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December 6 - 10, 2004
[ Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday ]
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Monday, Dec. 6, 2004 |
Flu nurse: "I didn't do anything wrong"
The woman who gave what she says are flu shots at Augsburg College in Minneapolis says the shots were genuine and safe. Michelle Torgerson appeared at brief news conference with her Minneapolis attorney Monday, to reassure those who received shots from her.
Where will all the garbage go?
City and county officials in Fergus Falls are looking for new ways to dispose of garbage. When the city's incinerator closes, trash from seven counties will need to find a new home.
Light rail opens to airport and Mom
Free train rides over the weekend helped boost ridership on the Hiawatha Light Rail line to nearly 90,000 passengers over two days. Transit officials celebrated the completion of the 12-mile line to the airport and Mall of America. Minnesota Public Radio talked to some Monday morning commuters switching to a new routine at one of the new stops.
"You are a Dog"
Ever wonder what dogs think? Teacher and award-winning fiction writer Terry Bain has pondered that for years and has finally cracked the canine code. In his new book, "You are a Dog," Baine demystifies the charming, endearing, and occassionally bizarre habits our beloved dogs exhibit.
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Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2004 |
Minnesota vet remembers Pearl Harbor
Ralph Krafnick of St. Cloud was getting ready to play a morning baseball game 63 years ago Tuesday. His team was made up of crew members from the USS New Orleans, docked at Pearl Harbor. The morning attack stopped their weekly baseball game, sunk 18 ships, killed 2,400 soldiers and cast the U.S. into World War II. For Krafnick, 87, the memory of that day is clear.
A dark time for Finns recounted in new novel
In the early 1930s, Soviet recruiters persuaded thousands of Finnish-Americans from northern Minnesota to move to Stalin's Russia. They thought they were going to build a utopia, but many ended up as Stalin's victims. A Minnesota author, William Durbin, has written a new book for young people which describes the painful episode.
Dr. Jon Hallberg: The state of the nation's health
Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson resigned last Friday. The day before, and with much less fanfare, the department he led released a new comprehensive report on the health of the nation. Among its findings, Americans are living longer, are more medicated than ever before, and are paying record prices for health services.
Kelly appoints city arts directior
St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly today announced the hiring of a new director of Arts, Culture and Entertainment.
Gayle Ober, currently the executive director of the Dale Warland singers, has been serving in the position since October and will assume official duties in January.
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Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2004 |
Budget cuts slice Duluth's low income housing
Duluth landlords serving low income tenants are being told to cut rents or lose renters.
Ballad of the Whiskey Robber
In the 1990s a one-man crime wave hit the Hungarian capital of Budapest. A man, usually dressed in a bad wig and reeking of whisky, robbed more than twenty post offices and banks. Much to the frustration of the Hungarian police the so-called 'Whisky Robber' became a national hero.
Faith for felons
Five to seven of every 10 prisoners released will be back. A new faith-based program in Fergus Falls is trying to slow the revolving door.
Fairview settles complaint from deaf patients
Fairview Health Services has agreed to pay $208,000 to settle a complaint that it failed to adequately provide deaf patients with sign language interpreters.
Intelligence Reform Overhaul Bill a cause for concern for some in MN delegation
The United States Senate has just passed legislation overhauling the nation's intellegence system. The bill stalled in the House of Representatives until negotiations produced a bill that was overwhelmingly approved yesterday.
Of the 75 Representatives who voted against the intellegence reform legislation, three were from Minnesota's congressional delegation. DFLers Jim Oberstar and Martin Sabo and Republican Gil Gutknecht voted to reject the bill.
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Thursday, Dec. 9, 2004 |
Defining moral values
Since the November, 2004, election, much has been said about moral values. Many people say their beliefs influence how they vote. Church groups around the region talk to us about how they define moral values.
St. Cloud is going wireless
Technology experts expect plenty of competition across the country in the next few years as the number of Internet providers, especially wireless ones, explodes.
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell champion English magic
Unless you've read Susanna Clarke's novel, "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel," you're probably unaware how the British used a magician to defeat Napoleon at Waterloo.
FCC holding hearing on media consolidation
A commissioner from the Federal Communications Commission is in the Twin Cities to solicit public comment on media consolidation. The visit is part of a nationwide tour by the two Democrats on the commission. They were the lone dissenters on the FCC ruling last year increasing the number of media outlets that a single company could own.
Flu nurse yet to be charged
The Minnesota Health Department is still waiting for tests to confirm that shots an unauthorized nurse gave to Augsburg students, staff and faculty last week are actually the flu vaccine. Michelle Torgerson says she used legitimate vaccine that her employer told her to discard. She says she sold the shots at Augsburg to raise money for a fund drive her daughter was involved in. Nearly a week after the story first emerged Torgerson hasn't been charged and legal experts aren't sure she has broken any laws.
The business of hunger relief
For some Minnesotans, a food shelf is simply a place where the cans of soup and other edibles they donate to the company food drive eventually end up. But for nearly 360,000 of the state's citizens, a food shelf can be a life line.
Biotechnology market growing
According to a new report from a University of Minnesota researcher. Sixty-three countries are now studying or planting genetically engineered crops and world-wide acceptance of biotech foods is increasing.
The United States is still the world leader in biotech production, but China, India and western Europe are getting in the game. That's good news for Minnesota farmers -- and scientists -- who would love to see a growing market for their genetically engineered products.
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Friday, Dec. 10, 2004 |
Tests: Shots at Augsburg flu clinic were flu vaccine
The substance administered at an unauthorized flu clinic was Augsburg College in Minneapolis earlier this month was flu vaccine, which may have been harmlessly diluted in some cases, according to government testing.
Report: Minnesotans growing more skeptical about state government
A report says many Minnesotans are deeply skeptical about state government and think the state wastes their hard-earned tax dollars on programs that don't benefit them personally.
Working his pictures hard
John Jarpe works hard as a painter, and he works his paintings hard. He usually labors for several months on each piece in his St Paul studio.
Target meets holiday sales expectations
The early results of the holiday shopping season give an edge to Minneapolis-based Target corporation. In the first two weeks of "door-busters, prices slashes and "four-hour sales," Target stores met sales expectations while discount competitors like Wal-Mart fell short.
Immigrant women face barriers when seeking protection from domestic abuse
A major report on domestic violence in Twin Cities' immigrant communities says that women face language barriers, cultural pressure, and dwindling resources in efforts to get out of violent situations.
The Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights released their study today, Human Rights Day. While the organization has long monitored human rights around the world, today's report is the first comprehensive look at government response to violence against women in U.S. communities.
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