Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• DFLers set to endorse Klobuchar for Senate
  Delegates to the state DFL convention in Rochester will endorse Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar for U.S. Senate. But not all Democrats will leave Rochester united behind Klobuchar.6:42 a.m.
• Minnesota Weather
  Cathy Wurzer spoke with Mark Seeley, Climatologist from the University of Minnesota about Minesota's recent warm weather and seasonal trends.6:45 a.m.
• Project gets college freshmen ready to write
  In Minnesota, almost half of incoming freshmen find their writing skills are not up to the college level. One plan tries to put students on the path to success earlier.7:20 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Iraqi Envoy: Zarqawi's Death Sends 'Message'
  The death of terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi won't eliminate the violence in Iraq overnight, but it sends "a powerful message" that Zarqawi's brand of brutality won't be tolerated, the Iraqi ambassador to the United States says.
• 'Continuous Contraception' May Banish Periods
  For women who use birth control, there's growing popularity for what's called "continuous contraception," a practice that can suppress the menstrual cycle so that it can happen only once a year.
• DeLay Leaves Congress After 22 Years of Service
  Tom DeLay's last day as a member of Congress has arrived. During his 22-year career, he rose through the House ranks to become a dominant figure -- serving as Majority Whip and as Majority Leader. His tough tactics were legendary. But he leaves under the cloud of an indictment in Texas.
• Iraq Government Braces for Zarqawi Reprisal Attacks
  The Iraqi government has imposed a mid-day traffic ban in Baghdad and in the town of Baqouba, about 30 miles northwest of the capital. That's near where terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed Wednesday. There are fears Zarqawi supporters will stage reprisal attacks.
• Questions Surround Conduct of House Appropriations Chair
  Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA) has been a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee for most of his 28-year career. Last year, he became the panel's chairman. Now questions are being asked about Lewis' ties to former Rep. Bill Lowery, a Republican who became a lobbyist.
• Interest Rates to Rise for Student Loans
  It is about to get more expensive for many graduates to pay off college loans. Effective July 1, interest rates on two main financial aid programs, Stafford and Plus loans, will be rising. Those still in school, or who haven't yet begun paying back their loans, still have a time to lock in a lower interest rate.
• Germany Welcomes Fans to World Cup
  The World Cup 2006 soccer tournament begins in Munich with a game between Germany and Costa Rica. The world's biggest sporting event has brought fans from across the globe to cities across Germany. Thirty-two teams are competing to win the cup, with championship match scheduled for July 9.
• 'Cars' Likely to Continue Run of Pixar Hit Movies
  Los Angeles Times and Morning Edition film critic Kenneth Turan reviews the new Pixar animated film Cars. He says the movie will likely continue Pixar's run of hits.
• World Cup Coverage Comes in Many Languages
  Some U.S. satellite TV services will offer foreign-language broadcasts of the World Cup this summer for the first time. It will allow soccer fans far from home to listen to the games in their native Portuguese or German, not just English and Spanish.
• New York Suffers Through Pigeon Doping Scandal
  A cloud of scandal has darkened the skies of pigeon racing. In a first, the Bronx Homing Pigeon Club banned a pigeon racer from the entering competitions -- after he was accused of giving his birds performance enhancing drugs. The "racehorses of the sky" owned by Peter Lapore had had a winning streak that competitors said could only be explained by doping. The New York Post reports Lapore is now suing the Pigeon Club for defamation.
• Family Mourns Zarqawi in Jordanian Home Town
  Relatives in Zarqa, Jordan, gathered Thursday to mourn the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The Jordanian terrorist was killed by U.S. forces in Iraq on Wednesday. Reports in Jordan suggest the government there was involved in the effort to locate and kill Zarqawi. Renee Montagne talks to reporter Kristen Gillespie, who attended the wake.
• Clean Car Confiscated for Speeding
  Looking for a fast and easy way to dry your car after you wash it? Don't try speeding those little drops away. Police in Amsterdam stopped a man for just that. He was driving almost 70 in a 40 m.p.h. zone. Because he didn't have his driver's license with him, police confiscated the car. Clean or not, police will hold the car until he can prove he can legally drive.
• Zarqawi Killing the Result of Months of Intelligence Work
  Pentagon officials say Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's death followed months of methodical intelligence work. The elusive Zarqawi had escaped U.S. forces on a number of occasions. So when word came that the Americans had targeted and killed him, U.S. officials were cautious about their public statements. But details of the operation are now becoming clearer.
• Canada Confronts Immigration Integration Question
  In Canada, a large segment of the Muslim community remains segregated from mainstream culture. Many community leaders say they like it that way. But some Canadians say a push for integration is needed following new threats of domestic terrorism. North Country Public Radio's Brian Mann reports from Toronto.
• Maryland Middle School Receives Presidential Visitor
  Chilean President Michele Bachelet visited students at Westland Middle School in Maryland on Thursday. Bachelet had been a student there in the 1960s, when the school was named Western Middle School.

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