Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• DNR officials concerned over thefts of state flower
  The theft of certain plants is big business nationwide, but the uprooting of Minnesota's state flower has some DNR officials worried.6:25 a.m.
• Microcinema backers think small, hope big
  When it comes to movies, some Minnesotans are thinking small. Tonight the Trylon Microcinema, a theater that only seats 50 people, opens in Minneapolis.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.6:55 a.m.
• Minnesota hospitals upset about health care deal
  Some Minnesota hospitals are fuming over a new national agreement that gives back billions of dollars in federal hospital payments to help pay for overhauling the U.S. health care system.7:20 a.m.
• County wants to burn more garbage at Minneapolis incinerator
  Hennepin County wants to burn more garbage at its downtown Minneapolis waste-to-energy plant in order to produce more energy, but the plan is running into opposition from neighbors.7:40 a.m.
• For Twins ballpark, grass is greener in Colorado
  The grass for the new Twins ballpark has been growing for about a year -- not in Minnesota, but in Colorado. Chosen for the fast-draining qualities of its sandy soil, the turf will make the 800 mile trek to Minneapolis in August.7:45 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Moths Outwit Bats By Jamming Sonar
  Bats are among nature's cleverest predators, using ultrasonic signals to locate their prey at night. But one species of tiger moth has learned to outfox the bats by jamming the bat's sonar using its own bursts of ultrasound.
• Hot Climates May Create Sluggish Economies
  New research suggests that poor countries experience significantly slower economic growth in years when the thermometer soars. Economists are studying why poorer economies of the world tend to be in hot places.
• Fighting Racism Is A Family Tradition
  At 36, Benjamin Todd Jealous is the youngest president in the history of the 100-year-old NAACP. But he has a legacy to live up to in his own family when it comes to battling racism in America.
• Paulson Defends Bank Deal To Lawmakers
  If there's one deal that has come to represent the height of the nation's panic during the financial crisis, it is Bank of America's purchase of Merrill Lynch. That deal has been scrutinized and criticized, particularly for the unusual role the government played in making it happen. Former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson came under Congressional fire Thursday for his role in that controversial deal.
• Author Tracks Afghanistan's Descent Into War
  As the U.S. troop surge in Afghanistan continues, Renee Montagne talks with political scientist Seth Jones about some of the challenges facing both military and civilian efforts there. He's written a book called, In the Graveyard of Empires: America's War in Afghanistan. Montagne also previews her reporting trip to Afghanistan. She'll be there in the run-up to next month's elections.
• Sotomayor Appears Close To Confirmation
  Republicans promise that the full Senate will vote on Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court by early August. Jeff Sessions, the Senate Judiciary Committee's top Republican, has abandoned calls for a delay in the vote until September.
• Independent High Court Ushers Britain Into New Era
  For the first time, Great Britain is establishing a Supreme Court — a role that has in past always been fulfilled by 12 judges sitting in the House of Lords. That will change in October, as the British government begins to implement separation of powers.
• Engineer Convicted Of Stealing Trade Secrets
  A Chinese-American engineer has been found guilty of stealing trade secrets for China. Dongfan "Greg" Chung, 73, is the first person convicted under a 1996 economic espionage law, which cracked down on the theft of information from private companies that work with the government on space and military technologies. Investigators found hundreds of thousands of pages of sensitive documents stacked up in his home.
• Banks May Thwart Germany's Economic Recovery
  Banks in Germany are under increasing pressure to do more long-term lending to help Europe's largest economy recover more quickly from the recession. There's also concern German banks are in denial about the long-term impact of toxic debt. One financial regulator estimates there's more than $1 trillion of bad debt on the banks' books.
• Wal-Mart To Index Products' Eco Impact
  Wal-Mart is setting up an environmental ratings system for all of its products. The retailer's suppliers will be required to detail the environmental costs of making their products. Wal-Mart will then turn that information into an index to help customers understand the sustainability of what they buy. The initiative could change the way consumer goods are produced and marketed around the world.

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