Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Children's Hospitals announces $300 million expansion
  Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota has announced that it will spend $300 million to expand and modernize its St. Paul and Minneapolis campuses.7:20 a.m.
• Health commissioner faces hard questions at hearing
  Minnesota Health Commissioner Dianne Mandernach faced her critics Tuesday at a joint House-Senate hearing in St. Paul. Several lawmakers have called on Mandernach to resign, after she waited a year to reveal data about cancer deaths among miners in northeastern Minnesota.7:24 a.m.
• Star Tribune publisher: No harm intended in transferring files
  In testimony on Tuesday, Par Ridder acknowledged taking 18 to 20 spreadsheets containing sensitive data on advertising, finances and personnel when he was hired in March. But he said he intended to use them only to re-create the forms with Star Tribune data.7:56 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Natural Death Considered a Blessing in Iraq
  In Iraq people die every day from acts of violence: a roadside bomb, a suicide attack, a sectarian assassination. Though it's hard to lose a loved one no matter what, in this kind of world it's considered a divine gift when someone dies a natural death.
• Mosques Reflect on Padilla's Islamic Education
  Jose Padilla, the so-called "dirty bomber," is often described as a former Chicago gang member, but there was a southern chapter to his life, as well. Padilla converted to Islam in Florida. He learned Arabic at one mosque there, and was introduced to a stricter form of Islam at another.
• Profile: Rupert Murdoch
  Rupert Murdoch's bid to buy The Wall Street Journal and its parent company, Dow Jones, has set off alarms in the media world. His detractors say he will undermine the newspaper's tradition of editorial independence. Two of his former editors, media watchers and a former editor of the Journal discuss the media baron.
• iPhone Review: 'Flawed, But Absolutely Beautiful'
  The Apple iPhone goes on sale Friday evening, and the excitement — and hype — is mounting. New York Times technology writer David Pogue is one of the few tech gurus to get his hands on the gadget before its official release. He shares his impressions.
• News Corp., Dow Jones Ease Closer to Deal
  Dow Jones, owner of The Wall Street Journal, has reached an agreement in principle with Rupert Murdoch to protect the editorial independence of the business newspaper. The deal may clear Murdoch's final obstacle in his quest to buy the company for $5 billion.
• Gordon Brown Moves to British Prime Minister Post
  Gordon Brown takes over the British government, replacing Tony Blair as prime minister. Brown is considered to be fond of America — he used to vacation on Cape Cod and reads American literature. Jonathan Freedland, a columnist at the Guardian newspaper, discusses Brown and what the British people expect from him with Steve Inskeep.
• Blackstone Shares Slip Below Offer Price
  Private-equity firm Blackstone Group went public on Friday. It was one of Wall Street's most anticipated offerings in years. But when trading finished Tuesday, the share price had slipped lower than its initial price of $31. That has some people wondering about the buyout boom, partly because of a bill in Congress that could more than double the taxes that firms like Blackstone pay.
• Recall of Chinese-Made Tires Faces Complications
  The U.S. government has recalled Chinese-made tires for light trucks and vans sold under the brand names Westlake, Telluride, Compass and YKS. But the Chinese manufacturer denies that the tires are defective, and it's unclear who is liable.
• Interior Official Sentenced in Abramoff Scandal
  A federal judge hands down a 10-month prison term to the highest-ranking Bush administration official implicated so far in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal. Steven Griles was second-in-command at the Interior Department during President Bush's first term. He was sentenced for lying about favors he did for Abramoff.
• Lake Tahoe Wild Fire Forces 2,000 to Evacuate
  The Lake Tahoe fire has now destroyed more than 200 homes and outbuildings and forced the evacuation of at least 2,000 residents. After winds kicked up, a tree ignited and the flames quickly jumped a fire break. More homes remain threatened as the fire continues to burn out of control. Some 3,000 acres have burned.
• SEC Probes Collateralized Loans
  The Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating one of Wall Street's latest investment trends. They're complex debt instruments called collateralized loan obligations, or CLOs. They are used to channel capital to businesses and other borrowers. Some analysts are worried that the spread of CLOs could put the economy at risk.
• Hot Dog-Eating Champ Suffers Arthritic Jaw
  Takeru Kobayashi is being treated for an arthritic jaw. That is tough news for him to take because he really needs the jaw. For six years running, he's won the Yellow Mustard Belt. That's the title handed out every Fourth of July at the hot dog eating competition on Coney Island. Last year, he ate 54 hot dogs in 12 minutes. He says he's desperate to get his jaw back into form for this year.
• Web Site Strips Log-In Hassle
  BugMeNot.com is the name of an Australian Web site that generates log-ins for Web sites that require users to fill in personal or demographic information. It has worked out how to get around registering on more than 160,000 sites. It lists some high-minded reasons such as it's a breach of privacy, and it's contrary to the fundamental spirit of the Net. But the other reason is simply "it's annoying as hell."
• Gator Bites Golfer Chasing Wayward Ball
  A golf ball only costs a couple bucks, but many golfers just hate to lose one. Count Bruce Burger among them. He knocked his ball into a pond in Venice, Fla. He reached in to get the ball, despite the sign reading: "Beware of Alligator." That's when an 11-foot gator latched onto his arm. Fortunately, the reptile wasn't that persistent. Burger used his free arm to whack the gator until it released him.
• Chinese Firms Accused of Dashing Safety Rules
  Defective tires are the latest product manufactured in China to have trouble with regulators. John Frisbie, president of the U.S.-China Business Council, says Chinese companies are not adhering to international safety standards. Frisbie talks about whether recent bad news has changed American business interests in China with Steve Inkseep.

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