Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Top Klobuchar aide fired for viewing leaked Kennedy ad
  Democrat Amy Klobuchar's U.S. Senate campaign has fired its chief spokeswoman, revealing Wednesday that she viewed an unreleased TV ad for Republican candidate Mark Kennedy that may have been illegally obtained.7:23 a.m.
• Ethanol vs. water: Can both win?
  In Minnesota, ethanol is a favorite among alternative energy advocates. But some scientists say it is a drain on Minnesota's water resources.7:50 a.m.
• Local theater, music and book awards
  Cathy Wurzer spoke with Minnesota Public Radio arts commentator Dominic Papatola about the Ivey Awards, Minnesota Music Awards and Minnesota Book Awards.8:24 a.m.
• Organic farmers meet special standards to elude E. coli
  Cathy Wurzer spoke with Jim Riddle, organic outreach coordinator at the University of Minnesota about special standards that organic farmers have.8:40 a.m.
• Pawlenty, Hatch tied, despite Governor's high approval rating
  Cathy Wurzer spoke with Larry Jacobs, Director of the Humphrey Institute's Center for the Study of Politics and Governance, and the survey's chief author.8:54 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Panda Bites Man Looking for a Cuddle
  In China, a migrant worker who had few too many beers was overcome with a sudden urge to touch a panda bear. So he jumped into the panda enclosure at the Beijing Zoo, where one of the bears was trying to get a little shut eye. Roused from sleep, the bear bit the man. And the man bit back. Both survived the encounter. When asked why he did it, the man said he'd seen the cuddly looking animals on TV. But he never thought they might bite.
• Clinton Weighs In on Detainees, Iraq and Iran
  Former President Bill Clinton, one of the few people to have viewed national security from inside the Oval Office, has his own opinions about how to handle terrorism suspects. He also has ideas about how to deal with Iran.
• For Chico Hamilton, the Beat Goes On
  Today is the 85th birthday of jazz drummer and legendary bandleader Chico Hamilton. He has spent seventy years behind the drum kit, performing in a wide variety of styles and jazz flavors: from big band and R&B, to funky and experimental.
• View of the Thailand Coup from Phuket
  Lynn Neary talks to Simon Hand, editor of the Phuket Post, about the effect of Thailand's military coup on the tourist-oriented Thai island of Phuket.
• Clinton Looks for Solutions to World Problems
  The Clinton Global Initiative conference brings together government, business and nonprofit leaders to come up with tangible solutions to global problems. It began Wednesday in New York.
• Kids Get the Upper Hand in Battle over Spinach
  Lynn Neary muses on the dilemma facing parents now that fresh spinach has been taken off the shelves. After all, Neary says, spinach was never an easy sell to kids.
• E. Coli Problem Unlikely to Kill Spinach Industry
  The spinach industry in California was booming, until an outbreak of E. coli bacteria contamination put a halt to the sale of raw spinach. But the industry does not expect the scare to permanently damage the foods popularity.
• NATO Adjusts to Fight Against Taliban
  NATO foreign ministers meet in New York to discuss alliance operations in Afghanistan. The organization took over operations in the southern part of the country from the U.S.-led military coalition this summer.
• Thailand Unruffled by Change of Government
  Thailand is back to work as usual, just three days after a military coup. The change in power was condemned abroad, but legitimized by the royal palace and greeted by many Thais with relief.
• House Approves Bill Imposing Voter ID Rules
  The House has approved a bill that requires all people voting in federal elections to show a photo ID in 2008 and proof of citizenship by 2010. Supporters say it's the only way to fight election fraud. Opponents say the bill would put hurdles in the way of some voters.
• U.S. to Deploy Proven Technology on Borders
  Many companies have proposed high-tech solutions for stopping illegal immigration along U.S. borders. But the contract the Department of Homeland Security is expected to award to Boeing eschews cutting-edge systems in favor of technology that has a proven track record.
• Clinton Offers Perspective on Interrogation Rules
  With the debate in Congress still unresolved, former President Bill Clinton is just the latest high-profile figure to express his views on how the U.S. should treat prisoners suspected of involvement in terrorism.
• Experiment in Luxury Psychiatric Care Helps Teen
  In Baltimore, a psychiatric hospital is offering high-end, luxurious accommodations to teenagers with serious mental illness. The cost is $1,700 a day, and insurance isn't accepted. One teen who was treated at the facility says it changed her life.
• BT Puts Old British Phone Books Online
  BT, the former British Telecom, has put its archived telephone books dating back to 1880 online. BT partnered with the subscription-based website, Ancestry UK, to offer a searchable database that will eventually include 250 million names from throughout the United Kingdom.
• U.N. Debates Future of Darfur Force
  The debate over the situation in Darfur is heating up this week at the United Nations. Sudan's president is resisting plans for a stronger U.N. presence in the country.

Resources

• Future Tense®
• Marketplace Morning Report®
• Mark Seeley's WeatherTalk

Services

• Hourly Newscast
• HD Radio
• iPhone App / Mobile
• E-mail newsletters
• RSS feeds
• Podcasts
• Submit your photos
• Videos
• Weather
• Most e-mailed stories

Become a Sponsor