Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• With memories of I-35W collapse still fresh, officials diligently fixing bridge problems
  The state is halfway through a 10-year upgrade to replace some of Minnesota's most worrisome bridges. With the collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge still fresh for many people, officials at the state Department of Transportation say they are more vigilant than ever.6:50 a.m.
• Reading, test scores flat among Minn. students
  Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius joins The Daily Circuit to talk about the new Minnesota test scores released Wednesday.7:20 a.m.
• Minnesota mom overjoyed with daughter's Olympic medal
  The U.S. women's quadruple sculls rowing team has won a bronze medal at the Olympics in London. Ukraine took the gold and Germany the silver in the competion. South St. Paul native Megan Kalmoe was one of the four rowers on the U.S. team which won the bronze.8:25 a.m.
• Rep. Peterson says drought concerns shouldn't derail the farm bill
  The U.S. House of Representatives could vote yet this week on a disaster relief bill to help the nation's farmers who have seen their crops and livestock suffer this sweltering summer.8:45 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Under Health Law, 'No-Cost' Birth Control Starts Today
  As of Aug. 1, insurers must offer a wide array of women's preventive health services at no upfront cost. Most of the coverage isn't controversial — except the contraception requirement, which is still the subject of legal challenges.
• Disease Expert Calls For More Talk On Flu Experiments
  A government official told federally funded flu scientists meeting in New York that it was too soon to resume controversial experiments on mutant bird flu viruses, saying the public has to have input. But one of the flu researchers who did the work says he thinks it is time to lift the moratorium on this research, and that scientists around the world will not feel bound by what the U.S. government decides.
• The Ghostly Grandeur Of A Desert Graveyard
  Some 60,000 people have been buried in El Paso's Concordia Cemetery. The Texas graveyard is the final home to gunslingers, Mormon pioneers, Chinese immigrants, Mexican revolutionaries and Civil War veterans. Its desert setting is a venue for a popular Day of the Dead festival and nightly ghost tours.
• 'Once More,' Passing The Torch To One And All
  Slovenian poet Ales Steger says that the Olympics are for everyone, even "bankers with pacemakers" to "naked sumo wrestlers." The poem is a playful, "lightly humorous call to action," says Brian Henry, Steger's award-winning translator.
• Senate Debates Cybersecurity Bill
  The idea behind the legislation on the floor of the Senate this week is to harden American Internet infrastructure to attack, but there's a lot of disagreement over how to do that without hampering the industry — and compromising Americans' privacy.
• U.S. Gymnasts Win Gold, Ending 16-Year Drought
  Tuesday was a big day for the U.S. women's gymnastics team. The five American women won the gold medal in the team competition for the first time in 16 years.
• Gore Vidal, American Writer And Cultural Critic, Dies
  Vidal wrote more than two-dozen novels and an equal number of nonfiction books in a career that spanned six decades. He was also a screenwriter, playwright and political activist, and his outspoken views made him a favorite on television talk shows. Vidal, 86, died Tuesday at home in the Hollywood Hills.
• Online Poker Companies Make Deal With Prosecutors
  Poker Stars will pay nearly $550 million to settle charges of money laundering and fraud. It's acquiring the Full Tilt Poker website, so part of the settlement will be used to reimburse former customers of that site. Neither company — now shut down in the U.S. — admitted any wrongdoing. If U.S. laws change to allow online poker, they'll be back in business.
• Car Insurance Business Gets More Competitive
  A new study shows Michigan residents face the steepest car insurance cost burden in the nation.
• What Ever Happened To Jordache Jeans?
  Renee Montagne talks with reporter Matt Boyle about his story in the latest issue of Bloomberg Businessweek Magazine about Jordache, the brand whose skintight jeans were an '80s staple.

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