Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Radio veteran to lead MPR into a digital future
  Minnesota Public Radio's second chief executive, Jon McTaggart, takes command of the company July 1, at a time when it appears to be flourishing, with strong finances and a big audience. But the radio business is facing new challenges due to the unrelenting change in the media landscape. If that's not challenge enough, McTaggart has to follow the act of the company's iconic founder, Bill Kling.7:20 a.m.
• Ban on high-density zoning in Rondo OK'd by St. Paul council
  The amendments limit new buildings east of Lexington Parkway to a height of three stories and reduced the minimum density for buildings near rail stations by half.7:25 a.m.
• North metro commuters pinched by gas price spike
  With gas prices climbing to near $4 a gallon, many commuters are feeling the squeeze. It's particularly acute for drivers in the northern part of the Twin Cities metropolitan area, where commutes tend to be longest.7:44 a.m.
• Minn. DNR: Floodwaters ease spread of invasive carp
  A 27-pound bighead carp's journey up the Mississippi River might have been eased by floodwaters, a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources expert said Thursday.8:40 a.m.
• School-based therapy helps families, children in need
  The program has served 8,400 children in the last two years, but its funding could be in jeopardy as state legislators debate whether to continue the service.8:45 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Obama Kicks Off Social Media Campaign At Facebook
  As part of a three-day visit to the West Coast, President Obama kicked off his social media campaign with an online town hall from the offices of Facebook. Obama is trying to sell his deficit-reduction plan. He also is trying to organize supporters and raise money as his reelection campaign gets underway.
• Politicians Put Positive Spin On Budget Battle Words
  Both Republicans and Democrats have put a lot of energy into coming up with new ways to describe old concepts. For example, Republicans say they want to get rid of the "death tax," aka the estate tax. Instead of talking about government spending, Democrats champion investments in the country's future.
• BP Sues Transocean Over Blowout Preventer
  BP is suing Transocean for at least $40 billion in damages. It accuses the rig owner of causing last year's deadly blowout in the Gulf of Mexico that led to the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history.
• Rising Religious Tension Sparks Fear In Egyptian City
  Many who took part in Egypt's popular uprising hoped it would lead to improved relations between Muslims and Christians. But in some cities, residents say tensions are worse than ever. One of the hotspots is Qena, where there have been several attacks on Christians by Islamist extremists.
• 2 Photojournalists Killed Covering Libyan Battle
  Photojournalists Chris Hondros and Tim Hetherington were killed Wednesday while covering a battle in the besieged Libyan city of Misrata. Hetherington co-directed the documentary Restrepo and Hondros shot for Getty Images.
• Mullen: Pakistan's Spy Agency Has Terrorist Links
  Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is on a delicate mission to Pakistan. With relations already frayed, Mullen shot back with his own specific complaints about the relationship between Pakistan's spy agency and one of the main Afghan insurgent groups.
• Major League Baseball Takes Control Of LA Dodgers
  Commissioner Bud Selig announced the move Wednesday, saying he was also launching an investigation into the club's finances. The team has been financially paralyzed by the divorce of its owners.
• Most Night Shift Workers Don't Adapt To The Hours
  Numerous air traffic controllers who work the overnight shift have been caught sleeping on the job. Mary Louise Kelly talks to Dr. Charles Czeisler about the effects of sleep deprivation. Czeisler is the director of the Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School and has studied the problem of fatigue on the job.
• FAA Fires 2 Controllers For Sleeping On The Job
  One was a controller at a Miami facility that handles high altitude air traffic. He was found asleep this past Saturday. The other worked at McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, Tenn. He's been accused of deliberately sleeping on the job back in February.
• China Mobile Surpasses 600 Million Users
  China Mobile's customer base is now double the population of the United States. Most of its growth is in the countryside, among lower-income Chinese. They tend to pay less money, and use the cheapest services.

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