Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Schools say they were unfairly labeled as underperforming
  Some schools say the state labeled them as underperforming under No Child Left Behind for technical glitches or human errors that have nothing to do with whether their students can pass reading and math tests.7:20 a.m.
• Ethanol prices are falling while corn prices go up
  The price of ethanol is falling, even while corn prices are hitting near record highs. Industry observers say that's putting some U.S. ethanol companies on the brink of bankruptcy.7:49 a.m.
• Commentary: Fall leaves on fairways get Peter Smith down
  Commentator and golfer Peter Smith elaborates on the duffer's dwindling days on autumnal courses.7:54 a.m.
• Girl pleads guilty to bringing meth to middle school
  A 14-year-old girl has pleaded guilty after allegedly bringing crystal methamphetamine to her middle school and giving it to other students.8:24 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Bush Vetoes Child Health Care Bill
  Congress sends legislation expanding children's health-care coverage to the White House. But President Bush says the bill is too costly and has vowed a veto, setting up another showdown over congressional spending.
• Foundation Helps War Vets Buy Homes
  The nearly 30,000 troops wounded in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are starting to seek help in large numbers. The Wounded Heroes Foundation, a nonprofit group in Illinois, helps provide financial assistance to war veterans. Its assistance recently allowed two veterans to buy homes.
• President Bush Issues Promised S-CHIP Veto
  President Bush vetoes bipartisan legislation that would expand health care coverage to millions of uninsured children. He objects to the bill's $35 billion price tag over the next five years, and, to what he considers an unwarranted expansion of the federal government in providing health care.
• Blackwater CEO Defends Workers in Iraq
  Erik Prince, founder and CEO of Blackwater USA, defends his private security firm against allegations that contractors in Iraq have been involved in several incidents resulting in civilian casualties.
• Bakery Run by Ex-Gang Members Reopens
  In Los Angeles, a bakery run by former gang members has reopened nearly a decade after the original one was destroyed by fire. It's part of Homeboy Industries, a rehabilitation program headed by Father Gregory Boyle, who's worked with young people from more than 600 street gangs in Los Angeles.
• North Korea to Shutter Nuclear Program
  North Korea agreed to provide an accurate declaration of its nuclear programs and will disable its facilities at its main reactor complex by year-end. As part of the agreement, the U.S. will take the lead in seeing that the facilities are disabled and will fund those initial activities.
• Amputated Leg in Custody Battle
  A South Carolina man lost his leg three years ago in a plane crash. John Wood put his amputated leg in a barbecue smoker for safe keeping, and then put the whole thing in a storage unit. But when he fell behind on payments, the smoker was auctioned off with the leg inside.
• Man on Lawnmower Suspected of DUI
  Police say it wasn't hard to suspect that a West Virginia man was drinking and driving. For one thing, he was driving a riding mower down the street. For another thing, he had a case of beer strapped to the vehicle. Then there was the man's attempt to flee. An officer — on foot — caught him.
• Canada's Loonie Bodes Well for Sports Teams
  Canada's sports teams cheer the Canadian dollar's parity with the U.S. dollar. For its six teams in the National Hockey League, National Basketball Association team, and Major League Baseball team, the stronger currency converts into a stronger bottom line. They can afford star players.
• L.A. Trend: Professionals Downshift Careers
  Many white-collar professionals are swapping their power suits for aprons. Glitzy, upscale baking is the new fad in the trend-making culture of Los Angeles. So mid-career professionals are leaving behind corporate, high-stress jobs for passions they've had on hold.
• Viewing Life Through an Economic Prism
  Robert Frank often wonders such things as: Why are milk cartons square? He solves the conundrums in everyday life using basic economics. Some of the findings are in his new book The Economic Naturalist.
• Presidential Hopefuls Seek Funding Abroad
  Candidates vying for president are crossing the Atlantic to raise money from Americans living overseas. Rudy Giuliani did it a couple of weeks ago, Bill Clinton is doing it on behalf of his wife, and Michelle Obama will be doing it in just a couple of weeks.
• Private Contractors Vital for War
  Sarah Percy, professor of International Relations at Oxford University in England, discusses the kinds of services provided by private security companies like Blackwater USA, and how their rules regarding the use of force apply.
• Study: Office Trinkets Can Harm Career
  A University of Michigan study finds that too many personal items on your desk can hurt your professional image. If more than one in five items adorning your cubicle are personal, others may view you as unprofessional. Replace them with company memos, the study says.
• NY Knicks to Pay $11.6M for Sexual Harassment
  A jury orders the owners of the NBA's New York Knicks to pay $11.6 million to a former team executive. The jury of four women and three men found that team officials, including coach Isiah Thomas, sexually harassed Anucha Browne Sanders.

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