Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Guard returning to Midwest under secrecy
  The 1st Brigade has been in Iraq for about 16 months. Guard officials say all the troops, including 2,600 Minnesotans, will be back in the U.S. by the end of the month with most arriving within the next several days.7:20 a.m.
• Farmers worry ethanol mergers in the future
  The face of the ethanol industry could change in the next year if analysts predicting a wave of mergers are correct. An expected over-supply of the corn-based fuel could trigger industry consolidation.7:50 a.m.
• Hey lead foot, if you want to save gas, slow down
  A Hinckley man is encouraging drivers addicted to speed to slow down. Drive-easy and conserve, he says.7:55 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Pastor's Plight Shows Burden of Student Debt
  Twenty-five years ago, Pastor Dan Lozer borrowed $15,000 in student loans to attend divinity school. He has paid back much more than that, yet he still owes nearly twice as much. A bill now before Congress could help future borrowers avoid a similar fate.
• White House Reviews Iraq Strategy
  With Republican senators publicly questioning continued support of President Bush's strategy in Iraq, White House officials held meetings last week to discuss their Iraq strategy. The administration intends to address expected criticism.
• Besieged Mosque's Leader Killed in Attack
  The leader of the Red Mosque in Pakistan's capital was killed as government troops raided the compound. For the past week, Pakistani forces and Islamist militants at the mosque were locked in a bloody stand-off. At least 50 people were killed in the raid. Joining us from Islamabad to talk about situation is Griff Witte of The Washington Post.
• FBI Shares New Guidelines on Subpoena Power
  The FBI met with privacy advocates to explain new rules governing National Security Letters, which give the FBI permission to get phone, e-mail and financial records without a court order. But civil liberties groups say there is still a disconnect.
• China's Former Food Safety Chief Put to Death
  China executed the former head of its food and drug administration for approving fake drugs and taking bribes. He became a symbol of the flaws and corruption surrounding product safety. Officials from various Chinese ministries, including Commerce, discuss recent food safety scares.
• Barry Bonds in Spotlight for All-Star Game
  San Francisco hosts Major League Baseball's All-Star game, and all eyes will be on hometown favorite, Giants' slugger Barry Bonds. He's just four home runs short of tying Hank Aaron's all-time record. But his march to glory is overshadowed by suspicions of steroids use.
• Service, Sacrifice Must Include Privileged
  Scholars Charles Moskos, professor emeritus at Northwestern University, and Chris Gelpi, political science instructor at Duke University, discuss military service and public opinion.
• Chicago's Merc, Board of Trade Finally Merge
  The Chicago Board of Trade voted to join forces with the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, which pursued CBOT for months and shelled out nearly $12 billion. The merger creates the world's largest one-stop futures and options market for everything from interest rates to pork bellies.
• Writers Seek Piece of Digital Pie in New Contract
  In Hollywood, the hot topic is the contract with film and TV writers, which expires in October. Negotiations between the Writers Guild and the studios get underway this month. At the center of the contract talks: how writers will be paid when their shows are on iPods, cell phones, or computers.
• Milberg Partner Pleads Guilty to Kickback Scheme
  David Bershad, once a top partner at the Milberg, Weiss, and Bershad law firm, has pleaded guilty to participating in a kickback scheme. He will forfeit millions of dollars and cooperate with prosecutors. The law firm is one of the busiest when it comes to suing corporations on behalf of investors.
• Music Instruction Series Marks 60th Anniversary
  The publishing company founded by Mel Bay, best known for music instruction books for guitar, turns 60 this year. His son Bill talks about the 60th anniversary of the series, which now has 3,000 to 4,000 titles cataloged. Bay spoke with John Ydstie.
• Big Things Come to the Big and Tall Market
  LivingXL.com is a new Web site offering products for plus-sized customers. It sells everything from kitchen items to reinforced toilet seats, but not clothes. The Web site is the creation of Casual Male Retail Group, which owns one of the nation's largest chains of men's plus-sized clothing stores.
• Wrecking Ball Rolls Freely
  A 15,000 pound wrecking ball broke loose from a crane demolishing part of a library at Allegheny College in Meadville, Penn. The sphere rolled nearly three-quarters of a mile downhill, damaging dozens of cars. One police officer said it was pretty easy to follow the path of destruction.
• Defense Budget Amendment May Bring Pullout
  The Senate is considering a series of amendments to the 2008 Defense budget that could set in motion a large-scale troop drawdown. By the end of this week, the White House is scheduled to deliver a report to Congress assessing the early impact of the President's new Iraq strategy.
• Fruits, Veggies Not Yummy Enough for Kids
  Hardly any federal programs have succeeded in changing the way kids eat. Last year, a pilot program went so far as to give away fruits and vegetables to fifth-graders. By the end of the year, kids were less willing to eat them. Apparently they realized they didn't like the taste.

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