Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Ventura says he's not running
  After months of stoking speculation, former Gov. Jesse Ventura finally put it to rest last night. He made the announcement on CNN's Larry King Live that he will not run for U.S. Senate this year.7:20 a.m.
• Barkley says he's running for Senate
  Former U.S. Senator Dean Barkley says he's almost certain he will enter Minnesota's Senate race today.7:25 a.m.
• Twins enter All-Star break as contenders
  The Twins have been much better this year than many baseball observers predicted. Will it last? Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer talks with two contributors to Minnesota Public Radio's baseball blog "Bleacher Bums," Chris Dall and Steve Rudolph.7:50 a.m.
• Pennant race can be seen as morality play
  Baseball's All-Star Game takes place at Yankee Stadium Tuesday night, with the Twins' own Joe Mauer starting behind the plate for the American League. The Twins go into the break only 1.5 games behind the White Sox in the AL Central race. For commentator Peter Smith, this has become more than a pennant race. It's a morality play.7:55 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• How Fannie, Freddie Became Kings Of The Hill
  Homeowners might think of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as just the big dogs of the mortgage business, but in Washington, D.C., they're known as big players in lobbying. The two companies managed to stave off government regulation for years by lobbying hard — and spending generously.
• Green Speed Dating: Finding Carbon-Neutral Love
  For those who are extremely passionate about the environment, finding a low-impact love connection can be tough. In Los Angeles, an affair billed as the first ever green speed-dating event tried to make it a little easier.
• Julie Smith Delves Into New Orleans' Secrets
  Mystery writer Julie Smith offers a tour of the hauntingly Gothic city she calls home. New Orleans, says Smith, is a great place to write mysteries — not because of the city's crime, but because of its secrets.
• Panel To Hear Testimony On Fannie-Freddie Plan
  Two proponents of the plan to prop up Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson — testify before Congress on Tuesday to compel Congress to take action. Meantime, despite government assurances, stocks are plunging in the finance sector.
• Obama Salutes Old Guard In NAACP Speech
  Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama spoke Monday at the NAACP convention in Cincinnati, reiterating his message calling for more personal responsibility from blacks. The task for Obama was to connect the group's civil rights legacy to his own ambitions.
• Ind. Mortgage Brokers Face Tougher Licensing Laws
  New lending laws in Indiana could put some mortgage brokerage firms out of business by the end of the month. The rules prevent brokerages from holding a license in the state without meeting an experience threshold and passing a mortgage law exam.
• Spain Offers To Pay Jobless Foreigners To Move Out
  Hundreds of thousands of migrants worked in Spain during the housing boom. Now that the economy is slowing, many are jobless. Because they've been legalized, they are entitled to unemployment benefits. The Spanish government is now trying to pay jobless foreigners to leave.
• Venezuelan Landowner Makes Way For Squatters
  The revolutionary rhetoric of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has incited poor squatters to invade farms. When Alberto Vollmer's huge sugar hacienda was invaded, he didn't fight back like most landowners. Instead, he welcomed the 500 squatters and provided training for them.
• GM Unveils Cuts To Save $10 Billion Through '09
  General Motors is still the leading U.S. automaker, but as plunging sales eat into company finances, GM chief executive Rick Wagoner has announced a sweeping plan to shrink the company and save $10 billion by the end of next year.
• Market Anxiety Sends Bank Stocks Tumbling
  Stocks continued to plunge Tuesday after Monday's session of large declines for shares of regional banks. Share prices of Citigroup, Bank of America, JP Morgan, and finance and insurance giant AIG fell by up to 9 percent.

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