Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Controlling farm runoff could have multiple benefits
  A big contributor to the Gulf of Mexico's 'dead zone' is farmland runoff, but a new approach to farmland drainage may help reduce its size.7:20 a.m.
• St. Paul native part of crew behind controversial dolphin film
  A controversial new movie called "The Cove" opens in Minnesota later this week and one of the crew is St. Paul native Joe Chisholm. He helped mastermind what became a huge clandestine operation.7:25 a.m.
• Fringe shows to watch... and watch out for!
  The 16th annual Minnesota Fringe Festival got off to a hot start last weekend, with strong attendance and a handful of sellout shows among its 162 productions.8:25 a.m.
• Rep. Peterson opposes Obama's health care reform plan
  Minnesota U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson says he will likely vote against the health care reform proposal working its way through Congress.8:40 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Threats Cloud Afghan Women's Political Ambitions
  Later this month, a record number of women will be on the ballot in Afghanistan's elections — a major change in a country where women weren't allowed to attend school eight years ago. But many female candidates and voters are facing oppression, threats of violence and fraud.
• Mullen: 'Tough Fight' In Afghanistan Under Review
  Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other top Pentagon officials are reviewing the Obama administration's new strategy toward Afghanistan and Pakistan. Mullen says the military needs to start turning things around in Afghanistan within the next 12 to 18 months.
• 'Clunkers' Pile Up On Auto Dealer's 'Death Row'
  The federal government requires auto dealers to disable a vehicle's engine in order to get a refund from the "cash for clunkers" program. Critics say the engine is the most valuable part of a junked car so destroying them is wasteful.
• High-And-Mighty ESPN Should Take It Down A Notch
  ESPN has multiple channels, a magazine, a radio network and some unbecoming habits — like subtly claiming it alone uncovers all the news in sports. Commentator Frank Deford says the network would benefit from a bit more humility.
• Violence Shatters Afghan Sense Of Security
  Violence continues to plague Afghanistan. Some of it is aimed at the candidates in this month's elections and their supporters. A Taliban spokesman warned that as the elections approached, there would be more acts of violence. The result could be a lower voter turnout.
• Ghanaian Artist Puts New Twist On Shadow Boxes
  Heather Badger is an artist in Ghana whose passion is to mix modern and traditional art forms. She uses computer technology and laser engravers to help fashion shadow boxes. Badger says she's tired of hearing that African art should be primitive and done in certain ways.
• Indiana Autoworkers Go Back To School
  The ranks at Ivy Tech Community College in Kokomo, Ind., are swelling with laid-off factory workers. One in five people in Kokomo is jobless. Many are back in school with the help of a program that pays to retrain workers hurt by foreign trade.
• Death Of Iranian Woman, Keeps Opposition Alive
  Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad began a second term in office on Wednesday. Iranian writer Reza Aslan talks with Steve Inskeep about the opposition which continues to protest the election results. The opposition keeps in mind the death of Neda Agha Soltan, the young woman was killed in June during violence that followed the disputed election.
• Tijuana Bicyclists Ride To Make Streets Safe
  Every Wednesday night, the streets in Tijuana, Mexico, are filled with hundreds of bicyclists who ride in spite of the city's notorious violence. They want to show that the streets can be safe and that Tijuana is a family-friendly place.
• Retailers To Open 'Storefronts' On Facebook
  Hundreds of millions of Web surfers use Facebook to keep in contact. Facebook hopes they'll do some shopping as well. Britain's Financial Times reports that at least 20 retailers soon will open electronic "storefronts" on the site. These are not links to the retailers' websites. Instead, shoppers would complete their transactions on Facebook.

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