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

• Unemployment Rate Rises To 9.4 Percent In May
  The nation's unemployment rate last month is the highest it's been in more than 25 years. However, the pace of layoffs eased. Employers cut 345,000 jobs in May, the fewest since September.
• While In Germany, Obama Will Honor WW II Vets
  President Obama as moved on to Europe. In Germany, he's meeting with Chancellor Merkel. He also is visiting a German concentration camp. In France on Saturday, he will mark the 65th anniversary of D-Day.
• 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.
• 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.
• Iraqi Reaction To Obama's Cairo Speech
  President Obama called for a "new beginning" in relations between the U.S. and the Muslim world in a speech Thursday in Cairo. The speech was translated simultaneously into Arabic. An Iraqi family who watched the speech in Baghdad agreed with Obama that no single speech can eradicate years of mistrust.
• 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.
• 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.
• Labor Department To Issue New Jobless Numbers
  Economists are looking for the jobless rate to rise to 9.2 percent. They expect the government to report that 520,000 jobs were lost in May, on top of the 5.7 million jobs that have been lost since the recession began in December 2007. If they are right, it would be the second month in a row that job losses slowed, and the fewest number of job cuts since October.
• Green Tea Coca-Cola To Debut In Japan
  A green tea-flavored Coca-Cola will hit Japanese stores next week. The drink contains antioxidants and is geared toward young, health-conscious women.
• 'Away We Go': A Tour Among The Tiresome
  A self-satisfied film about insecure people, Sam Mendes' film has mustered several genuine assets, but it squanders them all — and ends up being not nearly as special as it wants to be.
• U.S. Judge Recommends Spain Should Get Treasure
  A deep sea treasure-hunting company says it will appeal a ruling this week by a Florida judge, who ordered it to hand over to Spain $500 million worth of gold and silver coins. Odyssey Marine Exploration hauled up riches from a shipwreck in the Atlantic. Spain claims the treasure came from a Spanish naval vessel, sunk by the British in 1804, and thus part of its national heritage.
• Is 1994 Act Enough To Protect Abortion Providers?
  The recent murder of abortion provider Dr. George Tiller is raising fears of a resurgence of clinic violence. It also has reignited debate over how best to prevent it. It's been 15 years since Congress passed the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which was designed to quell anti-abortion violence.
• Federal Employees Closer To Paid Parental Leave
  Lawmakers in the House passed a bill Thursday night that would give a federal employee with a new child four paid weeks off. According to U.N. statistics, the United States is one of the only nations that does not mandate some amount of paid parental leave.
• 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.

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