Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• In one north Minneapolis neighborhood, kids choose the street or more positive activities
  At 25th Avenue and North Fourth Street, there are positive activities available, but kids still lack for adult supervision, some residents say.7:20 a.m.
• Young farmer shares new vision for Hmong farming
  Visit any farmers market in the Twin Cities and you're likely to see Hmong vendors selling raspberries, sweet onions, and other produce they've grown. Farming runs deep in the Hmong culture. However, many Hmong farmers are isolated both by culture and language from the rest of U.S. agriculture.7:25 a.m.
• Justin Morneau featured in book aimed at youth
  Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau is featured in a new book, "Before the Glory: 20 Baseball Heroes Talk About Growing Up and Turning Hard Times into Home Runs." The book highlights players talking about their childhood and some of the challenges they faced growing up.7:50 a.m.
• Harry Potter mania strikes adults, too
  Thousands of people are expected to wait in line at Minnesota bookstores to get their copy of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," when it is released just after midnight Saturday morning. Morning Edition arts commentator Dominic Papatola understands why.8:20 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Whipping Up a Popular Online Business
  The entrepreneur behind Blendtec Corp. puts outrageous videos online — including one of his $500 iPhone — in a bid to sell his Blendtec brand blenders. The videos come with a warning: don't try this at home.
• Massachusetts Voter Proposes Electing No One
  A voter in Massachusetts who is a retired systems analyst says voters should be able to vote "none of the above." And if "none of the above" wins the election, a new vote would be ordered. Two state lawmakers have now proposed a bill to do this.
• Fed Chief: Inflation on the March
  Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke delivers a hawkish message to Congress: inflation will continue to rise during the rest of this year, making it less likely that the Fed will change the benchmark interest rate.
• Letters: Homeland Security, Poverty, China Boycott
  Listeners respond to an interview with Frances Townsend, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security, saying they prefer "U.S." over "homeland." Some said it was "absurd" to call attention to the affluence of Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards during his interview.
• Series to Keep Kids (and Adults) Under Books' Spell
  What will youngsters read when Harry Potter is over? The popularity of the boy wizard suggests parents might suggest other series: Shelves in book stores are loaded with them.
• Business Neophytes Share Perils
  Three years ago, in North Sioux City, S.D., a husband and wife launched a new company called Radiosophy, hoping to produce high-definition radios. But after setbacks, they say their story is a cautionary tale for entrepreneurs.
• U.S. Exit from Iraq Full of Unknowns
  Members of Congress are divided over when to begin a drawdown in Iraq, but there is near-agreement over what could happen in the absence of a large-scale U.S. military presence there: chaos.
• Drop in eBay Items Concerns Investors
  The world's largest online auctioneer posts sharply higher revenues and profits. But the total number of items listed on eBay fell. Some on Wall Street were expecting a decline, but the drop was larger than some had predicted.
• Nuclear Plant Safety at Issue After Japan Quake
  Regulators in Japan discover a fresh leak of radioactive material from Tokyo Electric Power after an earthquake in northwestern Japan this week. The plant has been closed indefinitely. How safe are the world's nuclear plants?
• Vaccination for Pre-Teens Important, Too
  Three new vaccines help to protect pre-teens against whooping cough, meningitis and human papilloma virus. A medical expert from the CDC discusses the importance of taking precautions against these diseases.
• Woods Seeks to Defend British Open Title
  The British Open golf tournament gets under way at Carnoustie in Scotland. Will Tiger Woods win his third straight British Open? And is golf on the verge of a steroids scandal? Hall of Famer Gary Player hints at problems with some younger stars.
• Democrats Fail to Win Troop Withdrawal From Iraq
  Democrats have found out again that they do not have the votes to stop the war in Iraq. But they do have the power to bring up the subject again and again. And they say they're planning to do that, despite another setback this week.
• Pakistan's Musharraf Faces Growing Pressure
  As deadly violence continues to expose potential instability in Pakistan, the nation's military ruler, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, is feeling the heat. The Pakistan People's Party of former leader Benazir Bhutto is among the most persistent critics.
• Iran Airs Interviews with Two U.S. Detainees
  Iran's state-run TV airs interviews with two Iranian Americans held in Tehran on espionage charges, casting their words as proof of a U.S. effort to overthrown Iran's government. But do their remarks support that description?
• Rhode Island Child Advocate Sues State
  Rhode Island's child welfare system is being sued for neglecting foster children by its own child advocate. The suit says thousands of children are living in foster homes that the state hasn't screened, which has led to abuse.

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