Monday, February 3

In today's Odd Jobs segment Brian Bull talks to a woman whose job it is to preserve textiles for the Minnesota Historical Society.

Minnesota Public Radio's Gretchen Lehmann (lay-mun) reports on a teacher in Sauk Rapids who has teamed up with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration--NASA--to teach students about space and aeronautics, but also about how to learn.

Chris Farrell looks ahead to the week on Wall Street.

An executive for Polaris discusses snowmobile safety: what changes he would like to see made and what manufacturers can do to make their products safer.

Lobbyist John Knapp discusses the Legislative Session to date: the Stadium, welfare, property taxes, etc.

Tuesday, February 4

A Minnesota House higher education panel took its meeting on the road last night...to the University of Minnesota-Duluth campus. Legislators were greeted by students, educators and community members pleading for more support. Minnesota Public Radio's Hope Deutscher reports.

Housing officials in Saint Cloud have been searching for three years to find a new site for the community homeless shelter. Few dispute that the current 15-bed shelter is too small for one of Minnesota's fastest-growing areas - it turned away more than a thousand people last year - and its century-old building is deteriorating. Yet each time a site is considered, neighbors say they don't want it located next to them. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...

This session, Congress is expected to tackle the thorny issue of reforming Medicare. Many seniors are worried the reform effort will ultimately translate into fewer benefits. But in Minnesota, seniors are actually hopeful they might come out ahead. Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson reports:

A new elementary magnet school in Maplewood might be one of the most complex educational operations in the state. The school is supported financially by three districts, yet the school has its own district number and school board. The school is a voluntary desegregation project involving urban and suburban students. The curriculum has a duel focus of multicultural education and environmental studies. On top all this, the school is operating year-round. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire takes a look at what could be a model for the future of elementary schools...

Minnesota Deputy Commissioner of Human Services John Petraborg discusses the Governor's Conference which he is attending in Washington. He has been meeting with folks on the Hill about welfare reform.

Doug Wood, who is over-seeing the stadium project in Nashville, discusses current trends in stadium design, whether the proposed retractable dome here will work, and the challenge of growing grass in an indoor/outdoor facility.

Wednesday, February 5

County governments in Minnesota are in a financial squeeze.... as state and federal grants decline, they must either cut services or find new revenue sources. In southwest Minnesota a bookmobile with a roadrunner painted on its side is directly in the path of the funding dilemma. People who use it say its foolish to cut a service which enriches minds. Mark Steil of Mainstreet Radio reports:

White Bear Lake Schools Superintendent Ted Blaesing discusses why the levy referendum to pay for school programs passed last night after being voted down twice before.

Carleton Poltical Science professor Steven Schier analyzes President Clinton's State of the Union Address.

Robert Bruininks of the University of Minnesota's College of Education discusses his school's report on how to evaluate and compare schools statewide.

Thursday, February 6

There are no listings available for today's program.

Friday, February 7

Saturday evening in Minneapolis the University of Minnesota Symphony Orchestra presents the music of Roy Harris and Rimsky-Korsakov. Also on the playlist is a piece of new music by a Chinese composer written for the pipa (PEE pa), an instrument similar to a lute. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson has more.

Within the next several weeks the LOCAL telephone market will be opening up to free market competition just as the long distance monopoly was broken apart in the early 1980's. Throughout the country, companies that control local phone lines are scrambling to protect themselves as regulators welcome outside competitors into what's been THEIR territory. In Minnesota US West says it's being forced to offer newcomers an unfair advantage that could lead to a deterioration of the local phone network. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...

The Minnesota House has given preliminary approval to legislation meant to curb teen smoking. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports:

Regent professor emeritus John Turner discusses why he and 14 other distinguished professors signed a letter reversing their position on a faculty union at the U. They had supported it in the face of tenure revision, but now don't think it's neccessary.

Chris Farrell discusses the new unemployment numbers released this morning.

Baseball fan Julian Loscalzo discusses the Stadium saga from a fan's perspective. He also describes the Hot Stove League Banquet which will be held Saturday night.

Meteorologist Mark Seeley discusses the weather and why this year has been especially bad for potholes because of all the rain in the fall.

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