Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• School districts challenged by rising energy costs
  School districts across Minnesota will pay more to keep their classrooms warm this winter. Rising energy costs will likely mean cooler classrooms and tighter budgets as districts look for ways to conserve.6:47 a.m.
• Famed 'church lunch' offers extra helpings during RNC
  The RNC isn't the only thing ending Thursday; so is an extra run of church lunches.6:54 a.m.
• Republicans nominate McCain for president while Minnesota delegates cheer Palin's performance
  John McCain is scheduled to accept the nomination in a speech tonight, following a rousing recital by his No. 2, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Minnesota delegates say they couldn't have been happier with their relatively unknown vice presidential candidate's performance last night.7:20 a.m.
• Jailed protesters criticize police actions
  The Republican National Convention wraps up tonight, following several days of protests and more than 300 arrests. As the first detainees charged with gross misdemeanors or felonies were released yesterday, many said police arrested them without cause.7:24 a.m.
• St. Paul prepares for final RNC protests; more than 400 have been arrested so far
  Minneapolis police arrested 102 people last night after a crowd leaving the Target Center staged an impromptu march, according to the law enforcement Joint Information Center.7:40 a.m.
• Bruised and arrested, teen says police mistreated him
  A teenager who was arrested during Monday's demonstrations against the Republican National Convention says he was beaten by the officers who arrested him, and released without medical attention.7:43 a.m.
• This Convention Is Brought To You By ...
  The Republican National Convention in the Twin Cities, like last week's Democratic convention in Denver, is largely funded by big corporations.7:48 a.m.
• St. Paul nightlife still in Minneapolis' shadow during the RNC
  It appears that even though St. Paul's Excel Energy Center is the site of the Republican National Convention, it's Minneapolis that's playing host to the conventioneers. That's where most of the private parties are taking place and where the majority of Republican delegates and supporters are staying.7:53 a.m.
• Future Tense with Jon Gordon
  Startup wants to offer free wireless broadband to Americans.8:20 a.m.
• Drama plays out inside and outside RNC
  With protests swirling outside the Xcel Energy Center and history being made within, it's been a dramatic few days in St. Paul during the Republican National Convention.8:24 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• '99 Cents Only' Stores Losing Money
  Economic analysts say when inflation drives up the cost of doing business, a business passes on the cost to consumers. But the 99 Cents Only discount chain hasn't been able to do that. What cost 99 cents a couple of decades ago now costs $2.26, but the retailer still charges the same price. Now its CEO says he'll probably have to change his pricing strategy.
• Detroit's Mayor Pleads Guilty, Will Leave Office
  Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in a deal that will force him from office. The guilty plea to two felony charges stems from Kilpatrick's role in the city's $8.4 million settlement of a whistleblower lawsuit brought by two fired police officers.
• Iraq Paramilitary Group Targeted, Despite Success
  The Sunni paramilitary group Sons of Iraq has been a centerpiece of the American strategy in Iraq. But the group, which receives funding and support from the U.S., is now being targeted by Iraq's Shiite-led government.
• In 'Spore,' Players Create Civilizations From Cells
  The creator of The Sims has a new game out. In Spore, players create their own worlds — starting from creatures the size of a cell, and evolving until an entire civilization springs up.
• Obama Courts Working Women In Ohio
  Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama continued his swing through battleground states with a stop in Ohio. The Democrats and Republicans are in a fierce battle for the votes of women. At one stop Wednesday, a 24-year-old single mother working for minimum wage introduced Obama in a college courtyard.
• Bike Messengers Branch Out
  The bike messenger business is changing. Electronic document transfer — especially for legal documents — has cut into the business. But now, high gas prices and new bikes that can carry bigger loads mean that bike messengers are branching into bigger deliveries.
• Russians Seem To Relish Defying The West
  In Moscow, there has been no official comment about Vice President Dick Cheney's visit to Georgia. Russia has so far ignored or dismissed warnings from the West of economic and diplomatic consequences for its attack on Georgia. Russian officials appear to be enjoying defying the West.
• Palin's Nomination Stirs Hometown Fans, Detractors
  Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's speech at the GOP convention Wednesday was the occasion for parties in her hometown of Wasilla, Alaska. Residents there are proud of her, but they also are beginning to push back a little under all the national scrutiny.
• Ex-POW McCain Has Supporters In Vietnam
  Republican presidential hopeful John McCain spent years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. You might think people there would be less supportive of McCain because he is a conservative who backs the war in Iraq and was in the U.S. military during the Vietnam War. But McCain has a lot of supporters in Hanoi.
• Giants Host Redskins In NFL Opener
  For fans and fantasy league wonks, it's the time of year when they begin to hum the tune: "Are You Ready for Some Football?" Bill Curry, former NFL player and college coach, previews the season as it kicks off Thursday night.
• Pakistan Condemns Raid, Blames U.S. Troops
  The government in Pakistan has condemned an attack on a remote village near the border with Afghanistan. Pakistani officials say Wednesday's raid was led by U.S. troops. However, U.S. officials have not officially commented.
• Delegates In St. Paul Say Palin Made Her Case
  Delegates to the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., say Sarah Palin left them feeling energized and made her case for the vice presidency.
• Palin Casts Herself As Reformist, Outsider
  Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin begins her vice presidential campaign as a self-proclaimed reformer. But as a mayor and as governor, she defended the pork brought home by Alaska's congressional delegation, and even hired a lobbyist to get more.
• Palin Takes Aim At Obama, Revs Up Republicans
  Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin electrified the crowd Wednesday night at the Republican National Convention. The vice presidential nominee attacked Barack Obama, praised John McCain and pushed back against criticism that she is too inexperienced to be on the ticket.
• How Many U.S. Troops Needed In Iraq, Afghanistan?
  Balancing the number of U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan is difficult militarily and politically. The question is how many troops are needed to fight each war. Do defense officials have an answer to that question?

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