Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• House passes bill requiring age-appropriate sex education
  The Minnesota House has approved legislation establishing a sex education requirement for all public school districts.7:20 a.m.
• Spring brings utility disconnections for thousands
  As April draws to a close, Minnesotans usually think about turning off their furnaces and radiators for the season. But in many cases, utility companies are doing it for them.7:25 a.m.
• Court ruling renews calls for tougher voter ID laws
  A U.S. Supreme Court ruling Monday has renewed calls for toughening voter ID requirements in Minnesota.7:50 a.m.
• Is there really a link between video games and violence?
  The video game Grand Theft Auto IV is now available in stores. Bob Collins, the author of Minnesota Public Radio's News Cut blog, raises some questions about the link between video games and violence.7:55 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Bush Calls on Congress to Act on Economy, Energy
  Speaking at a White House news conference Tuesday, the president says Congress has blocked his solutions to the nation's economic and energy problems.
• South Korean Scientists Clone Drug-Sniffing Dog
  A Labrador retriever named Chase, South Korea's top drug sniffer, may soon be able to do much more work. Chase now has seven genetically identical twins, born late last year.
• 'Grand Theft Auto 4' Arrives in Stores
  The latest installment of the incredibly successful video game enterprise Grand Theft Auto goes on sale Tuesday. Many retailers opened their doors at midnight so those who couldn't wait to start sowing some virtual mayhem could get started early.
• Airline Ticket Costs Up 10 Percent Over Last Year
  The average cost of airline tickets was up more than 10 percent in March, compared with the same month a year ago. Airlines usually have a lot of trouble making fare increases stick — but not this time. Airlines say they have no choice but to raise prices and other fees.
• Efforts to Ban Toys in Iran, Free Drinks in Tenn.
  Iran's top prosecutor is warning against Western toys. He says Iran's culture is threatened by a flood of products related to Barbie, Batman, Spider-Man and Harry Potter. In Tennessee, lawmakers tried to head off a different kind of danger; they proposed banning free alcohol at receptions for themselves.
• Beloved Gator's Body and Insides Go on Display
  Oscar the alligator charmed generations of tourists at the Okefenokee Swamp Park — and will continue to be an attraction after his death. His skeleton will soon go on display at a museum, along with some of the things found inside him: a dog collar and tags, some spare change and part of a flagpole.
• Federal Reserve Meets; Interest Rate Cut Expected
  The Federal Reserve on Tuesday begins two days of meetings that are expected to lead to a further cut in interest rates. David Wessel, an economics editor at the Wall Street Journal, believes the Fed is growing increasingly concerned about inflation.
• Thai Man Charged with Insulting King
  A 27-year-old Thai man who refused to stand when the royal anthem was played in a movie theater has been charged with offending the dignity of Thailand's king. The man says nothing in the Thai constitution requires him to stand. The crime is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
• Teen Megastar Faces Criticism over Magazine Cover
  Fifteen-year-old Miley Cyrus — better known as Hannah Montana — is the undisputed queen of all squeaky-clean tween media. But an upcoming feature in Vanity Fair magazine that includes a photo of her topless, clutching a satin sheet to her chest, has disappointed a lot of her young fans.
• Supreme Court Upholds Indiana's Voter ID Law
  The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that states can require voters to show identity cards, rejecting arguments that this amounts to an unconstitutional burden, especially on the elderly and minority groups.
• Analysis: Rev. Wright's Comments on 'Black Church'
  The Rev. Jeremiah Wright told the National Press Club that attacks on him are really attacks on the black church. Earlier comments about race and the Sept. 11 attacks by Barack Obama's former pastor have caused controversy for the presidential campaign.
• GM Cuts Jobs amid Slow Truck, SUV Sales
  Flagging demand for full-size pickups and SUVs has forced General Motors to cut back on planned production.
• More Than 200 Injured as Tornadoes Blast Virginia
  A series of tornados ripped across southeastern Virginia on Monday, damaging scores of homes and businesses and injuring more than 200 people. Hosts Renee Montagne and Steve Inskeep report on the scene around Suffolk, Va.
• Bill Lets Fla. Schools Teach Evolution Alternatives
  Florida's House joins the Senate in passing legislation that would allow — or require — teachers to present alternate theories of how life evolved. Proponents say the issue is academic freedom. But critics say the bills would introduce religion into public schools.
• Saddam Official Tariq Aziz on Trial for Mass Killings
  Former Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz is set to go to court Tuesday over the execution of dozens of merchants in 1992. Aziz also served as foreign minister in Saddam Hussein's government.

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