Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• One family begins the process of cleaning up
  Hugo residents who lost their homes to Sunday's tornado are beginning to ponder what's next. They spent much of yesterday sifting through the contents of their lives.7:20 a.m.
• Farm bill is mixed news for organic growers
  The 2008 farm bill designates more resources to organics than ever, but organic growers won't find relief from one of their thorniest problems: renting land.7:25 a.m.
• Attorney General's office dismisses assistant
  An assistant attorney general has been fired after an investigation found no evidence to support her claims of ethical lapses in the office.7:50 a.m.
• Study: News media fails at health reporting
  New research from the University of Minnesota says the major mainstream media has many failings when it comes to reporting on medical and science topics.7:55 a.m.
• Emergency officials explain use of sirens before Hugo tornado
  Warning sirens did go off in Hugo before Sunday's tornado, but at a community meeting last night, some residents expressed concern that the sirens went off just before the tornado hit. When the sirens went silent, residents said they thought they were in the clear, which was certainly not the case. Deb Paige, Washington County's emergency manager, explains how the sirens were used on Sunday.8:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• N.M. Town an Anti-Terrorism Training Ground
  In the New Mexico desert, a state-supported university runs a training ground for first responders — police, fire and medical personnel — from across the country. They are taught everything from bomb scene forensics to hostage negotiations.
• Auto School Wants to Extend Reach to China
  The automotive technology school at a small university college in upstate New York hopes to pair with a school in Dalian, China, to train technicians to work on new cars. SUNY sees it as an aggressive effort to make itself and its students relevant in the global market.
• Beneteau Sailboats: From Family Shop to Global Hit
  Fifty years ago, Beneteau was a small, family-owned company that made fishing boats in a French village. Now it's the world's top sailboat maker, with dealers in 50 countries. Reporter Eleanor Beardsley has more on the woman who transformed the company.
• Clinton Coverage Reflects Tensions of Historic Bid
  If it weren't for Barack Obama, you would have heard much more from the media this year about the first female candidate in American history with a serious shot at the White House. Hillary Clinton's bid has been both pioneering and problematic, and her press coverage has reflected that tension.
• Nepal Becomes a Republic, Ending Monarchy
  A special assembly in Nepal holds its first meeting Wednesday to declare the Himalayan nation a republic. It is abolishing its centuries-old Hindu monarchy.
• Avon Concocts Scent of a Bond Girl
  Avon is teaming up with the 007 franchise to create a new perfume. But what is the scent of a Bond girl?
• Calif. Professor Fired for Rejecting Loyalty Oath
  California still requires public employees to swear a patriotic oath that hasn't been updated since the 1950s. The pledge was designed to keep Communist influence out of government jobs. Now it's blocking decidedly innocuous job candidates, like Quakers and pacifists, from employment.
• Indonesia, OPEC's Only Asian Member, to Pull Out
  Indonesia says it's pulling out of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. The energy minister says it makes no sense for his country to be in OPEC because it is no longer a net oil exporter. Exploration and oil production have been declining for years, and OPEC's only Asian member now imports oil.
• Portugal Plots Comeback for Natural Cork
  A trend toward synthetic stoppers has hurt the economy of Portugal, which produces more than half the world's cork. Now, a leading Portuguese cork maker has developed a process that inhibits cork taint, which can ruin a bottle of wine. Plus, cork is being touted as environmentally friendly.
• China Taps Citizen Volunteers to Dole Quake Aid
  Since the devastating earthquake in southwestern China, hundreds of Chinese have volunteered to oversee the distribution of disaster relief funds and supplies. The aim is to prevent corrupt local officials from embezzling the funds. Observers say the experiment could increase public participation in anti-corruption efforts.
• U.S. Childhood Obesity Rates Level Off
  For the first time since the 1980s, America's childhood obesity epidemic has leveled off. New government figures indicate that the percentage of overweight and obese children in 2005 and '06 were about the same as in '03 and '04. Still, one-third of U.S. kids are overweight, obese or morbidly obese.
• Houston, We Have a Problem — With the Toilet
  The international space station's lone toilet is broken. The solid waste collection system is still functioning, but for liquids, the astronauts have to make do with a backup bag. NASA will send replacement parts on the next shuttle.
• China's Premier Amasses Friends on Facebook
  A government known for restricting the Internet now has friends on Facebook. Since the page went up right after the earthquake, China's Premier Wen Jiabao has collected 14,000 supporters — that's what Facebook calls friends of politicians.
• McCain Leans on Low-Profile Support from Bush
  President Bush this week is raising money for John McCain, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee. But don't count on any photos of the two together at any events. One of McCain's key assets heading into the general election is that he is viewed differently from many of his fellow Republicans.
• Myanmar Rescuers: No Sign of '2nd Wave' Deaths
  Myanmar's military government is allowing international aid workers into the areas hardest hit by Cyclone Nargis. Medical workers say there is no evidence so far of a feared "second wave" of deaths resulting from malnutrition and disease.

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