Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• GOP convention still needs 1,000 volunteers
  The Minneapolis-St. Paul host committee still needs more than 1,000 volunteers to work during the Republican National Convention in St. Paul. Meanwhile in Denver, so many volunteers have signed up for the Democratic National Convention that thousands will likely be turned away.7:20 a.m.
• Protesters want to change time of RNC march
  A group of Iraq war protesters asked a federal judge today to allow a protest march during the Republican National Convention at a time later than St. Paul city officials have proposed.7:24 a.m.
• Summer is a good opportunity to watch plays being born
  Performing arts organizations usually slow down during the summer. But in Minneapolis, the warm weather months are also excellent opportunities for audiences to watch new plays in the process of being born.8:24 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Airlines Urge Customers To Oppose Oil Speculation
  The CEOs of 12 major U.S. air carriers have written a letter to their frequent fliers. They're asking customers to pressure Congress about oil market speculation. Airline executives say financial speculation is partly responsible for the increase in oil prices that's crippling their industry.
• Coffee Chain Drops 20-Ounce Drinks
  A Chicago-based coffee chain called Intelligentsia is doing away with 20-ounce coffee drinks. The company's chief executive, Doug Zell, tells the Chicago Tribune, "Drinking our coffee is not like drinking jug wine."
• Mukasey Under Fire In Justice Department Hearing
  Attorney General Michael Mukasey says he's doing all he can to make sure the Justice Department recovers from months of scandal. Mukasey testified Wednesday for nearly three hours before the Senate Judiciary Committee, but Senators got few of the answers they were looking for.
• Study Links Epilepsy Drugs To Suicidal Thoughts
  The Food and Drug Administration is considering beefing up its warnings about the relationship between epilepsy drugs and suicide. Its staffers have analyzed 199 studies and found that the drugs increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and actions by 80 percent.
• Using Online Social Sites To Boost Carpooling
  The high price of gasoline is fueling a new fleet of social network startups in ridesharing. They're trying to leverage social networks and the ease of technology to make it easier for people to carpool. But some analysts say it will take more than $4-a-gallon gas to get social network carpools firing on all cylinders.
• Delays Costly In Courthouse Slaying Suspect's Trial
  The trial of Brian Nichols, the man accused of killing four people while escaping from a Georgia county jail in 2005, resumes Thursday. Many people thought his case should have been wrapped up long ago. But Georgia's defense fund ran out of money — making the trial run into a number of delays.
• Letters: Shakespeare, Physicians, Credit, Kindle
  Steve Inskeep and Renee Montagne read listeners' letters.
• Israelis Propose Laws To Punish Terrorists' Families
  Following last week's bulldozer rampage in Jerusalem, some Israeli politicians want to pass laws that penalize families of people who launch attacks. While some Jewish lawmakers say it's necessary for Israel to toughen laws, critics say the proposals are about revenge.
• Both Obama, McCain Vow To Lower Taxes, But How?
  Both presumptive presidential nominees propose to extend President Bush's tax cuts. Wealthy Americans stand to lose — or gain — the most, depending on who's elected. Steve Inskeep talks with NPR Economics Correspondent John Ydstie about the tax plans proposed by Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama.
• Kennedy Returns To Senate For Medicare Vote
  Senators were surprised to see Sen. Edward Kennedy return to the Senate floor for a pivotal Medicare vote Wednesday. They were even more surprised minutes later, when a bill that just days earlier seemed mired in partisan limbo passed by a veto-proof 69-30 margin.
• California Wildfires: Couple's Home 'Gone In A Whiff'
  Hundreds of wildfires are still burning out of control in California. In the northern part of the state, one area has been in and out of mandatory evacuations for the past two weeks. One couple, Joan and Jerrold Lively, recently returned to their home.
• McCain Campaign Focuses On Economic Message
  Just a week after shake-ups in his management staff, Republican John McCain's campaign is showing signs of sharper focus. His economic message is being reinforced with daily conference calls and high-profile supporters appearing on morning TV news shows.
• Woman Feels Her Bra Wiggle, Finds Tiny Bat Inside
  A hotel receptionist in England felt a vibration that she thought was her cell phone in the upper pocket of her jacket. It was not. At lunch, 19-year-old Abbie Hawkins investigated. From her bra, she plucked out a sleeping baby bat. She figures it snuggled into the bra as it hung on the clothesline.
• Teen 'Troll' Rolled Joints With Bridge Tolls, Police Say
  A Colorado teenager created a toll bridge, or rather a "troll" bridge. Robert Hibbs allegedly told bikers and joggers he was a troll and demanded one dollar to cross. When an off-duty sheriff's deputy refused to pay, Hibbs allegedly attacked the deputy. Once police arrested Hibbs, they found he was rolling marijuana joints with his one-dollar bills.
• Standard and Poor's Tumbles Into Bear Territory
  The Standard and Poor's 500 Index slipped into bear-market territory Wednesday. It's down more than 20 percent from its all-time high.

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