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

• 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.
• 'Hellboy II,' Doing Justice To Comics (And Baddies)
  The demon hero's latest adventure definitely packs the comic book's punch — but Guillermo del Toro's latest flick isn't just for fanboys. The filmmaker's prodigious gifts make it an actioner for all ages.
• Brown Estate In A 'Cold Sweat' Over Image Use
  The estate of the late "Godfather of Soul" says Corbis Corp. violated James Brown's right of publicity by selling photos of him. Corbis has asked the Illinois Legislature to pass a law to protect its business of selling celebrity photos.
• NATO Base In Afghanistan Gets Major Expansion
  A key NATO air base in southern Afghanistan is expanding its infrastructure to the tune of $780 million, though not everyone is happy about the growth. The Kandahar Air Base serves 13,000 troops from 17 countries.
• 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.
• Economy Takes Toll On Education Funding
  Education budgets are getting hit by higher costs for fuel and food and by lower tax revenues due to the real estate downturn. But some states are trying to protect schools from lousy economic conditions.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

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