Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Smart design for people who need it
  A new exhibition opening at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis this weekend shows that cheap and simple designs can change, and even save, lives.6:25 a.m.
• Students embrace teacher whose family lost everything in earthquake
  The impact of the massive earthquake in China is being felt at a Chinese immersion elementary school in St. Paul.6:50 a.m.
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• Hypermilers take gas saving to the extreme
  Hypermilers tweak their cars, but more importantly they adjust how they drive to save gas.7:20 a.m.
• Gas prices make the bus a fare deal for many
  As gas prices have climbed, more and more people are getting out of their cars and in to buses.7:25 a.m.
• Minnesota's nursing homes face financial crisis
  Elderly care advocates say nearly a third of the state's nursing homes are in danger of closing their doors because of financial problems. Facility administrators say part of the problem is a state law that caps the rate homes can charge patients.7:50 a.m.
• Northwest looks for ways to save fuel
  Prices at the gas pump continue to rise, and those same fuel costs are cutting into airline budgets, forcing airlines to look for ways to save on fuel. Chris Maccarone, the Managing Director of Performance Analysis for Northwest Airlines, describes how much fuel airplanes use and what Northwest is doing to use less.7:55 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Booksellers' Selections for Summer Afternoons
  What better way to spend a summer afternoon than curled up with a good book? NPR Special Correspondent Susan Stamberg asks three independent booksellers for their picks for lazy days and warm nights.
• McDonald's Makes Fries Trans-Fat Free
  The world's largest fast-food chain said Thursday that it had switched to a trans-fat-free cooking oil in all its U.S. and Canadian restaurants. McDonald's chief executive said french fries, hash browns and other fried foods are now cooked in a blend of canola, corn and soybean oil.
• Memorial Day Travel Inches Down, Survey Shows
  A survey from AAA shows that the number of people traveling 50 miles or more from home this year is down compared with last year's Memorial Day weekend — but it's only down by about 1 percent. Spokesman Mike Pina says about 6 million people are flying and more than 31 million will hit the roads.
• McCain, Obama Start Search for Running Mates
  Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain is examining possible running mates. So is Barack Obama — even though the race for the Democratic nomination hasn't been officially decided yet. NPR Political Editor Ken Rudin and National Political Correspondent Mara Liasson discuss the race.
• Witness to a Disaster: The Sichuan Quake
  NPR's Melissa Block was in Chengdu, China, when last week's massive earthquake struck. Since then, she has reported from the scene of the devastation, where families have lost homes and loved ones. Host Renee Montagne talks with Block about what she'll remember most after she returns home.
• Contest to Pick Top Euro-Pop Song of 2008
  Europe indulges in its annual festival of pop this weekend, when the Eurovision Song Contest takes place in Belgrade, Serbia. The competition is a rather cheesy contest to choose the most popular pop song in Europe. In its 52-year history, it has become an outrageous celebration of pure kitsch and drama.
• When Presidents Meet with the 'Bad Guys'
  Sen. John McCain has been stepping up attacks on Sen. Barack Obama, criticizing the Democrat's willingness to open a dialogue with Iran, Cuba or hostile leaders. Obama's supporters have fought back, with video of former Secretary of State James Baker saying, "Talking to an enemy is not, in my view, appeasement."
• China Quake Jars Memories in U.S. Chinatown
  The largest Chinese community in the United States has been reaching out to help victims of last week's massive earthquake in Sichuan province. The effects of a major disaster are familiar to some residents of San Francisco's Chinatown, which suffered an earthquake of similar magnitude just over a century ago.
• Texas Rebuked for Taking Kids in Polygamy Case
  A Texas appeals court ruled Thursday that the state had no right to take more than 400 children from a polygamist ranch. The court said the state did not prove that all the removals of children from their parents were justified. The ruling could mean the children are returned to their parents within 10 days.
• Citing Sexism, Clinton Supporters Vow a Switch
  As Hillary Clinton presses on with her bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, bitterness is setting in with some of her supporters, who feel that sexism is to blame for her struggles. "We're here to say we're not asleep," one supporter said. "We hear this; we don't like it. And by the way — she's not losing."
• Recession: Who Makes the Call, and When?
  The economy continues to tighten, and the word "recession" is on many lips. But it's still not official whether the country is in a recession. Host Renee Montagne speaks with David Wessel of The Wall Street Journal about who decides when we are in a recession, why they take so long to call it, and why it matters.
• Costs of Obesity Add to Business Overhead
  Employers are growing more concerned about higher costs associated with overweight employees. Public health analysts say a big part of the increased cost of health insurance has to do with treating obesity-related health problems.
• In Gulf, the Cost of Rebuilding Homes Soars
  The small Gulf Coast town of Cameron, La., was destroyed by Hurricane Rita in 2005. Fewer than half of Cameron's 2,000 residents have returned since the storm. Many rebuilding efforts are stalled by high prices.
• British Leader Brown's Party Takes a Loss
  Britain's Conservative Party has won a parliamentary seat from the ruling Labor Party in a by-election. The loss is being viewed as a barometer of Prime Minister Gordon Brown's eroding popularity.
• In Reversal, Myanmar to Admit Foreign Aid Workers
  Myanmar's military government has agreed to let all aid workers into the country to assist cyclone victims. Host Renee Montagne reports.

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