Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Commentator hopes to avoid convention chaos
  The Olympics are in full swing. Then comes the State Fair, followed by the grand finale of this summer in Minnesota - the Republican National Convention in St. Paul. Commentator Peter Smith is hoping for a finale without fireworks.6:55 a.m.
• Global warming team finds audience in Minnesota
  Two men with unique perspectives on global warming are teaming up to share their concerns with politicians, young people, and anyone else who will listen.7:20 a.m.
• War veteran tries to move on from his injuries
  A former Minnesota soldier who was injured in Iraq last year is getting ready to come home.7:25 a.m.
• Zenn and the art of electric cars
  With the price of gas this summer, many people are looking for alternative ways to get around. One of those alternatives is electric cars. Ian Clifford, the founder and CEO of Zenn Motor Company, is in the Twin Cities Tuesday to talk with the MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce. Clifford's Canadian company hopes to develop the next generation of electric cars.7:55 a.m.
• Farmers could reap a record corn harvest
  The U.S. Agriculture Department says Minnesota farmers could harvest a record corn crop this fall. The USDA released its first detailed estimate today of the harvest outlook.8:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Indie Filmmakers: 'Chicken Little Was Right'
  In the art-house movie biz, the sky really is falling, observers say. Studios are folding. The survivors are releasing fewer movies. Even film-festival favorites are finding it hard to find distribution deals.
• Mystery And Decay In An Ancient, Occupied City
  Crime writer Matt Beynon Rees explores the layers of history and decay that characterize Nablus, a 2,000-year-old Palestinian city in the northern part of the occupied West Bank.
• Internet Cartoon Pays Off For Kansas Candidate
  First-time political candidate Sean Tevis has unwittingly struck fundraising gold with a stick-figure comic strip. His Web cartoon, a fundraising appeal in his bid for state lawmaker, attracted nationwide attention. He has raised nearly $100,000.
• Oil Prices Still Falling
  Renee Montagne has this morning's business news.
• McCain, Obama Campaigns Charge For Yard Signs
  Political yard signs used to be free or occasionally cost up to a dollar. But the Obama and McCain campaigns are charging at least $7 for yard signs. The Dallas Morning News reports that the signs help campaigns raise money and build online databases — because supporters often hand over e-mail addresses along with the cash.
• Muggles A Step Closer To Creating Invisibility Cloak
  Harry Potter wore one, and one day soon, you might, too: Scientists at University of California-Berkeley are a step closer to realizing an invisibility cloak. The findings will be detailed in the new issues of the journals Nature and Science. The researchers engineered two new materials that are able to bend light around three-dimensional objects.
• The Ruby Roman: Japan's Colossal New Grape
  Japanese fruit is big business. You may recall the square watermelon — it won't roll around in the fridge — and can cost close to $100. A new premium fruit has made its debut in Japan: the Ruby Roman grape. Each tomato-colored grape is a little smaller than a pingpong ball — and costs about $26.
• U.S.-Afghan Force Raids Suspected Taliban Hideout
  NPR's Jackie Northam accompanies Special Forces commandos during an air assault on a suspected Taliban hideout. It's the first time a journalist has been allowed to accompany the Afghan-U.S. commandos on an operation.
• New Services Infiltrate Evolving 411 Market
  A handful of companies are infiltrating the multibillion-dollar 411 market. Free 411 was pioneered by Jingle Networks, a company that runs ads before giving you the number you're looking for. With very little marketing, they now get 20 million calls a month and are profitable.
• Hackers Target Georgian Government Web Sites
  As the fighting continues between Russia and Georgia, a number of attacks in cyberspace have been associated with the conflict. Hackers took control of the Georgia Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web server.
• Pioneers Of U.S.-China Relations Attend Olympics
  Among the political luminaries attending the Beijing Olympics are Henry Kissinger and former President George H.W. Bush. Kissinger was a national security adviser for Richard Nixon who opened up U.S. relations with Communist China in the 1970s. Bush served as the senior U.S. diplomat in Beijing in the early days of U.S.-China relations.
• French Thriller 'Tell No One' Gains Momentum In U.S.
  Tell No One is a French thriller that was a hit in Europe, but it had a hard time finding distribution in the United States. Now it's been out for some weeks, and its audience is growing through strong word-of-mouth.
• Russia-Georgia Peace Deal In The Works
  The Russian president on Tuesday ordered an end to Russian military operations in Georgia. The conflict between Russia and Georgia began last week.
• Russia Halts Attack, Sets Conditions For Georgia
  Russian leader Dmitri Medvedev ordered a halt to military action in Georgia on Tuesday, saying on national television that the military had "punished" Georgia enough for its attack on South Ossetia. Earlier, Russian forces had moved into Georgia, with jets dropping bombs on the town of Gori, and there was no sign of a cease-fire.
• U.N. Tries To Craft Resolution On Georgia Conflict
  The U.N. Security Council has held five emergency sessions concerning the fighting between Russia and Georgia that began last week. President Bush issued a strong statement calling the Russian invasion unacceptable. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Zalmay Khalilzad talks about Russia's offensive into Georgia.

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