Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• To solve racial disparities, parents, schools call truce
  The education gap between black and white students in Minneapolis public schools has been the source of an increasingly bitter struggle, but a group of parents and the school board have decided to call a truce.7:20 a.m.
• High school for recording arts is 'hip hop central'
  A "hip-hop high school" in St. Paul uses music to keep kids on track and help them graduate against tough odds.7:25 a.m.
• $4 gas has consumers rethinking their habits, lifestyle
  Now that gas is selling for more than $4 a gallon at many stations in the Twin Cities, some people say the new price milestone will change how they drive.7:50 a.m.
• Singing in Grover's Corners
  Turning famous works of American literature into operas has become something of a trend lately. St. Paul's Skylark Opera company is presenting the upper Midwest premiere of one of the latest, Ned Rorem's adaptation of "Our Town."7:55 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Senate GOP Rejects Tax on Oil 'Windfall Profits'
  U.S. oil companies are making tens of billions of dollars in profits as prices soar. Democrats wanted to tax the so-called "windfall profits" and take away subsidies. But Republicans said oil companies aren't the ones pushing up prices, and that punishing them with a 25 percent tax could discourage oil production.
• Prince Charles Pays 350-Year-Old Royal Debt
  Prince Charles, heir to the British throne, settled a debt Tuesday that was run up by an ancestor more than 350 years ago. King Charles II ran up a bill with Worcester Clothiers when he asked them to make uniforms for his soldiers, just before the battle of Worcester.
• Farms Take Root in Detroit's Foreclosures
  A nonprofit group in Detroit is turning unused, derelict properties into gardens that grow food for the needy. Urban Farming is pulling weeds, laying fresh topsoil, and planting free fruits and vegetables for residents to pick.
• Climate, Iran on Agenda as Bush Visits Germany
  President Bush met Wednesday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin. The leaders discussed climate change and Iran. NPR's Don Gonyea is traveling with President Bush on his last official trip to Europe.
• Thabo Mbeki's Successes, Failures in South Africa
  South African President Thabo Mbeki leaves office next year. Mark Gevisser, who wrote Thabo Mbeki: The Dream Deferred, talks about Mbeki's accomplishments and failures since coming to power in 1999.
• Trump Plans Golf Resort in Scotland; Reaction Mixed
  An attempt by Donald Trump to develop a huge golf resort on a piece of Scottish coastline is receiving a mixed welcome from the residents. Some people support the project as a way of boosting the local economy. But environmentalists have condemned the plan.
• NBA Finals: Clutch Win for Lakers in Game 3
  The Los Angeles Lakers — on their home court — racked up their first win against the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals on Tuesday. The Celtics are still ahead in the best-of-seven series, with two victories.
• Drought Hits California's Already Tight Water Supply
  California is in the midst of its driest spring on record. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last week declared a drought — the first in nearly 20 years. Now California residents who have been living on a dwindling supply of water are being urged to conserve even more.
• Dam Fails, Homes Wiped Out in Wisconsin Flooding
  Engineers in Wisconsin are monitoring the state's dams after severe weather caused one dam to collapse. The collapse sent water gushing from a nearly 270-acre lake, washing away houses and a highway.
• Driving Less Could Earn Break on Car Insurance
  Gasoline prices are forcing many people to rethink their driving habits. Consumers who are driving less could get a break on their car insurance.
• Analysis: Long-Term Effects of High Energy Prices
  Gasoline prices recently soared to $4 a gallon across the United States. It seems that high energy prices will continue to be a tax on the U.S. economy. David Wessel, economics editor of the Wall Street Journal, talks about the rising price of oil and how it affects the economy.
• U.S. Beef Flap Challenges South Korea's President
  After an estimated 80,000 people demonstrated Tuesday against South Korea's plan to resume importing U.S. beef, the president promised that his government would make a fresh start — and his entire Cabinet offered to resign.
• Winter a Worry as Home Heating Oil Spikes in Maine
  It isn't even summer yet, but people in Maine are already fretting about how they'll pay to heat their homes this winter. The region relies heavily on home heating oil, and prices are well above $4 a gallon. Some families barely made it through last winter's expensive heating season.
• Palestinians Cultivate High-Tech Industry
  The Palestinian high-tech industry is in its infancy, with just a few dozen companies. Entrepreneurs say there's tremendous potential. They're establishing new companies staffed by young computer-savvy graduates who aim to provide services to the Arab world.
• Land Ownership a Root of Many Problems in Karachi
  As part of the "Urban Frontier" series, Steve Inskeep reported last week from Karachi, Pakistan — one of the world's largest cities. He found problems there familiar to cities around the world: from ethnic, religious and political strife to water shortages and pollution — and land ownership was a common undercurrent.

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