Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Dull, old, unloved and still the best way to save energy dollars
  Conservation advocates struggle to make their case as public attention focuses on flashy new energy alternatives. But some Minnesotans find conservation is an energy source.7:20 a.m.
• Anoka County approves Wheelage Tax
  Car owners in Anoka County will soon start paying a new wheelage tax to pay for road projects. The Anoka County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously last night to impose an annual $5 per vehicle tax that is expected to raise about $1.4 million a year specifically for transportation projects. Dakota County's board approved the same wheelage tax last week, and other metro area counties are expected to weigh in before August.7:50 a.m.
• Good grades would mean free college under Pawlenty plan
  Gov. Pawlenty has outlined a plan to provide free in-state college tuition to Minnesota's top high school students. Pawlenty says an estimated 16,000 students could benefit in the first year. DFL critics say the Republican governor has had an election-year conversion on higher education issues.7:54 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• NBC Plugs into YouTube's Viral Growth
  YouTube, the wildly popular video-sharing Web site, was an underground phenomenon just a few months ago. Now, with millions of viewers and millions in venture capital, YouTube is entering into a deal with NBC to promote the network's programming on the site.
• Doggy Day Care Unleashed
  Day care isn't just for kids anymore. In recent years, more than 1,500 day-care centers for dogs have opened around the country. Some dog lovers confess to spending $6,000 to $7,000 a year on the service. How's that for puppy love?
• San Diego's a Winner in Sanitation Circles
  San Diego may have the finest garbage truck drivers in the world. For the fourth time in the city's history, a San Diego city employee has won the Sanitation Driver of the Year award.
• High Court Upholds Most of Texas Redistricting Map
  In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court upholds most of the Texas congressional districting map engineered by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. The court, however, did find that the map infringes on the minority voting rights of some Hispanics.
• 'Oath Betrayed' Questions Doctors' Roles in Torture
  In the spring of 2004, when Americans were horrified by the pictures of abuse at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison, medical-ethics expert Steven Miles had just one question: Where were the doctors? Miles, himself a doctor, has written a book about how the medical profession failed to perform its role as protector.
• Afghan Government Struggles with Taliban Threat
  Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrives in Afghanistan to show support for President Hamid Karzai, whose popularity has slumped in the face of a resurgent Taliban. Susan Stamberg talks with journalist Ahmed Rashid about the current state of affairs in Afghanistan.
• Specter Challenges Presidential Signing Statements
  President Bush has regularly added signing statements to laws passed by the Congress, with some statements noting an unwillingness to enforce the law. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) says the president's actions are a challenge to the Constitution. He wants to be able to sue the president over signings.
• Flag-Burning Amendment Comes Up Short in Senate
  A constitutional amendment to ban flag burning fell one vote short of the two-thirds majority necessary to pass Tuesday. The Senate vote was 66 to 34 in favor of the amendment. The amendment has already passed in the House.
• Soldier's Kidnapping Increases Mideast Tensions
  Philip Wilcox, president for the Foundation for Middle East, talks with Susan Stamberg about efforts to free an Israeli soldier held by Palestinian militants. Does the Israeli incursion make a bad situation worse?
• Israel Enters Gaza in Wake of Soldier's Capture
  Israeli tanks and troops have moved into southern Gaza. Warplanes have attacked three bridges and knocked out power to the coastal strip. The attacks are an attempt by the Jewish state to step up pressure on Palestinian militants holding a 19-year-old Israeli soldier captive.
• Conservative Groups Push for More Judicial Confirmations
  Conservative groups are urging President Bush and Senate Republicans to push harder to get more of the president's judicial nominees approved. Social conservatives want more confirmations before the November elections in case the GOP loses Senate seats.
• Congress Moves Toward Approval of India Nuclear Agreement
  Congress is marking-up legislation that would allow the U.S.-India nuclear cooperation agreement to be implemented. The deal is controversial because India has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and has tested nuclear weapons.
• Lance Armstrong Rebuts Latest Doping Allegations
  Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong is making the media rounds this week to rebut the latest doping allegations against him. In particular, he is denying sworn testimony from two witnesses who say he openly acknowledged in 1996 that he had used performance-enhancing drugs.
• Video-Game Designers Target World Peace
  A group of game designers says taht video-game technology can help save the world by raising humanitarian awareness. The creators of free educational games such as Darfur is Dying and PeaceMaker met with humanitarian activists during the third-annual Games for Change conference in New York.
• Tour De France Readies for Post-Armstrong Era
  Here's a statistic to strike fear in the heart of the French. Ten of the last 20 Tour de France races have been won by Americans. This year's race begins Saturday without Lance Armstrong, responsible for many of those American victories. Susan Stamberg talks to cycling journalist James Raia for a look at the competition in the post-Armstrong era.

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