Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Guard unit returns from Kosovo
  Hundreds of family members and friends gathered at the West St. Paul Armory Thursday afternoon to welcome National Guard soldiers returning from a year in deployment.6:50 a.m.
• Weather with Mark Seeley
  University of Minnesota climatologist Mark Seeley discusses Minnesota weather history and looks ahead to the weekend forecast.6:54 a.m.
• McCain rallies supporters in St. Paul before Hudson visit
  Republican Sen. John McCain takes his presidential campaign to Hudson, Wis., today, where he'll hold a forum targeting women voters. Last night, McCain urged his Minnesota volunteers to redouble their efforts on his behalf, saying Minnesota and other Midwestern states are critical to his election.7:20 a.m.
• Campaigning in border cities is good political strategy
  Holding presidential campaign events in border towns like Hudson helps candidates leverage the kind of local news coverage they like the most.7:24 a.m.
• Driving in Minneapolis will be a challenge this weekend
  Getting around in the city of Minneapolis could provide challenges for drivers this weekend. Interstate 35W between I-94 and the Crosstown Highway will be closed in both directions for a pavement rehabilitation project. Plus, special events will cause additional closures and delays.8:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Salmonella Warning Extended To Pepper, Herb
  A new case has been reported near Las Vegas in the salmonella outbreak linked to more than 1,000 people across the country. Health officials this week added fresh jalapeno peppers and cilantro to the list of suspected foods contaminated by the bacteria. The list also includes some raw tomatoes.
• Photo Of Iran's Missile Launch Was Manipulated
  It's been proven that a photo showing Iran's launch of four missiles is fake. A defense analyst says he believes only three missiles launched and the fourth malfunctioned. The photo was circulated by newspapers and news agencies before the discrepancy was detected.
• Who Are The Candidates Considering For VP?
  Just who are the people being considered as running mates for Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama? NPR's National Political Correspondent Mara Liasson and Political Editor Ken Rudin say the candidates' choices will be significant and suggest a few who might be on the lists.
• McCain Adviser: Priority Is Getting Economy Growing
  John McCain's economic adviser Carly Fiorina is campaigning with the presumptive GOP presidential nominee and is one of many names that has been mentioned as a possible McCain running mate. Renee Montagne talks with Fiorina, the former president and CEO of Hewlett Packard.
• Checking Up On Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac
  Government-backed mortgage agencies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are facing troubles. Bill Seidman, former chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, says the agencies, which play a huge role in the marketplace, "are not insolvent but are certainly weakened."
• Grunge Pioneer Sub Pop Records Turns 20
  The indie record label that turned Seattle into a mecca for grunge music turns 20 years old Saturday. Sub Pop is known for bringing the music of Nirvana to the world. The grunge genre of the early 1990s has faded, but Sub Pop is still going strong.
• Toyota To Bring Prius Manufacturing To U.S.
  For the first time, Toyoto says it will start manufacturing its popular gas-electric hybrid in the U.S. The Prius now is manufactured in Japan and China. But starting in 2010, the Japanese carmaker will start making the Prius at a plant in Mississippi.
• Nielsen Tries To Keep Pace With TV's Evolution
  For decades, the way the TV networks and advertisers worked together was simple. A lot of people watched TV, the Nielsen company estimated just how many, and the advertisers paid for airtime based on the Nielsen ratings. Now, the TV industry is changing and Nielsen is trying to keep up.
• Retailers Brace For Slump As Rebate Checks Wane
  Two traditionally thrifty retailers, Wal-Mart and Costco, helped overall June retail sales exceed expectations. But that good news may not last now that most of the government stimulus checks have been sent and gas prices continue to climb.
• Hundreds More Colombians Remain FARC Captives
  Four Colombian police officers are back home after 10 years of captivity as hostages of the FARC guerrilla group. But more than 40 fellow officers — and hundreds of other people — remain in the hands of rebel soldiers, and Colombians haven't forgotten them.
• Germany Considers Voting Rights For Kids
  German lawmakers are considering extending the right to vote to all of its citizens — even those in diapers. Its legal voting age now is 18, or 16 in some areas. "Kinder voting" is designed to eliminate discrimination against minors.
• Spicy Lamb Curry Gets Hearts Pounding In London
  A London restaurant served what it claims is the world's hottest dish Thursday. "The Bollywood Burner" is a lamb-based curry made with the Naga chili pepper — more than 100 times hotter than the jalapeno. It's up for a Guinness World Record.
• Study: Global Coral Crisis Is In Full Bloom
  As many as one-third of the world's coral reefs may be headed toward extinction. A new study blames the destruction on a range of culprits, from fishing boats to climate change.
• As Domestic Spying Rises, Some Prosecutions Drop
  The number of FISA warrants for domestic spying has risen sharply since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, by Islamist extremists. But the number of criminal cases against Islamist extremists has fallen in the same period.
• Free Speech In China? Text Me
  Hundreds of millions of people in China have cell phones, and with no voice mail, many turn to text messaging to make sure their messages get conveyed. Texting remains one of the few outlets for free speech in a country notorious for its censorship practices.

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