Morning Edition on WAMC

Deb Thompson went to a Minnesota Goodwill looking for a deal and some bling. She got both: a pair of gem-studded pants for $3.99. And in one of the pockets, a diamond ring worth at least $5,000. Thompson is trying to locate the owner.

While Greeks are facing tough austerity measures, they are hopeful there soccer team will beat Germany in the quarterfinals of the Euro championship. Germany may have a better economy, but Greeks are betting on their team to prevail.

The eurozone will take a short break from its financial crisis to enjoy a sporting event. The soccer teams of Germany and Greece meet Friday in the quarter finals of the Euro 2012 championship in Gdansk, Poland. Germany's coach doesn't think political tensions will have an impact on the field.

It's been another tumultuous week in Syria. NPR's Deborah Amos was reporting from inside Syria earlier this week but she's back in Lebanon now. She says what surprised her most while she was in Damascus, is that more people are speaking out against President Assad's government.

Here's the morning weather forecast from Paul Caiano of Newschannel 13.

The state of Vermont has restored funding for a group that fights discrimination against gay people to run an anti-harrassment program in schools. More from North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley...

Funding for the Outright Vermont program was cut in 2000, amid a heated debate over civil unions. The group had been operating its school program with private grant funding, but now Outright Vermont says state funding has been restored.

Over the last year, Outright Vermont has made 152 presentations in Vermont schools, reaching more than 4,000 students and educators.

The Village of Wappingers Falls, New York may have switched to its own water supply, but the village has a contact with the Joint Poughkeepsie Water Agency through the end of the year — and the City and Town of Poughkeepsie want their money. Hudson Valley Correspondent Hank Gross reports...

The village hasn’t paid the $488,400 it owns for usage for the last part of 2011 and the first half of this year, and Mayor John Tkazyik has also sought mediation to get its money.

New York's Legislature has voted to ban selling electronic cigarettes to minors. WAMC's Dave Lucas reports.

If Governor Andrew Cuomo signs the bill into law, New York will join Alaska, Idaho, Kansas and Maryland in restricting so-called e-cigarettes that can carry nicotine. The devices are sold without regulation in malls and other places where cigarettes are sold.

The American Cancer Society had called for the measure for two years.

WAMC's Ian Pickus reports on the world of sports, including LeBron James' first championship.

BEFORE HE’D EVER PLAYED A MINUTE IN A MIAMI UNIFORM, LEBRON JAMES WAS COUNTING ALL THE CHAMPIONSHIPS HE’D WIN WITH THE HEAT…6…7…8. LAST NIGHT, HE FINALLY WON THAT ELUSIVE FIRST TITLE. THE HEAT BEAT OKLAHOMA CITY 121-106 TO WIN THE SERIES IN FIVE GAMES…IT’S MIAMI’S SECOND CHAMPIONSHIP IN SIX YEARS. JAMES WAS NAMED FINALS MVP AFTER LEADING THE WAY WITH 26 POINTS, 11 REBOUNDS AND 13 ASSISTS IN THE CLINCHER.

Later this summer, Republicans will gather in Tampa, Fla., for their presidential nominating convention; Democrats will then do the same in Charlotte, N.C. Each party gets more than $18 million in public funds this year to help pay for the gatherings.

The money comes from that $3 box that taxpayers can check on their federal tax returns. But this could be the last time party conventions get taxpayer funding.