Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Bachmann-Clark most expensive House race in the country
  It probably won't be too long before incumbent Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann, and her opponent, DFL state Sen. Tarryl Clark, start exchanging barbs in debates or TV ads.6:25 a.m.
• Minneapolis cracking down on straw gun buyers
  Most of the 33 people killed in Minneapolis homicides so far this year have been shot, many likely by people who cannot legally buy guns.7:20 a.m.
• Teens represent African nations in annual Brooklyn Center beauty pageant
  Several ethnic festivals took place around the Twin Cities this past weekend including Greek, Polish, Indian and Irish, but there was a different type of ethnic event in Brooklyn Center -- the 5th Annual Miss Teen Africa True Beauty Pageant.7:25 a.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• BP Shrinks Gulf Cleanup Crews, Tries New Tools
  BP has been downsizing its crews in the Gulf of Mexico since it capped the well in mid-July. Back then, more than 46,000 people were working the cleanup. Now it's down to about 14,000. The company hopes a new piece of equipment, called a Sand Shark, can do the job more efficiently.
• New Orleans Judge Barbier Will Hear Gulf Spill Cases
  U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier in New Orleans will preside over more than 300 lawsuits related to the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Barbier once held bonds issued by companies that are now the targets of the lawsuits. Law professor Mitch Crusto of Loyola University New Orleans talks to Linda Wertheimer about the long courtroom battles ahead.
• Unrelenting Rains Punish 20 Million Pakistanis
  Pakistan struggles to provide food and shelter for millions of people displaced by flooding. The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says he's never seen a disaster of this magnitude.
• Devastating Floods Cause Great Need In Pakistan
  Heavy rain is again soaking victims living in makeshift camps, adding to the urgency of a massive international relief effort under way in Pakistan. U.S. Ambassador Anne W. Patterson tells Steve Inskeep that Pakistan is in need of money and relief supplies.
• Durango Honors Dentist Slain In Afghan Aid Attack
  Dentist Tom Grams of Durgango, Colo., was among the group of 10 aid workers slain in Afghanistan earlier this month. Four years ago, Grams gave up a successful private dental practice to work in the third world.
• Experiencing Teen Drama Overload? Blame Biology
  Tweens and teens go through developmental changes that can be exasperating for parents and can make them feel ineffective. Experts talk about those trying teen years and how parents can learn to cope more effectively while their child moves toward adulthood.
• China Wields Remarkable Economic Growth
  China has overtaken Japan as the world's second largest economy in the second quarter, according to new figures out Monday. Japan's economic growth has been stagnant in recent months while China's economy is growing about 10 percent a year. Japan held the No. 2 slot since 1968.
• Growing Exports Lead Germany's Economic Recovery
  Germany's economy leads other European Union nations in recovery. Strong demand for exports have helped, but some wonder if these good times can be sustained as its economic partners continue to struggle.
• Autoworkers Hope GM's Turnaround Continues
  General Motors reported a $1.3 billion quarterly profit last week, and looks to be on the come-back trail. It's also said to be on the verge of filing an initial stock offering. Some GM workers at a plant in Lordstown, Ohio, were asked how they're feeling about the upbeat news coming out of their beleaguered company.
• Bacon Prices Are On The Rise
  A pound of bacon now costs $1 more than it did last year, according to the Department of Agriculture. And it's probably going to go higher. The price of pork bellies is up nearly 50 percent since June. The reason? U.S. farmers are raising fewer hogs and shipping more of them to customers overseas.

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