Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Union president pleased with contract ratification, still fighting for patient safety
  Linda Hamilton, president of the Minnesota Nurses Association, said she is pleased that the nurses have ratified their new contract, but she will still work for the staffing ratios that nurses believe will ensure patient safety.7:20 a.m.
• Hospital CEO responds to the end of constract dispute with Minnesota Nurses Association
  Members of the Minnesota Nurses Association yesterday voted to accept a contract offer from 14 metro area hospitals, averting a major strike. One of the hospitals was Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park. Dr. David Abelson is the CEO of Park Nicollet, he joined Cathy Wurzer by phone.7:25 a.m.
• Money for motorized recreation too much, some Minnesotans say
  A Minnesota group opposed to motorized recreation says the state should stop spending millions of gas tax dollars on programs for snowmobiles, boats and All Terrain Vehicles. Minnesotans for Responsible Recreation says the state should put the money toward deteriorating roads and bridges instead.7:40 a.m.
• Film director Ken Loach goes 'Looking for Eric'
  Combining unlikely ingredients can make for great food -- and great movies. British director Ken Loach creates gritty depictions of working class life. His latest film "Looking for Eric," which opens in the Twin Cities this weekend, includes an unlikely collaborator -- a French soccer superstar.7:45 a.m.
• Reporter debrief: Liz Baier with news from southeast Minnesota
  Cathy Wurzer gets all the news from southeast Minnesota. She talked to reporter Liz Baier about panhandling licenses, registration for same-sex couples and fixing the tornado warning system.8:25 a.m.
• Minn. nurses approve deal, averting strike
  A contentious contract battle between Twin Cities nurses and 14 metro-area hospitals has ended, with nurses voting overwhelmingly to approve a new labor agreement.8:35 a.m.
• Economist says tip credit won't change much in Minnesota
  The candidates for governor in Minnesota are divided over whether workers who earn tips should be subject to a lower minimum wage. It's an issue that's been debated for years at the state capitol. St. Cloud State economist Orn Bodvarsson has done extensive research on both tipping and the minimum wage, and he joined Cathy Wurzer this morning from our studios in Collegeville to discuss the policy debate.8:40 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• U.S. Military, Diplomacy Efforts Are 'Imbalanced'
  While there has been much discussion over the U.S. military strategy in Afghanistan, there hasn't been much of a public conversation on U.S. diplomacy there. Daniel Markey of the Council on Foreign Relations talks to Renee Montagne about diplomatic efforts in Afghanistan. Markey used to do policy planning on South and Central Asia for the State Department.
• Under Fire, The Fight Heats Up In Afghanistan
  NPR photographer David Gilkey is on patrol with the 101st Airborne Division in Pashmul, Afghanistan. The area is considered key to securing Kandahar. He tells Mary Louise Kelly that the U.S. military has met with heavy resistance.
• 50 Years On, 'Mockingbird' Still Sings America's Song
  When it was published in 1960, Harper Lee's modest novel helped Americans think differently about race. Now, 50 years later, To Kill a Mockingbird still resonates in a much-changed America. NPR's Lynn Neary examines the lasting impact of Scout Finch and her father, Atticus — a lawyer who defends a black man unjustly accused of rape.
• Obama Pushes Jobless Relief As Debt Concerns Mount
  After last week's tepid jobs numbers, President Obama promised a "relentless" effort to keep the economy growing. But a Gallup Poll released last month showed Americans are just about as concerned with government debt as they are with unemployment, so the president's options are limited.
• Is Deficit Spending Worth It To Create Jobs?
  President Obama wants to create jobs by spending more borrowed money on unemployment benefits and state aid. This is a tough sell for Democrats whose constituents are worried about the skyrocketing deficit. It's a conundrum the candidates are facing this week as they campaign in their districts during the Fourth of July break.
• BP's Tony Hayward On Middle East Trip
  The oil company's chief executive is in the Persian Gulf visiting Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. According to news reports, he may be looking for investors to boost BP's finances and help fend off any potential takeover attempts. BP's shares have fallen by half since the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
• Social Media Spread Hatred Against BP's Hayward
  Lucy Kellaway, the workplace and management columnist for the Financial Times, talks to Renee Montagne about BP CEO Tony Hayward and public hatred of corporate executives. Kellaway says corporate executives are much more vilified these days. She explains what's changed since the days of the Union Carbide tragedy and even the Exxon Valdez spill.
• Happy Birthday Ringo Starr
  Former Beatle Ringo Starr turns 70 on Wednesday. In his honor, New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art has put Starr's gold-plated snare drum on display. The drum was a gift from the Ludwig drum company. Its logo was featured prominently on the drum Starr played during the band's 1964 debut on The Ed Sullivan Show.
• GOP Faces Internal Divide On Changes To Immigration
  Some prominent conservatives are speaking out in favor of the kind of comprehensive immigration bill that many Republicans oppose -- one that would include border security and then a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
• Annapolis High School: A Work In Progress
  Long before the Obama administration started talking about turning around failing schools, Annapolis High School in Maryland embarked on a radical transformation. It went to a 12-month school year. Teachers and administrators had to re-apply for their jobs, and those who were rehired vowed to never again let a single student fall through the cracks.

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