Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Charter school's religious activities focus of state investigation
  State education officials say they're investigating claims that a publicly-funded Inver Grove Heights charter school is offering religious instruction to students in violation of the law. Tarek ibn Zayad Academy in Inver Grove Heights focuses on Middle Eastern culture.6:50 a.m.
• The metaphorical piano
  Using a mix of drama, dance, clowning and classical music, a new theatrical production tells the story of a lonely piano tuner whose unfulfilled dreams get caught up in a family that's falling apart.6:55 a.m.
• Passage of health care reform legislation still possible, supporters say
  Health care reform legislation still faces big hurdles at the Legislature.7:20 a.m.
• People hampered by criminal records looking to Minn. Supreme Court
  A case scheduled for arguments next month at the Capitol affects anyone who's been arrested or convicted of a crime.7:50 a.m.
• A year later, Willmar still feels effects of immigration raids
  One year ago today, federal immigration agents began a four-day, house-to-house operation in Willmar, detaining 49 illegal immigrants.7:55 a.m.
• Governor's veto pen hurts some arts organizations
  A handful of arts and cultural organizations in Minnesota are facing a future without money from this year's bonding bill at the State Capitol. Gov. Tim Pawlenty used his line-item veto earlier this week to take out several arts and cultural projects. Morning Edition arts commentator and St. Paul Pioneer Press theater critic Dominic Papatola discusses the possible effects of those line-item vetoes.8:25 a.m.
• Rare corpse flower blooming at Como Park's conservatory
  The conservatory in St. Paul's Como Park smells like rotting flesh this morning. That's because a rare plant called the Amorphophallus titanum, or the Corpse Flower, is in bloom. Morning Edition host Perry Finelli talked with Margaret Yaekel-Twum, a horticulturist at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Como Park.8:40 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Breaking Iraqis of Dependence on U.S. Funding
  When the U.S. invaded Iraq, the Bush administration promised that Iraqi oil profits would pay for reconstruction. Instead, five years and billions of American taxpayer dollars later, the U.S. is still funding projects that should be the purview of the Iraqi government.
• A Simple Formula for Whitening Your Teeth
  Light-activated bleaching techniques such as BriteSmile and Zoom are marketed as "breakthroughs" in the science of teeth whitening. But are they any more effective than less expensive bleaching gels or over-the-counter white strips? Dentists weigh in.
• Safire: 'Change' and Other Old Political Phrases
  "Change" may be the most common word being flung around on the presidential campaign trail this year. But William Safire, who chronicles political words and phrases, notes that "change" was big in Abraham Lincoln's day, too.
• Protests Keep Fans From Seeing Olympic Torch
  San Francisco's moment of Olympic torch glory was marred Tuesday by security concerns. Instead of running the streets of downtown among cheering crowds, torchbearers were part of a hide-and-seek game as city officials tried to avoid a repeat of disruptions in London and Paris by anti-China protests.
• Protests Boost Chinese Torchbearers' Resolve
  The Olympic torch relay was supposed to be a victory lap, showcasing China's peaceful emergence on the world stage. Instead, it has become a public relations disaster for the government, pitting protesters critical of Beijing's human rights record against China's loyal citizens.
• Bush to Announce Shorter Deployments
  President Bush is scheduled to announce Thursday that the length of tours for troops serving at war will be shortened from 15 months to 12 months.
• All Eyes Are on Tiger as Masters Tournament Starts
  Tiger Woods is again a favorite to win the Masters tournament in Augusta, Ga. With an improved game, Commentator John Feinstein says, Woods is better and more intimidating than ever.
• Proposal Favoring SCHIP's Poorest Kids Criticized
  A key Senate Committee had a hearing Wednesday on a controversial rule tacked on to the State Children's Health Insurance Program by the Bush administration. The rule states that lower-income children should get coverage before those in families that earn more.
• Oil Prices Hit Another Record High
  Oil prices have climbed to another record: $112 a barrel. The price was pushed up in a frenzy after a government report Wednesday showed an unexpected drop in inventories of crude oil. The steady rise in fuel costs is a key reason for troubles in other industries.
• Yahoo, Google Team Up in Online Advertising
  Yahoo and Google are launching a small experiment in which ads selected and delivered by Google would appear on Yahoo searches. That would probably give Yahoo more cash, because Google generates more revenue per search query than Yahoo. The development is widely seen as an effort by Yahoo to avoid the buyout advances of Microsoft.

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