Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Stimulus helps solar panel installer
  One of the promises that President Obama made when he pushed for passage of the economic stimulus package was that it would create so-called green jobs.7:20 a.m.
• State pursuing more tax scofflaws
  The Minnesota Department of Revenue is working to track down $108 million in unpaid sales taxes, an increase of $22 million from the previous year.7:25 a.m.
• Live music events thriving even during recession
  The economic meltdown has brought uncertainty and upheavel to many Minnesota arts groups. But one sector of the art scene that seems to be beating back the recession is live music.8:25 a.m.
• Advice for Ash tree owners
  If you have Ash trees on your property and are wondering what to do as more trees fall victim to the Emerald Ash Borer, you are not alone.8:40 a.m.
• Mauer worth watching all summer
  The Minnesota Twins are mired under .500. But Commentator Peter Smith says Twins fans have a big reason to snap open the sports page every morning, or check their favorite baseball websites, all summer long and smile - a kid from Saint Paul named Joe Mauer.8:45 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Sarah Waters Spins A Haunting Tale Of Class Conflict
  Author Sarah Waters doesn't believe in ghosts in real life, but that didn't stop her from setting her new novel, The Little Stranger, in a crumbling Warwickshire manor house where mysterious spirits cause havoc.
• Big Banks Get Green Light To Repay Bailout Money
  Ten of the nation's largest banks have received a green light from the Treasury Department to repay $68 billion in government bailout money that they got during the height of the financial crisis. The banks have been busy strengthening their balance sheets in recent weeks by raising private capital. Tuesday's move raises hope that the worst of the banking crisis is over.
• In Final Days, Iran's Presidential Race Heats Up
  Iran's mudslinging presidential campaign has made visible the divisions in Iran. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's chief rival, pro-reform Mir Hossein Mousavi, enjoys support from young people and women. Ahmadinejad's older, more conservative, backers applaud his firebrand style.
• 1st Guantanamo Bay Detainee Arrives In N.Y.
  According to the Justice Department, the first Guantanamo Bay detainee is in New York to face trial for bombing U.S. embassies. Officials said Ahmed Ghailani arrived early Tuesday morning.
• Debate May Be Turning Point In Iranian Election
  During a TV debate, Iranians witnessed an aggressive debate between the two main candidates. Journalist Hooman Majd is covering Iran's presidential elections. He talks with Steve Inskeep about how Iranians view this Friday's presidential contest. Majd is the author of The Ayatollah Begs to Differ.
• Hormel Launches Radio, TV Ad Blitz For Spam
  The makers of Spam are trying to spiff-up the image of the canned might and offer it as a tight times alternative. Sales of canned foods have been rising as the economy slumps.
• Farm Economy Learns From Past Crisis
  Agriculture appears to be a bright spot in an otherwise dismal U.S. economy. Big agribusiness is doing fairly well, and the mortgage debacle didn't affect rural banks as much as others. This may be due to hard lessons farmers learned in the 80s when a land bubble burst and crop prices plummeted.
• Abandoned Rail Line Gets New Life As NYC Park
  Officials in New York City opened a new park called the High Line on Tuesday. It was created on top of an elevated railroad trestle that runs up the West Side of Manhattan. The first half-mile section of the park is 30 feet above the old Meatpacking District.
• Pirate Party Wins Seat In European Parliament
  In Sweden, the Pirate Party, has won a seat in the European Parliament. The party advocates shortening the duration of copyright protection and allowing noncommercial file-sharing.
• ATM Stolen From Bank Falls Off Trailer
  Police in Phenix City, Ala., say thieves used a stolen backhoe and a pickup truck to steal an ATM from a Wachovia branch. Somewhere along the getaway route, the ATM fell off the trailer.
• What Does North Korea Hope To Gain?
  Victor Cha is a professor at Georgetown University and Korea Chair for the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He talks with Steve Inskeep about what North Korea's leader hopes to gain from holding two American journalists and conducting nuclear tests.
• South Korea Divided Over Response To North Korea
  The families of two American journalists sentenced to 12 years in a North Korea labor camp have appealed for leniency. The journalists' plight and North Korea's recent nuclear and missile tests have alarmed foreign governments. But South Korea — the country that potentially has the most to lose from the tensions — is deeply divided about what to do about it.
• Tail Section Found Of Downed Air France Plane
  Chris Yates is safety and security editor of Jane's Airport Review. He talks with Renee Montagne about the latest in the investigation of last week's Air France plane crash off the coast of South America.
• Brown Wins Support From Labour MPs
  British Prime Minister Gordon Brown seems to have survived an orchestrated attempt to unseat him from his leadership. Twelve members of his government have quit in the last week — saying Brown cannot lead the ruling Labour Party to victory at the next general election. Brown held A private meeting with hundreds of Labour lawmakers in the houses of Parliament.
• Shell, Nigerian Families Settle For $15.5 Million
  Royal Dutch Shell has agreed to pay more than $15 million to settle several lawsuits related to the execution of protesters in Nigeria in the 1990s.

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