Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• New Walker performing arts season dreams big
  The Walker Art Center announces its 2008-2009 performing arts season today. The season will start with a huge performance by the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, which will perform "Ocean" in a quarry near St. Cloud.6:50 a.m.
• Flood impact to last all summer
  In his weekly weather commentary, University of Minnesota meteorologist and climatologist Mark Seeley comments on a number of subjects including the recent flooding in several Midwestern states.6:55 a.m.
• McCain addresses voters' questions, blasts opponent
  At a forum in St. Paul Thursday night, presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain drew sharp contrasts between his Democratic opponent Barack Obama and himself.7:20 a.m.
• $4 a gallon gas keeps many RVs off the road
  High gas prices are creating challenges for both motorhome dealers and owners.7:45 a.m.
• Attorney General goes after mortgage fraud
  The national mortgage fraud problem is especially acute in the Twin Cities. The FBI reports that dozens of fraud investigations are currently underway, and they label the Twin Cities as one of the 10 worst problem areas in the country.8:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Denver School Tries Reinvention as Reform
  Poor achievement and low attendance at Manual High School in Denver led the district to close its doors and open a year later. Closing Denver's oldest high school was not without controversy or protest. But administrators said starting fresh was the only fix.
• An Orphan's Adoption: 'And Away We Went'
  Days after his birth in 1952, Ray Martinez was sent to an orphanage in Denver. He says the five years he spent there were a time when nothing belonged to him — until his adoptive parents came along.
• Level of Iranian Support for Ahmadinejad Uncertain
  Looking ahead to Iran's presidential election in 2009, the big question is what President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's chances are of re-election. There are no extensive polls in Iran, but recent developments do provide some sense of the public mood.
• Will Australia Swear Off Foul-Mouthed TV Chef?
  Gordon Ramsay's cooking show has prompted Australia's parliament to consider new rules against profanity. He's known for swearing at restaurant staff. And some viewers thought it was a little excessive when he used a four-letter word 80 times in 40 minutes.
• An E-Mail Vacation: Taking Fridays Off
  Can you go a day at the office without e-mail? Employees at U.S. Cellular try to do that every Friday. A policy implemented a few years ago gives workers a respite from the e-mail avalanche.
• Economic Boom Makes Some Vietnamese Uneasy
  Vietnam's rapid economic growth has changed the lives of many people over the past decade and ties with the U.S. are strengthening. But not everyone in the country sees the change as beneficial.
• Report: Israeli Military Drill Focuses on Iran
  More than 100 Israeli fighter planes took part in a major military exercise earlier this month, The New York Times says. U.S. officials say the exercise appeared to be a rehearsal for a possible bombing attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.
• Reviving an Olympic Dream, 25 Years Later
  A quarter-century ago, swimmer Hodding Carter just missed qualifying for the Olympic trials. Now 45, he is training for a long-shot bid at qualifying for the Beijing Olympics. Carter chronicles his quest in a new book, Off the Deep End.
• Jonas Brothers Headline Disney's 'Camp Rock'
  The movie Camp Rock, featuring the young musical group the Jonas Brothers, debuts today on the Disney Channel. Disney hopes Camp Rock will be the new High School Musical.
• Disney Shows Off Home of the Future
  A 5,000-square-foot "dream home" highlighting futuristic technology is one of the new attractions at Disneyland. Features include a super-smart kitchen counter and a digital mirror that projects hairstyles, clothes and accessories.
• Badger State Will Bear Bare-Chested Fans
  In Wisconsin, a special committee endorsed a ban on bare-chested fans at high school sports events, as well as limits on body paint. But the ominously named Board of Control has found no need to control clothing. No word if board members ripped off their shirts and did the wave while voting.
• Obama Pins Hopes on Fundraising Power
  Sen. Barack Obama is the first major-party candidate since the 1970s to bypass public financing in a presidential campaign. The Democrat is counting on his fundraising success to give him a big advantage in the fall race.
• Iraqi Forces Target Sadr's Militias
  In southern Iraq, Iraqi security forces have launched a fresh campaign against Shiite militias loyal to cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. The troops met no resistance as they entered the city of Amara, a hub for smugglers bringing weapons in from Iran.
• McCain Courts Independent Voters
  Sen. John McCain has been hard at work to unite the GOP and a new Washington Post-ABC poll shows nine out of ten Republicans back his run for the White House. Now he's putting a bigger focus on independent voters.
• Does E-Mail Curb Productivity?
  Should employers re-examine the role of e-mail? One trend of thought is that overflowing e-mail can actually decrease workplace productivity. New York Times editor David Shipley, co-author of a book on e-mail, offers his insights.

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