Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Mark Seeley talks about the recent heatwave, looks ahead to tomorrow's storms
  This week's weather broke a lot of records around the state. MPR meteorologist Mark Seeley looks back on the heat wave, and ahead to severe weather expected tomorrow.6:55 a.m.
• State's bond ratings downgrades flag fiscal problems, but may be less costly than feared
  Earlier this month, some important folks in the finance and credit business in New York gave Minnesota a bit of a spanking. That was even before there was a budget deal to review. But it's happened before.7:22 a.m.
• Cedar Riverside's young people tell their story
  The East African community in the Cedar Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis has been in the news a great deal recently. Some young people from the neighborhood say their reality is very different from the media images of their community. They'll explain just how different in a play opening this weekend.8:20 a.m.
• Itasca State Park reopens for happy campers
  Minnesota's state parks are coming back on line after being barricaded for nearly three weeks because of the state government shutdown.8:40 a.m.
• U2 ready to grip Minnesota
  It's estimated 60,000 people plan to see the U2 concert Saturday at the University of Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium. It'll be the stadium's first concert, and U officials chose to start with one of rock and roll's highest profile bands.8:45 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Somalis Stream Into Kenya, Fleeing Famine
  In the Horn of Africa, about 11 million people lack sufficient food amid the worst drought in 60 years. The U.N. has declared a famine in southern parts of war-ravaged Somalia, where thousands of refugees are moving into Kenya seeking food, medicine and shelter at already crowded camps.
• Terrorists, U.S. Policy Hinder Famine Aid To Somalia
  The international community is struggling to respond to the famine in Somalia. U.S. officials say the terrorist group known as al-Shabaab has been preventing hungry Somalis from getting access to assistance. Some aid groups say U.S. policy in the region is also preventing them from doing life-saving work.
• Obama's Many Acts Command Debt-Ceiling Stage
  Each "Groundhog Day" of negotiations has brought a slightly different performance from the president: monologue one day, chorus number the next, and maybe a fight scene when things get spicy.
• Poor Peer Review Cited In Retracted DNA Study
  The study in question claimed that genetic tools could be used to predict people's likelihood of living to 100. The researchers made an honest mistake, but some say the publishing of the paper underscores a bigger problem.
• Oklahoma's Parched Land Needs Massive Rainfall
  Many areas of the country are suffering from "exceptional drought" conditions. That's the most intense level assigned by the federal agency that monitors droughts. Unusually dry conditions are creating ever expanding hardships for farmers and ranchers from New Mexico to Kansas. Oklahoma has been especially hard hit.
• 'Captain America' Unexpectedly A Humble Hero
  It was just a few months ago that comic book superhero Thor had a movie, and now Marvel Entertainment teammate Captain America has one too. Captain America: The First Avenger is not the best of the Marvel comics movies — but it does have something the others do not: Chris Evans in the title role.
• Apple Considers Bid For Internet TV Service Hulu
  The maker of iPads, iPhones and iPods is considering buying Hulu, according to The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg News. The reports acknowledge it's still speculative at this stage. Buying Hulu would give Apple lots of video content to put on iTunes.
• European Union Decides To Bail Out Greece, Again
  European leaders have agreed on a massive new bailout plan for Greece. They also agreed to broader measures to deal with the continent's debt problems. Greece is receiving $156 billion to keep it afloat and a reduction in interest rates.
• Debt's Impact Could Be Worse If Interest Rates Rise
  Rates don't have to spike that high to cause big problems. That's because with the size of the national debt right now, nearly $15 trillion, any increase will start siphoning mind-boggling amounts of money out of the treasury.
• Economy Blamed For Fewer Las Vegas Weddings
  The clerk of Clark County, Nevada, says she issued only about 90,000 marriage licenses last year. That's down from 128,000 in 2004. To make up for the lost income, Vegas chapels are targeting husbands and wives who want to renew their vows.

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