Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Exploring Dylan's home on the Range
  In honor of the 67th birthday of its most famous former resident, Hibbing celebrates "Dylan Days" this weekend. One of the people who will be in Hibbing for the festivities is writer Toby Thompson, author of "Positively Main Street."6:50 a.m.
• Vote to decide LRT route delayed
  An advisory panel for the Central Corridor light-rail project is giving the University of Minnesota one more week to make its case for an alternative route through campus.7:20 a.m.
• Ethanol producers defend their value
  Ethanol leaders say their industry is under attack and two unlikely groups have joined forces to orchestrate the battle. Oil companies and the grocery association blames ethanol for high food and fuel prices.7:25 a.m.
• Junk meets art to play golf
  This weekend, the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis launches a summerlong celebration of the 20th anniversary of its sculpture garden. There will be exhibits, a huge "Rock the Garden" concert, and a brand new mini-golf course. Fourteen teams of designers, architects, painters, sculptors and other creative types each built green-themed holes.7:50 a.m.
• "Star Wars" exhibit opening at Science Museum this summer
  The phone lines lit up this week when tickets went on sale for an exhibit of memorabilia from the "Star Wars" movies opening at the Science Museum this summer in downtown St. Paul. The collection of costumes, models and props looks to be another big hit for the Science Museum of Minnesota, but the exhibition has Morning Edition arts commentator and St. Paul Pioneer Press theater critic Dominic Papatola thinking about the promise and perils of populist art.8:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Slugging to Work: Anonymous Ride-Sharing
  If you've ever sat in rush-hour traffic, gazing longingly at the cars rushing by in the high-occupancy vehicle lanes, try doing something your parents warned you never to do: Hop in a car with a complete stranger behind the wheel.
• At Velvet Museum, Get in Touch with Kitsch
  There are no velvet ropes at the Velveteria in Portland, Ore., where visitors can rub velvet — or velveteen — art, including portraits of Jesus, Elvis, Liberace and Michael Jackson.
• For Smokers, Quitting May Be Contagious
  Think the decision to smoke or quit is solely a personal matter? Think again. Researchers have found that relationships, even many degrees removed, can have a big influence on behavior.
• U.N. Chief Urges Myanmar to Allow Cyclone Aid
  U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon surveyed Myanmar's cyclone-stricken Irrawaddy River Delta on Thursday and urged the country's military leadership to allow foreign aid into the devastated area. "I'm very upset by what I've seen," Ban said afterward.
• China Adds Counseling to Earthquake Relief Efforts
  China is mounting its largest-ever counseling operation for survivors of last week's massive earthquake. It's unprecedented in a country where mental health problems are generally seen as a source of shame. Experts say the psychological damage from the quake is extensive and could be long-lasting.
• 'Recycling' Energy Seen Saving Companies Money
  A Chicago-based entrepreneur says many industrial power users can save money, get more electricity, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by using the energy they already consume more efficiently. It's called recycling energy — capturing waste heat and turning it into power.
• Grow-Your-Own Veggies a Boon to Seed Companies
  The cost of groceries is going up this year, and so are the numbers of people who have started growing their own produce. Now seed companies are reporting a surge of orders.
• Violence Against Foreigners Rocks South Africa
  Poor black South Africans have attacked poor black foreigners in and around Johannesburg who they say steal their jobs and commit crimes. At least 40 immigrants have been killed and thousands have fled to refugee shelters. Renee Montagne talks to Frans Cronje of the South African Institute of Race Relations about the outbreak of violence.
• Blood Banks Target High School Donors
  Faced with a need for deeper blood reserves, blood banks are stepping up their recruitment in high schools. And teenagers as young as 16 and 17 years old are responding to the blood drives, contributing about 10 percent of the nation's blood supply.
• American Cutting Flights, Adding Baggage Charge
  The soaring price of oil is hitting the airline industry. American Airlines announced Wednesday that it would eliminate about 12 percent of its flights by the end of the year and added a $15 surcharge for each checked bag.

Resources

• Marketplace Tech Report®
• 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