Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• West Bank festival has Pan-African vision
  Organizers are developing the Twin Cities' first Pan-African cultural festival. "Afrifest" is designed to introduce Minnesota's African immigrants to each other and the larger population.6:50 a.m.
• Weather wonderings
  MPR's Cathy Wurzer talks with University of Minnesota climitologist Mark Seeley about some contrasting outlooks for summer weather.6:55 a.m.
• House speaker: Talks stuck in "neutral"
  With time running out in the regular legislative session Gov. Tim Pawlenty and legislative leaders will continue their closed-door meetings Friday.7:20 a.m.
• Sue Ahrendt's blog of fire
  Campers and paddlers from around the country have been keeping up with the Ham Lake fire by checking on outfitters' blogs.7:25 a.m.
• The latest trend in education: Unschooling
  Unschooling is an unstructured approach to education. Children don't have classes, text books or teachers. Instead they pick their own areas to study. They learn about the world by living in it.7:52 a.m.
• Parenting in public
  A new Minnesota Public Radio program called "How's the Family?" is about the families we're born into, the families we choose and, in the case of the debut broadcast, the families that are thrust upon us.8:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• British Prime Minister Tony Blair Defends Iraq War
  Outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair defends his decision to support the United States in the invasion of Iraq in an exclusive interview with NPR News. He adds that he believes the only way terrorism can be defeated is "not through force of arms, but through the force of ideas."
• State Dept. Sees Accomplishments in Iraq
  One year ago this week, the Iraqi Parliament, under the leadership of Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki, was sworn into office. While violence in the country has increased, David Satterfield, a senior advisor at the State Department, says commitments have been honored.
• Mavis Staples CD Celebrates Civil Rights
  The Staples Singers used to perform at Civil Rights rallies, but never recorded those songs. Mavis Staples has finally put much of that music on her new album, We'll Never Turn Back.
• Can Money Really Make You Happy?
  Americans' level of happiness is relatively stable. More money tends to make one happy for the short term. But after adapting to a situation, happiness tends to fade, says Wall Street Journal columnist Jonathan Clements.
• Sentiments of Barbaro Loom over Preakness
  The Preakness Stakes, the second jewel in horseracing's Triple Crown, will be run Saturday and remembrances of Barbaro are looming. Saturday marks a year since the Kentucky Derby winner shattered his leg while competing in the Preakness race and eventually was euthanized.
• Bernanke Pledges Crackdown on Subprime Mortgages
  The rising numbers of housing foreclosures and defaults due to subprime mortgages is weighing on the minds of economists. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke says that the Fed would do everything possible to crack down on abuses in the subprime mortgage market.
• Morehouse President Walter Masey to Retire
  Morehouse College President Walter Massey is set to speak to graduates for the final time this weekend. He's due to retire this summer after 12 years. The all-male, historically black college has such notable alumni as the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Spike Lee. Massey himself attended Morehouse, arriving when he was just 16.
• U.N. Envoy Sees Hope for Settlement in Darfur
  The United Nations' special envoy to Darfur sees some slight openings for a renewed peace process to end that four-year conflict. The challenge is getting the Sudanese government and rebel movements back to the negotiating table.
• Two Women Linked by a Special Gift: a Daughter
  Stacy Cooper was on her own in 1999, when she was pregnant. She didn't feel ready to raise a child. At the time, Karen Smith and her husband were looking to adopt. So, they agreed to an open adoption. The two recently recalled how the process began, and where they see the future going.
• Report: Spending on Judicial Elections Soaring
  A new report shows a dramatic increase in special interest money being spent on judicial elections. The nonpartisan group Justice at Stake says it found that business interests spend twice as much money on state high-court elections as all other groups combined, including lawyers.
• Landis Doping Hearing Takes Twist
  Former Tour de France champ Greg LeMond says he received threatening phone calls aimed at preventing his testimony at a hearing on doping allegations against American cyclist Floyd Landis. Also, LeMond says that he urged Landis in August to be truthful if he did use a banned substance.
• Words of Wisdom at Graduation
  Inspiring words will accompany the nation's youth as they move out into the world. Commencement season is here, and the rich and notable are at the lecturn. Media mogul Oprah Winfrey and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright were among them. Albright quizzed students about where leadership starts.
• Wolfowitz Agrees to Resign World Bank in June
  World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz agreed to leave his post next month, marking the first time in the bank's history that its president has had to resign. Wolfowitz, a former Bush administration official, had been under intense pressure to leave due to allegations that he arranged a promotion and generous pay raise for his girlfriend.
• NYC Mayor Sues Virginia Gun Shops
  New York City Michael Bloomberg blames Virginia for some of his city's violence. Bloomberg is suing six Virginia gun shops. He says people buy guns too easily there and ship them north. This week, gun enthusiasts responded in Annandale, Va. They had a drawing to give away free guns. One of the winners of the "Bloomberg Gun Giveaway" was asked what message he'd send the New York mayor. The man responded with an obscene gesture.
• Prozac the Most Widely Used Antidepressant
  Prozac, often called the "happy drug," is the most widely used antidepressant in history with 54 million prescriptions. This week, Prozac turns 20. These days, the drug is prescribed for a lot of conditions, ranging from obsessive-compulsive disorder to a mild case of the teenage blues. Even veterinarians prescribe it to panicking parrots, pacing polar bears and destructive dogs.

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