Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Poll: Most Minnesotans unhappy with Bush
  The latest MPR/St. Paul Pioneer Press poll shows a continued erosion of support for President Bush in Minnesota. The pollster says the war in Iraq is to blame for the continued downslide.7:20 a.m.
• Ventura stumps in the Lone Star State
  Texas Public Radio's David Martin Davies caught up with former Gov. Jesse Ventura on the campaign trail in San Antonio.7:25 a.m.
• Timber industry calls for help
  Cathy Wurzer spoke with Rep. Frank Moe, DFL-Bemidji, about problems plaguing one of the state's largest manufacturing industries.7:49 a.m.
• Passport, por favor
  Is Mexico, Canada, or the Caribbean in your travel plans next year? Well, if you're expecting to travel to those spots by sea or air and you don't have a valid passport, you should consider a trip to a local passport office. Pronto.7:54 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• College Sports Excesses Seep into High Schools
  An increasing number of high schools across the country are adopting some of the worst practices of college athletics, with too much emphasis on sports equipment and national publicity for young athletes.
• Dip in Gas Prices Helps Consumers, Hurts Investors
  Gasoline prices have fallen more than 20 percent. And natural gas is selling for less than half what it cost a year ago. But that doesn't mean everyone is benefitting equally from the abrupt reversal.
• U.S. Productivity and Economic Forecasts
  How does the concept of worker productivity fit into economic forecasts? David Wessel, deputy Washington bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, offers his insights.
• Musharraf Denies Pakistan Is Harboring Taliban
  President Pervez Musharraf rejects claims that Pakistan is a safe haven for Taliban and al-Qaida leaders. Gen. Musharraf, in Washington, D.C., to meet with President Bush and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, recently signed a controversial truce with tribal leaders along the Afghanistan border.
• White House Releases Portion of Security Report
  A much-debated U.S. intelligence report states that Iraq has become a "cause celebre" for Islamic extremists, and that the war there has bred a deep resentment of the United States. The White House made declassified the report's conclusion Tuesday.
• California Hospital Faces Staffing Issues
  A new California hospital built to house sexually violent predators is having a hard time finding staff.
• U.S. Sinks in Global Competitiveness Survey
  The United States has lost its edge in the global market, sinking from first to sixth place in economic competitiveness, according to a report card from the World Economic Forum. Switzerland now ranks as No. 1 , followed by Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Singapore.
• The 100 Best Companies for Working Moms
  Abbott Labs, FannieMae, IBM and Bristol-Myers Squibb are high on the list of the 100 best companies for working mothers, according to Working Mother magazine. Carol Evans of Working Mother Media, the magazine's parent company, offers details on the report.
• Curb Your Conspiracy Theories on Gas Prices
  The big drop in gas prices so close to the November elections has many Americans wondering whether there might be some political manipulations afoot. Vijay Vaitheeswaran of The Economist says it's unlikely.
• Pot Growing Damages California Parks
  Authorities in California's San Francisco Bay Area say parks in the region are suffering environmental damage from methods used by pot growers who use the public spaces to raise their illicit crop.
• Health Issues Surface as Congress Heads Home
  As Congress prepares for a recess to go campaigning, a number of lingering health issues are making an appearance, including laws regarding interstate abortions and cross-border prescription drug traffic.
• Job Cuts Pile Up at Car-Parts Supplier Delphi
  More than 1,400 Delphi employees this week accepted buyouts as the troubled auto-parts supplier continues to close or sell off 21 of its 29 plants. By the end of the year, Delphi will have decreased its workforce by more than two-thirds.
• Golfer Byron Nelson's Shining Record
  Byron Nelson, a big winner in the lean early years of pro golf, has died at 94. Long after he retired, the gracious Texan remained one of the most popular figures in the sport. He won 18 tournaments in one year during World War II. Later, he raised at least $100 million for charity.
• French Prepare to Face Tighter Anti-Smoking Laws
  In France, where smoking is ubiquitous, an existing ban covering office buildings, public transportation and schools is only loosely enforced. But next month, an official commission is expected to recommend tightening the law.
• See Jack Buy a Car on E-Bay
  Leave a toddler alone with e-Bay and you may soon own a car! In England, three-year-old Jack Neal saw a pink convertible on his mom's computer screen, clicked "Buy it Now" and put the brakes on other bids. But the car dealer says he won't hold Jack to the $16,000 sale.

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