Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Film explores the good and bad of Joe Strummer
  When Joe Strummer, the leader of the British punk rock band The Clash died, many of his fans were left with unresolved questions about music, fame, and idealism. A new documentry called, "Joe Strummer: the future is unwritten," tries to find some of the answers.6:50 a.m.
• Weekend weather chat with Mark Seeley
  Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer talked about the latest weather news with University of Minnesota Climatologist Mark Seeley. They also looked ahead to the weekend forecast.6:55 a.m.
• Molnau warns road projects could get hung up in money fight
  Despite testimony from senior staff about the Minnesota Department of Transportation's improving finances, Commissioner Carol Molnau warned Thursday about possible delays in road projects planned for next year because of limits on agency spending.7:24 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• A Reason to Dance Amid Death in 'War/Dance'
  In the new documentary War/Dance, orphaned Ugandan children get to perform in the country's prestigious National Music Competition. There, they find not only escape, but also dignity and pride. Hear an interview with the film's directors.
• Merck Reaches $4.8 Billion Settlement in Vioxx Case
  In one of the largest settlements in U.S. history, the drug maker Merck has agreed to pay $4.85 billion into a fund to settle lawsuits filed by people who said they were harmed by its painkiller Vioxx. The company reached an agreement with lawyers representing many of the 47,000 plaintiffs with claims early Friday.
• Mexico Produces New Wave of Cinema Talents
  There is a new wave of cinema coming out of Mexico. The international ascent of the Mexican directors behind Children of Men, Babel and Pan's Labyrinth has been followed by an explosion of new talent.
• Clinton Campaign Says It Tipped Maid-Rite Waitress
  A waitress causes a stir on the political blogs. The waitress at a Maid-Rite restaurant in Iowa says she did not get a tip after serving presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Clinton, a Democrat from New York. But the Clinton campaign says a $100 tip was left at the diner.
• Connecticut Politics Tarnished by Corruption
  Connecticut is sometimes called "the land of steady habits," an allusion to the strict morals of its inhabitants. But in the past decade, its governor, state treasurer, some members of the general assembly, and a string of mayors have pleaded guilty or been found guilty of crimes.
• German Chancellor Merkel to Visit Bush
  President Bush is set to welcome German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Their talks are likely to center on Iran's nuclear ambitions. Berlin has been disappointed with Tehran's response to German attempts to reduce the tension, but the German public is more suspicious of America's motives.
• House Preps for Veto Showdown on Iraq Spending
  House Democrats say another veto showdown could come soon involving the next spending bill for the war in Iraq. If passed, it would require the president to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq. President Bush vetoed a similar bill last spring.
• News of Pakistan Crackdown Speads Via Web
  Kyla Pasha, a university lecturer in Lahore, Pakistan spreads news through e-mails and blogs. She says Pakistanis — particularly young Pakistanis — are getting information via the Internet while television news is blacked out.
• Merck to Pay $5B to Settle Vioxx Claims
  Drug maker Merck will pay as much as $5 billion to settle claims linked to its painkiller, Vioxx. Merck faces 27,000 lawsuits from users claiming they suffered injury or died after taking the drug. Merck pulled Vioxx off the market in 2004 after a study showed the drug raised the risk of heart attacks.
• House to Vote on Alternative Minimum Tax
  Lawmakers plan to vote on a tax bill that prevents people from being hit with the alternative minimum tax. It targeted millionaires in the '60s, but due to inflation can now reach middle-income Americans. Democrats propose higher taxes on private-equity partners and hedge fund managers.
• Protester's Cream Cake Conviction Overturned
  A Norwegian protester took a lesson from Curly, Moe and Larry to make a political point. He threw a cream cake at Norway's Finance Minister two years ago. The cake hit her on the back of the head but didn't hurt her, though it did mess up her clothes. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail.
• Congress Overrides Bush on Water Project
  For the first time, Congress has overriden a veto from President Bush. Of the 79 senators voting for the override to fund water projects, 34 were Republicans. The Water Resources Development Act is written for projects to build things like dams, sewage plants — even to restore beaches.
• Novelist Hamid Reflects on Pakistan's Crackdown
  Pakistani-born novelist Mohsin Hamid says at first he was disappointed that Musharraf and his opponents couldn't work out a compromise. But as he received e-mails about the extent of the crackdown, he became convinced that compromise with a dictator only perpetuates the dictatorship.
• Guerra Sweeps Latin Grammy Awards
  Dominican singer Juan Luis Guerra was the real star of the Eighth Annual Grammy Awards. His album and its title track La Llave de mi Corazon captured five awards — including record of the year, album of the year, and song of the year.
• Lebanon Retains Christian-Muslim Power Sharing
  Christians fled Lebanon during years of war in the 1970s and 80s, so some Christians no longer deserve 50 percent of political power. That includes a presidency always held by a Maronite Christian. But most Lebanese, including Muslims, want power sharing to continue to preserve diversity.

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