Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Weather with Mark Seeley
  University of Minnesota climatologist Mark Seeley discusses Minnesota weather history and looks ahead to the weekend forecast.6:55 a.m.
• New mining opportunities in northern Minn. pose environmental concerns
  Northern Minnesota may be on the verge of a major expansion of its mining industry. A key environmental study of PolyMet Corporation's plan to mine copper and nickel is expected in the coming months, but many remain opposed to this kind of mining.7:20 a.m.
• Plotting a course away from a dependence on oil
  In his new book, "The Crooked Mile," Kevin Clemens looks at how America became addicted to oil and what we need to do to break that addiction. He discussed his ideas with Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer.7:35 a.m.
• Aussie director rewrites playwright Noel Coward
  Not a lot of people would have the guts, or perhaps the gall, to rewrite Noel Coward - but Stephan Elliott did. The Australian director just co-wrote and directed a film adaptation of "Easy Virtue." It's an early Coward play, starring Minnesota native Jessica Biel.8:45 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Economy Got You Down? Many Blame Rating Firms
  Credit ratings agencies are supposed to let investors know which bonds are relatively safe and which are particularly risky. They ended up giving their highest grades to the same bonds we now consider toxic assets.
• Sotomayor's Judicial History: Racially Biased?
  In a few weeks, the Supreme Court could reverse what is widely viewed as Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor's most controversial decision on racial discrimination. Experts debate whether Sotomayor's judicial record substantiates widely publicized accusations that she is racist and a reverse discriminator.
• Officials: Bin Laden Running Out Of Space To Hide
  The al-Qaida leader's message to President Obama this week shows he's still in the fight. But intelligence officials say the combination of Pakistan's military push, the U.S. troop increase in Afghanistan and stepped-up drone strikes is putting pressure on the terrorist organization.
• Obama Raises Tough Issues In Speech
  President Obama stood before a red curtain in a packed hall at Cairo University in Egypt Thursday and spoke directly to the tension between the United States and the Muslim world. He tackled all of the most contentious issues including: U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, Islamic extremism and the Arab-Israeli conflict. Administration officials are said to be pleased with how well the speech went over.
• SEC Charges Mozilo With Fraud, Insider Trading
  Former Countrywide Financial head Angelo Mozilo has been charged with civil fraud and illegal insider trading. The Securities and Exchange Commission also accuses Mozilo and two other former Countrywide executives of "deliberately" misleading investors about the risks the firm took in the mortgage market.
• NBA Finals: Lakers Beat Orlando In Game 1
  Kobe Bryant scored 40 points and the Los Angeles Lakers took Game 1 of the NBA Finals by crushing the Orlando Magic 100-to-75 Thursday night. It's the Lakers 30th NBA Finals appearance.
• N.C. Town Cooks Up Yellow Cabbage Collards
  Benny and Vickie Cox run a roadside stand in Ayden, N.C., called The Collard Shack. You won't find the green collards here that are common throughout the South. Instead, the Coxes grow yellow cabbage collards, an heirloom variety that's rare outside eastern North Carolina.
• United Airlines To Place Major Jet Order
  United Airlines says it wants to purchase up to 150 new planes. The company has asked for bids from Boeing and competitor Airbus. The contract could be worth between $10 and $20 billion.
• UAW Membership Shrinks During Troubled Times
  At it's height in 1979, the United Auto Workers union had 1.5 million members. It had about 430,000 members last year. More than 20,000 autoworkers will join the ranks of the unemployed now that Chrysler and General Motors are going through bankruptcy proceedings.
• Some Homeless Live In Luxury New York Condo
  New York City is housing some homeless families in Brooklyn luxury condos. The New York Daily News says the condos couldn't attract buyers in the current housing market. Now they're filling a need for some of the city's unprecedented number of homeless families.

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