Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Turbocharged plants
  A Minnesota researcher is the first to successfully clone a gene that regulates plant growth. It's a small piece of a big puzzle, but the finding has the potential to increase food production and grow plants genetically engineered for ethanol production.7:20 a.m.
• Duluth paper launches 'mayoral madness'
  The Duluth News Tribune has come up with an unusual way to introduce the city's 12 mayoral candidates. It has launched an NCAA-style tournament. MPR's Cathy Wurzer talked with Robin Washington, editorial page editor at the Duluth News Tribune.7:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Alter Egos in a Virtual World
  As the old New Yorker cartoon said, "On the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog." And if you're an online gamer, your opponents may not know that you're a 27-year-old white mother pretending to be a large, black male warrior.
• Sunni Militants in Baghdad Shift Loyalties
  Not more than a week ago, Sunnis in Baghdad's western neighborhood of Amiriya were on the side of al-Qaida. Now they're fighting alongside U.S. forces to capture or kill members of the terrorist group.
• Nurse Calls Hospital's Croc Ban a Crock
  Pittsburgh's Mercy Hospital has banned the wearing of Crocs. The hospital's infection control manager says the ventilation holes in the spongy shoes could pose a risk if somebody drops a syringe. One Croc-wearing nurse says the ban is ridiculous.
• Hearing Set for Choice to Head Joint Chiefs
  A Senate committee holds a confirmation hearing Tuesday for Adm. Mike Mullen, who is President Bush's choice to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
• Diddy's Search for Aide Goes Slowly
  Hip-hop impresario P. Diddy is still inviting applications for a personal assistant job — and using the Web phenomenon YouTube to do it. But after an initial posting, Diddy has returned with pointed advice for the many hopefuls.
• Senate Takes Fresh View of Farm Bill
  The farm bill passed in the House may bear little resemblance to the version that is now shaping up in the Senate. And there's a possibility of a presidential veto, too.
• Growers Still Fretting over Fate of Subsidies
  Last week, the House passed a farm bill that includes subsidies for growing corn, cotton and wheat. But farmers are still worried that subsidies — a safety net for many — might disappear.
• Northwest, Pilots Feud over Flying Hours
  Northwest Airlines says recent flight cancellations are due to pilots calling in sick. The pilots' union says Northwest has too few pilots to fly a full schedule.
• Movie Stardom May Await If Lohan Can Grow Up
  Glance at reports of drunken-driving charges and lurid tabloid coverage and it's easy to see 21-year-old actress Lindsay Lohan as just another bad-girl celeb. But some in Hollywood defend her as a real talent, battling child-star demons.
• FDA Panel: Keep Diabetes Drug on Market
  Avandia, a pill to treat diabetes, needs strong new warnings about potential heart-attack risks, an FDA panel says. But the panel also said the widely used drug should remain in use.
• Should FDA Tighten Rules for Drugs on Market?
  Does the Food and Drug Administration have sufficient control over drugs once they've been approved?
• Nike Settles Racial Bias Suit
  Nike has reached a settlement in a race-discrimination lawsuit filed on behalf of 400 black employees four years ago. Managers at the Niketown store in Chicago were accused of using racial slurs and segregating black workers into lower-paying jobs. Nike denies the allegations but says it will pay $7.6 million to resolve the claims, review hiring practices and create a mentoring program for black employees.
• 'Simpsons Movie' Rakes in the Dough
  The first feature-length film featuring Springfield's favorite animated family is off to a great start at the box office. The Simpsons Movie made more than $74 million in its first weekend.
• Mideast Arms Deal Seeks Delicate Balance
  The Bush administration's plan to provide billions of dollars in weapons and technology to U.S. allies in the Middle East is intended to help stabilize Iraq and contain Iran. But it comes with plenty of risks.
• NYC Seeks to Unload Foreign Coins
  New York City is selling 500 pounds of foreign coins found stuck in the city's parking meters. It's not practical to exchange the coins, so the city is offering them to the highest bidder.

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