Monday, April 2

If clear skies prevail, the Northern Lights could provide viewers a spectacular show tonight. Astronomers are predicting a colorful display because of an enormous sun spot explosion last Thursday. Astronomer's say the magnetic sun spot, or solar storm, occurs in 11-year cycles. Bob Bonadurer, director of the Minneapolis Planetarium, says this is the cycle's peak.

The Guthrie Theater has chosen French architect Jean Nouvel to design its new complex on the Mississippi waterfront in Minneapolis. The Guthrie's board chose the 55-year-old Parisian because he has a record of blending innovative design with a site's historical context. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.

A new report says it's feasible to build an enhanced iron pellet operation in Northeastern Minnesota, but that LTV Steel's shuttered Hoyt Lakes taconite plant may not be the best place to do it. A consultant for a state development agency has formed a new company to produce iron pellets at an existing taconite plant in Silver Bay, a project he says would eventually provide 100 jobs. But the future of the LTV mining plant remains in doubt. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Kelleher, reports.

The state Senate today passed a budget resolution calling for significantly more spending than Ventura or House Republicans want. Meanwhile, the governor met this afternoon with House Republicans. The governor and GOP leaders both want to use a projected surplus for sizable tax cuts but they're at odds over what form tax relief should take. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.

We asked two of Minnesota's represenatives to react to the U.S. Senate's campaign finance reform bill and speculate about its future in the House. Third District Republican Jim Ramstad says he's pleased with the bill, especially the provision that bans so-called soft money.

Many Americans hold a special place in their heart for Paris and all things French, from inspiring architecture to picturesque boulevards and tiny cafes. Longtime New Yorker writer Adam Gopnick shared this romantic perspective with his wife and together they dreamed of the day when they would run away to Paris. Their dream became reality after the birth of their first child in 1995. In his new book Paris to the Moon, Gopnick reflects on his five-year personal pilgrimage that confirmed many of his Parisian fantasies while injecting a good dose of French reality.

Best Buy has surprised analysts with better than expected earnings. The Eden Prairie-based consumer electronics retailer credits sales of high-margin items like DVDs and digital cameras for boosting its profits, even as many other companies struggle in an economic slowdown. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.

Private providers of family planning services today said they could lose significant funding if legislation approved by a key House committee becomes law. Last week, the Health and Human Services committee voted to shift state family planning grants from nonprofit groups to cities and counties. Opponents say the move is a veiled attack on groups that provide abortions. But supporters say the switch simply gives taxpayers oversight into how the money is used. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.

While Best Buy's share price soared today, other prominent Minnesota companies watched their stock tumble along side the Dow. ADC telecommunications was down 12 percent. St. Paul Companies was 4 percent. Jim Paulsen is an economist at Wells Fargo in Minneapolis. I asked him why Best Buy is beating the odds in the current market.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture announced today it has formed an interagency task force to coordinate state and federal efforts to prevent Mad Cow Disease. The highly contagious disease, which is also called BSE, wastes the brains of cattle and can be transferred to humans. The state agriculture department's Meat Inspection supervisor Kevin Elfering says Minnesota has already been taking precautions to make sure the disease doesn't infect the state's livestock.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is putting the final touches on a plan to restore an historic migration route of one of North America's most endangered birds. The whooping crane was on the verge of extinction in the early 1940's, with only 16 birds left in the world. The species is now about 400 strong, with three separate groups of birds nesting in the wild. One of the flocks migrates across the American West, following a path from Canada to Texas. Now officials hope to establish a second migration route, this time in the eastern U.S. from Wisconsin to Florida. Joan Guilfoyle is an external affairs officer at the Minneapolis office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. I asked her to describe what the birds look like.

Last week's unusually angry outburst against lobbyists by a key legislator has many state Capitol insiders wondering what set it off. House Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Davids called the successful effort to kill wine sales in grocery stores the most "disgusting, underhanded, unethical, pathetic, dishonest, dishonorable show of lobbying" that he's ever seen. Many legislators say the high-pressure tactics crossed the line, but are highly unusual at the Capitol, where lobbyists' words are their currency. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

The results of the 2000 census would appear to be good news for Minnesota's Native American population. Census figures show the American Indian population in the state grew by about 31,000 people since 1990, Ranking the state 13th nationally. One percent of Minnesota's population claims some Indian heritage. While the increase in population is seen as encouraging by some tribal officials, others are questioning the figures . Mainstreet Radios Bob Reha reports.

Allegations of financial misconduct have surfaced against another Minnesota charter school, and leaders of a charter school group are calling for more state oversight. Officials with Minnesota Association of Charter Schools also want the school's board of directors, who they accuse of mismanagement, to step down. But a state legislator is accusing those association leaders of covering up the school's problems until after a key legislative committee vote. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.

For the first time U.S. census figures will attempt to document Minnesota's Somali population. The state is home to the largest settlement of Somalis outside of Africa. While definitive census numbers on the East African group won't be released for months, government officials are hopeful that the 2000 racial data will be more accurate than in the past. But many of the state's Somali residents don't the share the government's confidence, and predict a massive undercount. Minnesota Public Radio's Erin Galbally has this Mainstreet report.

A Minnesota Senate committee has rejected a proposal to require a 24-hour waiting period before a woman could have an abortion. But supporters of the so-called "women's right to know" bill don't consider the move a major setback, and they expect to get the bill to the Governor's desk again this year. Ventura vetoed the bill last time, and says he'll do it again. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

Here in Minnesota, a new nonprofit is helping foreign doctors learn new techniques to treat people with HIV. This year, PlanetAide is sponsoring four doctors from Ecuador who have been meeting with Minnesota AIDS specialists, talking to people who are HIV-positive and gathering information to use in their own clinics. Dr. Lilly Marquez, an Ob-Gyn from Guayaquil, Ecuador has been in Minneapolis since late January. She says there are very few AIDS drugs in Ecuador.

Minnesota's bald eagle population is at its highest level since 1972, when the state first started collecting data on the species. There are now almost 700 nesting pairs in the state. Mark Martel is the coordinator of conservation programs at the University of Minnesota's Raptor Center. He says the birds are nesting in areas that weren't traditionally considered prime habitat.

University of Minnesota officials expect it will take a few weeks to complete an investigation of possible rule violations in the women's basketball program. Assistant coaches are overseeing the team now that the university has put head coach Cheryl Littlejohn on a paid leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports.

The Walker Art Center has unveiled a conceptual design for its upcoming expansion. Swiss Architecture firm Herzog de Meuron has designed a new building and a surrounding park that it hopes will become an artistic landmark and a magnet for civic activity. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.

A Flash flood watch has been issued for eastern North Dakota and northwest and west central Minnesota for Friday night and Saturday. The region is now officially in flood season, as the melting snow combined with rain causes river levels to rise rapidly. In North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota, the Army Corps of Engineers is building levees this week. Tim Birchii, the area flood engineer for the Red River Basin says in Waupeton and Breckenridge the levees are 20 feet high and expected to hold back the flood waters.

Minnesota lawmakers are considering significant changes in the state's child support policy. Several bills are working their way through the Legislature, including one to have courts consider the incomes of both parents when setting child support. But any discussion of child support is highly contentious, and many observers don't think anything will happen this session. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

Rwanda is in the midst of a week long commemoration of the 1994 genocide of at least 500,000 minority Tutsis and politically moderate Hutus by the then-ruling Hutu government. Flags are flying at half-staff and authorities are holding conferences to discuss how Rwandans can remember what led to the killing and work together to rebuild their country. Genocide survivor Alphonse Nkunzimana is a human rights activist who is now working for reconciliation in Rwanda. He is in Minneapolis for a University of Minnesota symposium tonight. Nkunzimana recalls fleeing his house as the violence escalated nearby. He says the rampage that followed is hard to forget.

Governor Jesse Ventura told the Willmar Chamber of Commerce today he's committed to his plan of property and income tax cuts while expanding the state's sales tax to include services. The governor says he won't bargain with the Legislature, which hasn't been enthusiastic about his plan. He says if lawmakers don't follow his proposals, he'll be very difficult to deal with. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Post has this report.

The Walker Art Center has unveiled a conceptual design for its upcoming expansion. Swiss Architecture firm Herzog de Meuron have designed a new building and a surrounding park that it hopes will become an artistic landmark and a magnet for civic activity. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.

A male vocal group from Minnesota appears to have turned the corner and is headed for the big time. Twelve young men who form the group Cantus have signed with a New York management company. The dozen vocalists, all in their 20s, have crisscrossed the country singing their blend of sacred and secular music. They give their season-ending concert tonight in Minneapolis before their next road trip. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.

As the sun sets on Saturday night, Jews will gather to celebrate the first night of Passover. The eight-day festival begins with family and friends participating in a ritual meal called a Seder. The leader of the Seder tells the story of the exodus of the Jews from Egypt. The Jewish slaves didn't have time to allow their bread dough to rise. What resulted was a flat, cracker-like bread called matzoh. Chaim Goldberger is a modern orthodox Rabbi at the Kenesseth Israel Synagogue in St. Louis Park. He says that in observing Passover, Jews are commanded to eat matzah.

The University of Minnesota and MnSCU officials say they're generally pleased with the proposed spending increases issued yesterday by the leadership in the House. They say they like the fact the House recommends bigger increases than Governor Ventura. But they also point out the proposal still falls far short of what they originally requested. Minnesota Public Radio's Patty Marsicano reports.

A concealed handgun bill that was picking up steam at the Capitol was dealt a major blow today. After two hours of debate, a key Senate committee defeated the bill, making it much trickier to get the bill through the Legislature. But supporters say the proposal is far from dead. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

Governor Jesse Ventura today apologized for his comparison of deer hunting with his own military career. Earlier this week, Ventura mocked the hunting of defenseless animals, saying it paled compared to his combat experience. But after extended criticism from sporting groups, the governor's backing down. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.

The Minnesota Wild wrap up their inaugural season with two home games this weekend. Tonight the Wild host the Columbus Blue Jackets at 7 o'clock. On Sunday afternoon, they play the Colorado Avalanche. Both games are sold out, extending the Wild's sellout streak at Xcel Energy Center to 39 games. The Wild has already broken the NHL expansion team attendance record and they expect to surpass 750,000 fans with Sunday's last game. The team's performance on the ice hasn't been as spectacular. Minnesota is winless in 12 games, with their last victory coming nearly a month ago, on March 9. Ross Bernstein, the editor of Minnesota Hockey Journal, has been following the team through its ups and downs.