Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• One grave, one tribute
  Many of the workers who plant the flags at Fort Snelling cemetery for Memorial Day also served in the military. For them, putting up the flags is more than a job, it's a tribute.7:20 a.m.
• Will high gas prices actually help Minnesota tourism?
  Tourism officials say the high price of gasoline won't hurt travel in Minnesota this summer. In fact it might actually attract more tourists.7:25 a.m.
• Twins on a winning streak
  The Minnesota Twins begin a three-game series against the Angels in Anaheim tonight after sweeping the Seattle Mariners over the weekend at the Metrodome. Yesterday's game ended in dramatic fashion with a home run by Lew Ford in the bottom of the tenth inning. Meanwhile, the Gopher baseball team lost to Michigan 9 to 4, yesterday, at the Big Ten championship game in Ann Arbor. Cathy Wurzer talked with Morning Edition's sports commentator Steve Rudolph.8:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Tending 'Defiant Gardens' During Wartime
  From the Western Front trenches of World War I to the deserts of Iraq, soldiers have found comfort in the simple act of gardening. The author of a new book on wartime gardens call them an act of defiance.
• When an Ex Moves, Do the Kids Go, Too?
  Massachusetts may soon have the first ruling by a state high court on what has become a growing dilemma for family courts: When divorced parents share custody, should one parent be allowed to move out of town with the kids?
• Lawmakers Consider Mandating Coal Mine Refuges
  In the wake of accidents that have left more than 30 coal miners dead this year, lawmakers are considering requiring the industry to install refuge chambers. These sealed rooms, deep inside mines, are equipped with breathable air for trapped miners waiting for rescue. But critics say they could make mines less safe. NPR's Nell Boyce reports.
• Sports Roundup: Indy 500, the French Open and Bonds
  Sports Commentator John Feinstein reviews the last 24 hours in sports: Sam Hornish edged out the teenaged Marco Andretti and his father, Michael Andretti, to win the Indy 500 by a fraction of a second. In baseball, Barry Bonds hits home run no. 715. And in pro tennis, the French Open is underway.
• Australian Brothels Battle Ban on Butts
  The southern Australian state of Victoria has banned smoking in the workplace -- including brothels. A trade group called the Australian Adult Entertainment Industry is requesting an exception. It warns that if people can't smoke afterward, the business will go back on the streets.
• A Baseball Souvenir from the Heavens
  It seemed that nobody would take home the baseball that Barry Bonds hit out of the park Sunday night. Bonds' 715th home run landed on a platform, and stayed there at first. Then the ball started rolling-- creeping along, as if under its own power. Far below, Andrew Morbitzer was in line at a concession stand. He was waiting for beer and peanuts when the souvenir dropped into his hands.
• Ethanol-Based Fuel Enthusiasts Face Lack of Pumps
  Adding new pumps and tanks for the cleaner-burning, ethanol-based fuel known as E-85 is a pricey proposition for service stations, and refineries can't use the same pipelines that they use for regular oil. Despite the obstacles, automakers plan a big push to sell flexible-fuel cars.
• Medical Care, Shelter Priorities for Quake Victims
  The death toll from Saturday's earthquake on the Indonesian island of Java climbs past 5,000. Many of the injured are still waiting to receive medical care. More than 100,000 have been left homeless, and aid agencies say many survivors lack adequate shelter.
• Senate to Hold Hearings on Haditha Killings
  The Senate Armed Services Committee will hold hearings into charges that Marines massacred up to 24 Iraqi civilians last November while hunting for a roadside bomber, Chairman John Warner (R-VA) said Sunday. The U.S. military is already investigating the allegations.
• Bonds Slides Past Ruth on All-Time Home Run List
  Barry Bonds hit his 715th career home run Sunday night, moving past Babe Ruth into sole possession of second place on the career list behind Hank Aaron. But enthusiasm among fans has been tempered by the allegations of steroid use that continue to surround Bonds.
• Examining the Rhetoric of Wartime Sacrifice
  Many wartime presidents have used the rhetoric of sacrifice, including President Bush. Using the argument of sacrifice by dead soldiers dates back to the Athenian Golden Age. The idea is that invoking the dead makes it hard to argue against a war. David Rabin reports.
• Colombia's President Uribe Wins in Landslide
  Colombian President Alvaro Uribe glided to re-election Sunday, capturing 62 percent of the vote in the country's most peaceful elections in more than a decade. Host Steve Inskeep discusses the election with New York Times reporter Juan Forero in Colombia.
• Recalling a Rebel Turned Disciplined Marine
  Marine Lance Cpl. Ryan Winslow, 19, was killed by a roadside bomb three weeks into his first tour in Iraq. Friends in Hoover, Ala., remember Winslow as a high-school rebel who found himself attracted to the discipline, public service and adventure of the Marine Corps. Les Lovoy of member station WBHM reports.
• High-School Band Pays Tribute to Teens of Civil War
  The Williams Fifth Regimental Cavalry Band in northern Arizona is a group of high-school students strictly devoted to playing Civil War tunes. They dress in authentic clothes and play throughout the summer at community events. Gillian Ferris Kohl of member station KNAU reports.
• TV Writers Want Cut of Product-Placement Deals
  TV shows have been stuffing Campbell's soup and Diet Coke into sitcoms and reality shows for sometime. But the Writers Guild says product placement has reached a level that goes beyond the standard contract. The Guild plans to push the studios and producers to share the estimated $2 billion in revenue generated by these deals. NPR's Kim Masters reports.

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