Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Do primary challengers help or hurt endorsed candidates?
  The DFL-endorsed candidates for U.S. Senate and governor say they're focusing on the November general election, and the Republicans running in the race. But Amy Klobuchar and Mike Hatch must first get through the September primary, and both face primary challengers who claim to have stronger positions on the issues.7:20 a.m.
• New law asks state to study use of alternative medicine
  Treatments like acupuncture, massage and herbal medicines have made huge inroads with American consumers in recent years, even though many of these therapies aren't covered by health insurance plans. But that could be changing, at least among Minnesota's publicly-funded insurance programs.7:24 a.m.
• Eastman Johnson's legacy in art
  An art exhibit in Duluth portrays the lives of Ojibwe Indians, as white settlers were moving to Wisconsin and Minnesota.8:24 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Some in Guam Question U.S. Military Presence
  The tiny Pacific island of Guam is shaped like a footprint in the sea. It is 30 miles long. But the U.S. territory of Guam is closer to the Asian mainland than it is to the U.S. Guam hosts a major U.S. military outpost, something that doesn't please all the native residents.
• Few Rules Protect Young Foreign Students in U.S.
  A cultural exchange program that left some foreign students marooned in a hotel for weeks and sent another student home for complaining has lost its State Department license. But it's still bringing foreign students over to the United States under a system that critics say is ripe for abuse.
• Government Shutdown Ripples Through New Jersey
  In New Jersey, a budget standoff has shut down many government services. Steve Inskeep talks to reporter Eugene Sonn, who covers the Statehouse for member stations WBGO and WHYY, about the derailed budget process, and its consequences.
• Swifty Swine Productions Goes for the Gold
  Zach Johnson is in the racing business. But he doesn't race horses, dogs, cars or bikes. He races pigs. He takes his pig team and sets up Porkchop Downs on the county fair and carnival circuit, eight months of the year. His company, Swifty Swine Productions, has plenty of competition in the pig racing field.
• Lay's Optimism at the Heart of his Downfall
  Fortune's Bethany McLean wrote about Enron in the book The Smartest Guys in the Room. She tells Steve Inskeep that Ken Lay's perpetual optimism was a liability when it came to the realities of Enron's troubled business.
• Fraud Conviction Changed Lay Personality
  Wade Goodwyn, who covered the Enron trial for NPR, reacts to the unexpected news that Enron founder Ken Lay has died of a heart attack. Goodwyn tells Lynn Neary that Lay was a changed man after his conviction for fraud related to the collapse of Enron.
• Budget Impasse Forces N.J. Casino Closures
  With New Jersey's legislature and governor failing to agree on a budget, the state has shut down most of its services. Included in the shutdown are state parks and Atlantic City's casinos, which must have government monitors on site to operate. Steve Inskeep speaks with Brad Linder of member station WHYY.
• Research Shows Mice May Have Feelings, Too
  Scientists find evidence that mice and humans may share some sophisticated emotional characteristics. It's now thought mice have the ability to be affected by another mouse's pain or suffering.
• German Fans Deflated by Dramatic World Cup Loss
  Germany, the World Cup host country, lost 2-0 to Italy in a semi-final match Tuesday. The Italians scored twice in the match's waning moments after 118 minutes of scoreless play. The defeat left some German fans in a philosophical mood, looking forward to the next World Cup.
• Congress Duels Publicly over Immigration Overhaul
  The House and Senate kick off a series of competing hearings on immigration. Each chamber claims the public will be swayed by its approach to immigration policy. But analysts aren't sure the hearings will be effective.
• Tennis Falls on Hard Times in the U.S.
  Commentator Frank Deford finds it hard to believe that no American tennis players are left at Wimbledon going into the final rounds. He offers some explanations, and a lamentation for the state of the American game.
• North Korea Missile Tests Grab World's Attention
  North Korea conducts a series of missile tests, launching at least seven rockets. All are reported to have fallen harmlessly into the sea, hundreds of miles away from Japan. A long-range model thought to be able to reach the U.S. fizzled shortly after launch.
• Stem Cell Showdown Nears Between President and Congress
  The Congress may be nearing a confrontation with the White House over stem cell research. Lynn Neary talks to Juan Williams about the debate facing the president over increased funding for stem cell research. The president and some of his supporters have tied the research to the issue of abortion.
• North Korea Seeks U.S. Attention with Missile Tests
  Jim Walsh, an international security expert, talks with Lynn Neary about his trip last year to North Korea. He met with officials their to discuss their nuclear program. He says that North Korea is a proud country that wants to negotiate as an equal with the U.S.
• Japan Feels the Heat From North Korea Tests
  Gerald Curtis, a visiting professor at the Graduate Research Institute for Policy Studies in Tokyo, talks with Lynn Neary about Japan's reaction to North Korea's surprise missile tests. The test missiles fell into the Sea of Japan.

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