Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Duluth air show draws fans and foes
  The Duluth air show this weeked will draw fans and foes of military aircraft.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.
• Utilities try to persuade consumers to conserve
  Minnesota's utilities face a daunting task: the state has told them to cut their sales of electricity and natural gas by 1.5 percent a year.7:20 a.m.
• Foreclosure crisis recovery in Minneapolis to cost millions
  Millions of dollars are being spent to help some north Minneapolis neighborhoods recover from the mortgage foreclosure crisis.7:25 a.m.
• Packers charge Vikings with tampering
  The Minnesota Vikings have declined to comment on allegations that they made inappropriate contact with quarterback Brett Favre.8:24 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• A Grandmother Who Lived By The Rules — Her Own
  Even at 87, Kay Wang had a reputation for being strong-willed, something that began when she was a child. "I wasn't very nice" as a little girl, Wang told her son, Cheng, and her granddaughter, Chen. But Wang, who died in April, left a deep mark on her family.
• Joe Wambaugh: The Writer Who Redefined LAPD
  Wambaugh, who spent years on the force, wrote the best-selling book The Onion Field in three months during a leave of absence from the department. Over the decades, his realistic and multidimensional portrayals of L.A. cops have helped tranform their public image.
• Candidates' Terror Policies Tough To Distinguish
  Given that John McCain consistently polls better than Barack Obama on the question of how to fight terrorism, it is in McCain's interest to highlight the policy differences he has with Obama. But there aren't many, according to one counterterrorism expert.
• Cracking Down On Short-Selling's 'Naked' Cousin
  A more sinister cousin to short selling stocks is naked short selling. The practice has been blamed for eroding the value of financial stocks. Traders who sell short place a bet that the stock will drop. But traders involved in so-called "naked shorts" add to their risk.
• Obama Embarks On Tour Of Europe, Mideast
  Illinois senator Barack Obama begins his travels this weekend to meet with leaders in Europe and the Middle East. It's his first trip abroad as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. Obama's campaign hopes the trip will show his preparedness to deal with foreign policy.
• Jury Sides With Barbie In Bratz Case
  A federal jury Thursday found that Bratz dolls were in fact conceived by a designer who was on Mattel's payroll. Mattel, Barbie's corporate parent, had accused Bratz maker MGA of stealing the idea. Next week, a jury will decide on damages. It could award Mattel royalties to Bratz, which bring in hundreds of millions of dollars a year.
• Geneva Talks A Shift In U.S.-Iran Relations?
  This weekend, the Bush administration is sending U.S. Undersecretary of State William Burns to Geneva to join talks with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator. The talks may mark a diplomatic shift in U.S. relations with Iran.
• Lawmakers' Rent Payments Raise Ethics Questions
  While Congress is struggling to address plummeting home values and mortgage meltdowns, some members of Congress are facing another kind of housing crisis: Questions have been raised recently about the fairness of what they pay for their own digs.
• Short Selling: Profiting From Others' Misery?
  Financial concerns at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have dominated the news and introduced more specialized business jargon into the mainstream society. One of those terms is "short selling."
• France, U.S.: Similar Financial Woes, Different Result
  In France, inflation hit an 18-year high last month. But the country isn't facing an economic slowdown similar to the United States.
• Senate Study: Tax Shelters Cost U.S. $100 B Yearly
  Senate officials say some foreign banks routinely use dummy corporations, shell companies and trusts to help U.S. residents avoid taxes. A subcommittee report says the overseas tax shelters cost the United States about $100 billion a year.
• Basic Cable Shows Snag Emmy Nominations
  The nominations for the 60th annual Primetime Emmy Awards were announced Thursday in Los Angeles. The surprise was that basic cable programs cleaned up. AMC's Mad Men racked up 16 nominations, including one for Best Drama, along with FX's Damages.
• D.C. School District Proposes Merit Pay For Teachers
  School districts across the nation are experimenting with paying teachers based on performance. An important and troubled district in Washington, D.C., is now moving closer to merit pay. Michelle Rhee, chancellor of the District of Columbia's public schools, talks about her proposal.
• U.S. Cyclists Steer Clear Of Scandal In Tour Debut
  Three riders have already tested positive for doping in this year's Tour de France. While scandals continue to plague the race, two American cyclists are making their debut. They're also determined to avoid any hint of scandal.
• Political Power Let Fannie, Freddie Skimp On Capital
  New attention is being focused on mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as the Bush administration presses Congress to act on a rescue package for the two institutions. Economic officials say Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac used to have plenty of capital reserves. But to stay afloat during a housing crisis, they need to raise more cash.

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