.
• Events of 'United 93' Terrifying on Screen
  United 93, a movie about passengers who fought for control of a hijacked plane on Sept. 11, is hard to get out of your mind, no matter how hard you try, according to Los Angeles Times and Morning Edition film critic Kenneth Turan.
• Washington Haggles over Drug Plan Changes
  The push is on around the country to get seniors to enroll in the new Medicare drug plan, with just two weeks to go before the May 15 deadline. Congress and the Bush administration are fighting over what kind of changes, if any, need to be made to the program.
• Russia Plans Nuclear Power Expansion
  Russia says it will double its nuclear energy capabilities in the next 25 years. The Kremlin promises the country's nuclear industry is safe. But experts argue that it is alarmingly dangerous and on the verge of collapse.
• Azerbaijan President Visits Washington
  Ilham Aliyev, president of Azerbaijan, visits President Bush at the White House. Aliyev became president of the oil-producing nation in 2003 after elections that observers called flawed. He's also accused of corruption.
• Oil Industry Enjoys Era of High Profits
  High oil prices are leading to record earnings at companies like Exxon Mobil, which reported a first-quarter profit of $8.4 billion. Energy analyst John Olson talks with Steve Inskeep about where oil companies are spending their profits.
• Gas Prices Drive Some to Reconsider Habits
  As gas prices soar to $3 per gallon, many Americans are beginning to examine their driving habits and make minor adjustments. Many drivers say they may be forced to make more drastic changes to how they work and play if prices go higher.
• 'Welcome to the Army': A Couple Adjusts
  For Tom and Lauren Nelson, being married has been a thrill. But it has also brought challenges. The couple's military wedding was wonderful, they say -- even if the service ended with Lauren being smacked on her rear with a flat sword and told, "Welcome to the Army, ma'am."
• Media Reports Fail to Portray Real Durham
  Commentator Minnie Forte is a member of the Durham school board, and an instructor at North Carolina Central University. Now that her town is in the spotlight, she says its true colors don't always show through in media reports.
• Lobbying Reform Bill Won't Ban Gifts
  A measure is before Congress that House Republicans hope will scrub their image after the scandals of lobbyist Jack Abramoff and Congressman Randy Duke Cunningham. But the bill will still let lobbyists give lawmakers gifts, and even jobs after their term is up.
• Bank Robber Outsmarted by Bank Employee
  So how does a bank robber get locked up before pulling the heist? Just ask Mark King. Police say he pulled a gun on a bank employee arriving early to work at a bank near Los Angeles. He demanded she open the safe. She replied that she needed help from an employee who hadn't arrived yet. So King told her to wait outside and "act normal." Once she got outside, she did act normal: she locked the bandit in the bank.

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