Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• RNC will come to Minneapolis, too
  Preparations for the Republican National Convention are in full swing and the event will make for changes in Minneapolis as well as St. Paul.7:20 a.m.
• Questions raised about Hatch-negotiated deal
  Legislative Auditor James Nobles says he has questions about a 2006 lawsuit settlement between former Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch and a credit card company.7:25 a.m.
• U. S. Dist. Judge Davis makes history as new chief of Minn.'s federal bench
  U.S. District Judge Michael Davis is the first African-American to head Minnesota's federal bench.7:50 a.m.
• Politicals ads have only just begun
  On the Fourth of July, Minnesotans all over the state will gather together for barbecues, parades and fireworks. But Morning Edition commentator Peter Smith says the political fireworks are just beginning.7:55 a.m.
• Filing opens for candidates in Minnesota
  County, state and federal candidates have until July 15 to submit their paperwork at the Secretary of State's office or in their county of residence.8:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Political Hot Topic: U.S. Trade With Colombia
  John McCain is headed to Latin America to express support for trade with Colombia. Why has Colombian trade become such a hot political issue?
• Oil Prices Squeeze Pentagon's Budget
  The Department of Defense's budget is heavily affected by rising gas prices, especially when it comes to fueling Air Force jets. Some even say that Iraq's oil reserves should help pay the costs.
• Feds Track Americans' Money In Swiss Bank
  Justice Department officials have asked a federal court to let the IRS request client information from Swiss bank UBS, after a former UBS banker facing charges recently testified that U.S. taxpayers had about $20 billion in "undeclared" accounts.
• 3-D TV Shows Beam Into Japanese Homes
  The time may soon come for American Idol to spring off the screen at you. Unfortunately, right now 3-D TV is only available in Japan, where cable channels broadcast 3-D programs several times a day. But viewers need a special television and glasses.
• Sarkozy Takes Turn At Helm Of European Union
  French President Nicolas Sarkozy takes control of the European Union for the next six months.
• Tale Of Lost Love Haunts White Sands
  When the wind blows at White Sands National Monument, legend has it that the centuries-old ghost of a Mexican maiden can be seen in the shifting sands. It is said that the maiden is still searching for her betrothed, whose body was never found.
• Chrysler Announces Shutdown In St. Louis
  Chrysler plans to shut down a minivan plant in St. Louis, Mo., which will affect about 2,400 factory workers. New sales figures are due out Tuesday, and they are expected to show an industry reeling from a swift change in consumer preferences.
• Birmingham Cuts Workweek To Save Energy Costs
  Birmingham, Ala., is the latest to switch to a four-day, 10-hour workweek for city employees in order to save energy costs. Chris Hartzell, Birmingham's chief of operations, says the plan will benefit workers and the city, which has seen its fuel costs increase by 50 percent.
• Pain At The Pump Curbs Traveling Bands
  Musicians longing to play live music spend a lot of time playing bars and basements for little more than gas money. But gas money isn't what it used to be, and taking an act on the road isn't happening as much as it used to. Musicians are having to re-think how they tour.
• National Parks' Civil War Relics Tempt Thieves
  Many historical artifacts can be found in national parks, which are often tempting to thieves. Some say stealing these relics may help preserve history rather than hurt it. As part of our series on national parks, NPR's Laura Sullivan has the story.
• Appeals Court: Suspect's Detention in Cuba Unjust
  A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., ruled that the military's case against a Guantanamo Bay prisoner was not enough to justify his detention for six-and-a-half years.
• Tuskegee Airman Charles Dryden Dies At 87
  Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Charles Dryden, one of the first black World War II fighter pilots known as the Tuskegee Airmen, died last week at the age of 87.
• Book Ponders How To End Detainees' Legal Limbo
  Co-host Ari Shapiro talks with Benjamin Wittes, author of Law and the Long War: The Future of Justice in the Age of Terror. Among the issues they discuss are the right to due process of enemy combatants — and what Wittes sees as a way forward, beyond Guantanamo.
• U.S. Poised To Hand Off Anbar To Iraqis
  Anbar was once considered the most dangerous province in Iraq. Now, U.S. forces are planning to hand control of the province back to the Iraqi government. Maj. Gen. John Kelly, the commander of U.S. forces in western Iraq, talks about the handover.
• Iraq Opens Oil Fields To Western Developers
  Iraq's oil ministry has just opened the doors to several major western oil companies. It's been more than 36 years since companies like Exxon have had access to Iraq's oil fields. And down the road, Iraq's reserves could dramatically increase the world's oil supply.

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