Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Twin Cities charter school boosts reading scores for English language learners
  The reading test scores at Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy are among the highest in the state.6:49 a.m.
• The corpse flower blooms (and stinks)
  It's 5 feet 3 inches tall, well over 100 pounds and smells like rotting meat. It's the corpse flower, a rare, southeast Asian plant. Thirteen years ago, a professor at Gustavus Adolphus in St. Peter planted its seeds and the plant finally bloomed this weekend.6:54 a.m.
• Wind causes more concerns along Gunflint Trail
  Strong winds created some spectacular fire on Sunday on the Ham Lake fire, burning near the Gunflint Trail. But fire officials say they were able to keep the flames from reaching homes and resorts on Gunflint and Loon Lakes.7:20 a.m.
• One week left and much to do at the Capitol
  DFL leaders of both the House and Senate still have yet to agree with GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty on budget and tax bills. MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with Minnesota Public Radio Capitol reporter Tom Scheck about what's next at the Capitol.7:24 a.m.
• MPR Poll: Don't send more troops, bring them home
  A new Minnesota Public Radio news poll shows most Minnesotans support an October 1 deadline for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq. Most also oppose the president's plan to send more troops to Iraq.7:41 a.m.
• Even with new legislation, foreclosure crisis will continue
  Bills addressing the mortgage foreclosure crisis will become Minnesota law August 1.7:50 a.m.
• 'Last call' for smokers
  Some bar owners are worried about a loss of business, but others say it won't be much of a problem.7:55 a.m.
• Private equity firm to buy Chrysler
  Minnesota Public Radio chief economics correspondemnt Chris Farrell spoke with MPR's Cathy Wurzer about a private equity firm buying Chrysler. He also talks about why the stock market continues to go up.8:24 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Cambodia Writes First History of Khmer Rouge
  A new history project helps Cambodia take a tiny step toward confronting the murderous four-year reign of the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s. As many as 2 million people died, but the era is barely mentioned in school textbooks.
• Former Ameriquest Workers Tell of Deception
  Some former employees of the nation's leading subprime lender say the company encouraged them to conceal rate terms and make fake fixed-loan documents that pushed customers into loans they couldn't afford.
• Missile Defense Strains U.S.-Russia Relations
  Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in Moscow for a two-day visit to repair the United States' fraying relationship with Russia. The countries will discuss Russia's objections to a U.S.-led missile defense system for Eastern Europe.
• GOP Support for Bush Iraq Plan Still Eroding
  Republicans are supporting the war in Iraq but not President Bush's prosecution of it. Republican lawmakers recently met with the president to emphasize that the war is hurting the party and that they need some sign of progress.
• For U.S. Automakers, A Tough 30 Years
  Chrysler's struggles reflect the change in the U.S. auto market over three decades. In 1977, General Motors owned more than half the entire U.S. market and the best-selling car in America was an Oldsmobile. Now, the best selling car in the U.S. is a Toyota Camry sedan.
• Rings Resurface in Wreckage of Kansas Tornado
  Emma Faye Hargadine survived the tornado that destroyed Greensburg, Kan., but lost two rings precious to her. But family members used a garden rake to pick through the debris ... and they found the rings.
• DaimlerChrysler Cuts Deal to Sell Chrysler Group
  The German auto giant DaimlerChrysler will sell a controlling stake of the struggling Chrysler Group for $7.4 billion. The buyer is a private-equity firm, Cerberus Capital Management. DaimlerChrysler will keep a 19.9 percent stake in the new Chrysler Holding LLC.
• Serbian Singer Wins Eurovision Song Contest
  Americans may not know her, but elsewhere in the world, 100 million people watched her on TV. Marija Serifovic won this year's Eurovision Song contest winner, a precursor to American Idol that has been around since 1956.
• Illinois Program Seeks to Boost G.I. Homeowners
  A new program in Illinois is designed to help more veterans and active duty military personnel become homeowners.
• Cyclist Landis Gets Hearing in Doping Case
  Tour de France champion Floyd Landis has waged an aggressive PR campaign to keep his title after drug tests showed that he had taken banned drugs during last year's race. Landis will get a chance to appeal the test results in a hearing at Pepperdine University in California.
• Debate over Immigration Policy at an Impasse
  After months of negotiations, Congress appears no closer to a consensus on an overhaul of immigration policy. But competing interests are starting to agree that leaving the dysfunctional system unchanged for now might not be the worst idea.
• Rift Appears Among Iraq Insurgent Groups
  Three major Sunni insurgent groups have officially broken with al-Qaida in Iraq and its other allies. A new umbrella group called the Reformation and Jihad Front is no friend to the U.S. goal of democracy in Iraq. But analysts say it may represent the most significant setback yet for al-Qaida in Iraq.
• Spanish Immigration Ploy: Hire Mothers
  Farmers in Spain need a cheap pool of labor to help pick its produce. But they're also concerned that migrant workers may decide to stay in the country illegally. One town's answer: hire mothers who will want to return to their children.
• Navy Lawyer on Trial for Leaking Info
  Matthew Diaz, a Navy lawyer, goes on trial to face charges of leaking the names of Guantanamo detainees to a civilian human rights attorney. Diaz could get 36 years in prison if convicted for leaking the classified information.
• Networks Programming Showcase for Advertisers
  Networks and advertisers are making the rounds. Called upfronts, these annual meetings are where networks present their new fall line up to advertisers and the press. And the networks are in a weak position.

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