Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Elk River hazing sparks memory for essayist
  The Elk River School Board meets tonight to discuss the fate of five football coaches put on administrative leave following a hazing incident last month. According to police, the incident involved members of the football team poking and hitting other players in the legs and backsides with broom handles. Four players have already been kicked off the team and five others were suspended. Something in that story sparked a memory and an old question in the mind of Morning Edition essayist Peter Smith.6:55 a.m.
• Districts mull how to spend 'EduJobs' money
  Today is the first day of class for most Minnesota school districts. As the year gets underway, districts are also trying to figure out how to use some federal money that's designed to preserve education jobs.7:20 a.m.
• College enrollment numbers tricky to predict
  Tuesday marks the first day of classes for many college students in Minnesota. This can be a nerve-wracking time for college officials, too, who will soon find out if they hit their enrollment targets. Too few students can mean revenue shortfalls. Too many students can overwhelm classrooms and dorms.7:25 a.m.
• Toyota involved in fatal crash may help solve acceleration mystery
  The Toyota Camry belonging to St. Paul man Koua Fong Lee could help solve the mystery of why so many Toyotas are in crashes involving sudden acceleration. Three people were killed in the crash of Lee's car four years ago.8:40 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• In Afghanistan, The Civil Service 'Surge' That Isn't
  There's a critical shortage of Afghan civil service workers in southern Afghanistan. In dangerous regions such as Helmand and Kandahar, the insurgency has gained strength because the Afghan government is either corrupt -- or not around.
• Afghan Expatriates Weigh A Return Home
  In the years after the U.S. invasion, a steady stream of Afghans living abroad came home to help rebuild their country. Then, security started to get worse. There were more suicide attacks and a general feeling of unease. Now, many Afghans living abroad wonder: Is it worth it?
• Investigating The Real Detective Charlie Chan
  The fictional, aphorism-spouting Chinese detective is best known today as a stereotypical relic from a less sensitive time. Yunte Huang tells the story of the real man who inspired the caricature in Charlie Chan: The Untold Story of the Honorable Detective and His Rendezvous with American History.
• Israeli Foreign Minister Touts Settlement Building
  Israel's government has promised voters that a slowdown in settlement building would end later this month. Palestinians say they will walk out of peace talks, if construction restarts. In an Israeli settlement between Jericho and Jerusalem, construction is underway, and about 300 Palestinian workers from Hebron are bused to the building site.
• French Unions Strike Over Pension Plan Changes
  In France, unions plan to show their strength Tuesday during nationwide strikes and demonstrations. They are protesting President Nicolas Sarkozy's plans to overhaul pensions. He wants to raise the retirement age to 62 from 60.
• Soros Donates $100 Million To Human Rights Watch
  Billionaire George Soros announces a new initiative Tuesday. The founder and chairman of the Open Society Foundations will be making a gift of $100 million over 10 years to the nonprofit group Human Rights Watch. Steve Inskeep speaks to philanthropist George Soros about his initiative.
• Hurd In At Oracle, Westin Out At ABC News
  Oracle has hired Mark Hurd as a co-president. Just last month, Hurd was the chief executive at Hewlett-Packard. He resigned that job after a scandal involving a female contractor with the company. And another shakeup -- this one in television -- ABC is looking for someone to lead its news division. David Westin abruptly quit the job Monday night.
• Fishermen Break Tradition To Keep Jobs
  New England's fish stocks are severely depleted. A lack of fish, plus the high cost of going to sea, has put a lot of fishermen out of business. A group of fishermen in Port Clyde, Maine, are changing the marketing and processing of their catch in hopes of making more money on fewer fish.
• 3 People Win Role As Saber-Toothed Cat
  The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County was looking for someone to wear a saber-toothed cat costume for its new show about the Ice Age. The Los Angeles Times reported that the job calls for wearing a full body suit that is "extremely hot" and "claustrophobic." More than 100 people applied. The museum decided to hire three people part-time.
• Obama Proposes $50 Billion For Infrastructure
  Labor Day is the traditional campaign kick off, and President Obama traveled to Milwaukee, Wisc., to mark the moment Monday. But with the economy still sagging and Democrats looking at dismal poll numbers, it's tough place to start.

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