Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Peter Smith contemplates open house acquaintances
  It's early summer in Minnesota and that means high school graduation open house season is going full-tilt. MPR essayist Peter Smith is wondering, are those really open houses? Or are they some sort of weird Minnesota reunions?6:55 a.m.
• Republicans make concessions on spending in budget talks
  They say they're willing to spend more money on K12 schools, public safety and the courts, but they don't want to increase the size of their overall budget. That means Republicans would be forced to make cuts in other areas.7:20 a.m.
• Wisconsin's battle over collective bargaining rights draws new round of protests
  There is a tent city right now outside the state capitol in Madison, Wisconsin. People are camped out in what they call "Walkerville" to protest Governor Scott Walker's efforts to limit public workers ability to bargain collectively. It's the latest development in a highly charged political battle in that state.7:25 a.m.
• The outlook for Minnesota crops is finally sunny
  A turn in the weather has allowed Minnesota farmers to plant 95 percent of their corn crops and 75 percent of their soybeans. The outlook for the fall harvest is good.8:35 a.m.
• Family IDs Minn. man allegedly behind Somali suicide bombing
  Family members have identified Farah Mohamed Beledi as the Minnesota man who African peacekeepers say tried to detonate himself in a suicide bombing last week in Mogadishu.8:41 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Amid Deficit, A Look Back At Bush's Surplus, Tax Cuts
  President George W. Bush signed his first major round of tax cuts in 2001, reveling in a surplus and describing the reductions as giving extra federal funds back to taxpayers. Ten years later, the President Obama is facing a massive budget deficit. Are Bush's tax cuts to blame?
• Health Care Costs New Threat To U.S. Military
  Defense Secretary Robert Gates says pension and health care costs are eating the U.S. military alive. And the Pentagon predicts that the cost of taking care of its troops and retirees will keep growing.
• As China Invests, Many Kazakhs Say: Not Too Fast
  Having broken from its past as a Soviet republic, Kazakhstan is now a proud country with an up-and-coming economy and a desire to be a player on the world stage. Neighbor China seems to be offering what Kazakhstan wants: investment and political ties. But many worry about losing Kazakhstan's identity.
• Apple's Steve Jobs Unveils iCloud Music Service
  Steve Jobs came back from medical leave to announce Apple's much anticipated cloud music service called iCloud. It will allow users to access music they've purchased on almost any device. Apple also will offer cloud services for contacts, calendar and mail for free.
• New Jersey Seeks To Shrink Medicaid
  Gov. Chris Christie wants to cut $500 million in Medicaid spending — in part by freezing more than 20,000 state residents out of the program. The state would do that basically by disqualifying any adult who makes more than $6,000 a year. Critics say the cuts would hurt those who can least afford it.
• 15 States Try To Cut Back On Medicaid Programs
  Medicaid provides health care to people with low incomes, who also meet certain other categories. And while the federal government pays more than half of the bill, the share the states pay consumes 22 percent of the average state's budget. That's more than they pay for education, transportation or other large budget items.
• Appeals Court To Hear Health Law Challenge
  Earlier in the year, a Florida judge struck down large portions of President Obama's health care law. A three-judge panel will take up the case in a federal appeals court in Atlanta on Wednesday.
• Boeing Gets Military Plane Order From India
  Workers at a Boeing plant in Long Beach, Calif., are celebrating a $4 billion order from India. The Indian government approved an agreement to buy 10 C-17 military transport planes on Monday.
• Microsoft, Sony Unveil What's New For Gamers At E3 Gathering
  The Electronics Entertainment Expo, which begins Tuesday in Los Angeles, is the annual convention of the video game industry. On Monday, there were a few pregame news conferences, including big ones from Microsoft and Sony.
• Female Prison Inmates Trained To Start Businesses
  For four years, inmates at a women's correctional facility in Oregon have taken a class that provides training in small business management as well as life skills such as setting goals.

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