Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Majority of corporate campaign contributions go to Pawlenty
  Cathy Wurzer spoke with reporter John Vomhoff, Jr. with the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, who monitored corporate campaign contributions in the state's gubernatorial race from January through August this year.6:25 a.m.
• Minnesota weather talk with Mark Seeley
  Cathy Wurzer spoke with University of Minnesota climatologist Mark Seeley about September tornadoes, finger-pointing at the National Weather Service, and historic rainfall in Kittson County.6:53 a.m.
• 6th District hopefuls debate
  The three candidates for Congress in Minnesota's 6th district offered distinctly different views and sharp exchanges on health care, taxes and the war in Iraq in a debate Thursday night.7:20 a.m.
• MPR poll: Governor's race is close
  A new Minnesota Public Radio-St. Paul Pioneer Political analysts say the race could hinge on which candidate sways the most undecided voters.7:24 a.m.
• Ethanol makers search for cheaper raw material
  There could be a major change underway in how ethanol is made. Several companies want to start producing the alcohol fuel from plant fiber. Most ethanol now is made from corn. How likely is the transition to what's called cellulose ethanol?7:40 a.m.
• Campaign managers talk strategy in the governor's race
  Three independent polls this week say the race for governor in Minnesota is essentially a dead heat between Republican incumbent Tim Pawlenty and DFLer Mike Hatch. The top candidates' campaign managers talk about their strategy in the coming weeks.7:48 a.m.
• When crime happens to you
  When crime really hits home, and you are facing a mugger or thief, what do you do? There are only two basic reactions: You can surrender and cooperate, or you can fight back.8:23 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• U.S. Hopes to Wrest Golf's Ryder Cup from Europeans
  Golf's Ryder Cup, a team competition between the U.S. and Europe, is under way in Ireland. It might well be golf's most nerve-wracking event. The last time it was played, American golfers suffered an embarrassing defeat.
• Poll: Rural Voters Not So Reliably Republican
  A new survey of a key voter group hints that Republicans may be losing some support ahead of the November elections. The study focused on rural voters -- people beyond cities and suburbs, where Republicans have found strong support in recent national elections.
• The Gang That Couldn't Coup Straight
  A new book tells the story behind a failed plot by mercenaries to overtake the tiny West African nation of Equatorial Guinea. The plot involved oil, guns and the son of a former British prime minister.
• The Sweetest Girl Takes on the World
  Hasiyna Price and Danette Banks are friends, neighbors and cousins. They've been close ever since they can remember. In a visit to the StoryCorps booth in New York, the pair talked about how Price copes with scoliosis -- curvature of the spine -- especially when it comes to dealing with boys.
• 'King's Men' a Masterful Retelling of an Old Favorite
  All the King's Men is a Hollywood remake that may be even better than its Oscar-winning predecessor of 1949. Sean Penn, Jude Law and Kate Winslet star in this wrenching tale of populist politics based loosely on the life of Louisiana Gov. Huey P. Long.
• Senate, White House Reach Compromise on Detainee Rights
  The Bush administration and Senate Republicans reach a deal on legislation covering treatment of suspected terrorists. It allows both the questioning and the military trials of terrorism suspects to go forward. The senators who forced the negotiations said the White House made major concessions.
• Researchers Say Gulf Hurricanes Added New Wetlands
  A controversial new research paper in Science magazine says Hurricanes Katrina and Rita helped build new coastal wetlands. The report concludes that big storms -- rather than rivers -- are the main source of new material for the marshlands that help protect the coast.
• GOP's Allen Faces Tight Senate Race in Virginia
  Republican Sen. George Allen of Virginia was expected to cruise to a re-election victory this year, ahead of a possible run for the White House in 2008. Then last month, the senator called a volunteer for Democrat James Webb "macaca" during a rally before a mostly white crowd. Now the race has tightened.
• Musicians Regain Airline Luggage Rights in Britain
  Carry-on bag restrictions are going to be modified in Britain. While the stricter rules were in effect, classical musicians traveling through Britain's airports weren't allowed to bring their instruments inside aircraft cabins.
• Speed of Housing Downturn Surprises Homeowners
  The real estate market has made a surprisingly quick downturn in some parts of the country. The change in direction has left many homeowners holding property they can't sell at the price they would like, or need, to get.
• Tensions Evident as U.S. and Pakistan Leaders Meet
  President Bush and Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf meet to discuss their alliance. The meeting comes just after public statements by Musharraf that the U.S. threatened Pakistan to gain its help in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks.
• Extended Iraq Service Divides Army Families
  The recent deaths of three soldiers from the Army Stryker Unit based in Baghdad has inflamed tensions among the families at the unit's home base in Alaska. Those tensions first became apparent a few weeks ago when its mission was unexpectedly extended by four months.
• Detainee Deal Deserves a Closer Look
  At first glance, the agreement between President Bush and Senate Republicans looks like a win for the senators. But a look at the deal's fine print shows that the Senate Republicans gave away about as much as they got from the White House.
• Bush Education Legacy Spices up Florida Gov. Race
  As Florida Gov. Jeb Bush prepares to leave office after eight years, there is no area in which he has had greater influence than education. He's proud of a tough high-stakes testing program he instituted that ties school funding and teacher raises to student performance. But the system has been controversial and is a key issue in the race to replace Bush.
• Gaza Misery Growing Under Israeli Embargo, Attacks
  The Israeli Army is continuing to use raids, air strikes and artillery to pound Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip. An ongoing aid embargo has crushed the Gaza economy to subsistence levels, and Gaza security forces are suspected in a string of shootings, kidnapping and thefts.

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