Monday, April 14

As the Red River continues to roll north..the people of Breckenridge Minnesota hope the worst is behind them...but a second..slightly lower crest could come sometime this week. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Gunderson reports on the aftermath of the flood.

In many places the battle to hold back river water is now being rivaled by effort to keep sight see-ers out of areas in which they don't belong. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.

In St. Cloud, 70 year-old Ed Pick takes people to work in one of the last of its kind in Minnesota - a manually operated elevator. In today's Odd Jobs segment, Ed Pick talks with Minnesota Public Radio's Gretchen Lehmann about working a job where you can bring everyone along for the ride.

Lobbyist Barry Tilly says final deadlines for considering legislation are approaching...but the Twins stadium bill still remains alive.

Author David Osborne applies his ideas for "Re-inventing Government" to the American system of public education.

Trina Berg who lives along the Red River in Fargo breathes a sigh of relief as floodwaters start to recede.

A motorcycle expert talks about the new Excelsior-Henderson motorcycle plant being built in Belle Plain and whether it'll present any significant competition for Harley Davidson.

On our Monday Markets segment, Chris Farrell hunts for signs of inflation...but with no luck.

And on Future Tense: You can buy computers today that crunch data and images at once-unthinkable speeds. Consumer models are clocking in at more than 200 megaherz, or 200 million cycles per second. Future Tense trend watcher Bill Loving says high-end machines are approaching buck-rogers like speed.

Tuesday, April 15

Saint Paul leads the nation in board certified teachers. With a growing trend toward increased standards in education, many experienced teachers are going through the rigorous evaluation to gain professional recognition and possibly more money. Minnesota Public radio's Tim Pugmire reports.

The Minnesota Senate, as part of its omnibus crime prevention bill, passed a measure approving the sale of clean syringes without a doctor's prescription. As Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports, the idea is a controversial component to a larger AIDS education and prevention bill.

Tom Rothman, director of the Minnesota Farm Network, discusses the impact of spring flooding on the lives and businesses of Minnesota farmers.

Republican Representative Richard Mulder and DFLer Nora Slawick discuss a proposal that would give state money to low income parents to allow them to stay home with children who are under one year of age.

National Weather Service hydrologist Wendy Pearson says it's been difficult to forecast levels for the Red River because there's still so much water covering level ground and also because of frozen flood gauges.

And on Future Tense: Andy Inahtko, author of "Cyberspeak: An Online Dictionary," defines two terms: "barney" and "analog."

Wednesday, April 16

The U-S Supreme Court hears the case of former Minneapolis attorney James O'Hagan whose 57-count conviction on securities fraud was overturned by a federal appeals court. The outcome could make it more difficult to prosecute insider traders. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.

More than 50 scientists and EPA officials are at a national conference in Virginia trying to find causes for deformities in frogs found in Minnesota and other states. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports from the conference.

Blaine Hill, the city clerk of Breckinridge, describes how his town is handling its second flood crisis in two weeks.

MPR's Dan Gunderson talks about efforts to shore up dikes that have begun leaking in Fargo.

It's been three months since Hennepin County started its new Drug Court which is designed to get low level offenders into treatment as quickly as possible. Last night, Judge Kevin Burke, who presides over the Drug Court, discusses how the program is working so far.

And on Future Tense: University of Missouri conservatory of music pianist Brent Hugh has recorded an upcoming piano recital ...created a Web page with REAL audio...and people can listen to the recital and vote on what they heard. He then makes changes in the recital or practices parts that failed the poll.

Thursday, April 17

Small town cafes are fading away quietly and being replaced by fast-food restaurants. The local cafe is more than just a place to eat. It's a place to get together with neighbors and catch-up on the latest news around town. St. Peter artist Charles Waterman is putting together a book based on sketches he's drawn at cafes in southern Minnesota. Minnesota Public Radio's Holly Nelson reports.

After two weeks of fighting floods along the Red River Valley the stress is beginning to show on the people building the dikes and watching the rising waters. George O'Neill is a Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Responder who has been working in Breckenridge and Fargo Moorhead. He spoke with Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Gunderson.

Trina Berg thought she had beat the Red River on Monday when news reports said it had crested. But the River broke it's 100-year record this morning and continues to rise...and now Trina is making plans to evacuate her home.

The nation's two biggest tobacco companies are trying to reach a settlement with eight states including Minnesota. RJR Nabisco and Phillip Morris want blanket protection from lawsuits over smoking-related problems in return for paying out out up to $300 billion dollars and cutting back on ads featuring Joe Camel and the Marlboro Man. We talk about the negotations with Minnesota Attorney General Skip Humphrey.

Dan Gunderson gives an update on severe flooding in Fargo-Moorhead and discusses concerns over whether the dikes will hold.

And on Future Tense: A new survey by the national computer security association finds that incidents of computer viruses are increasing...and so are the costs associated with fixing them.

Friday, April 18

The Senate Taxes Committee has finished work on a sweeping tax reform package. The reforms will lower most property tax rates, but they also set up a controversial new tax on businesses. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports.

It's been a stressful week for residents of southwest Fargo, where homes in the 500-year floodplain are threatened by rising water. Most of these homes are far from the Red River, and residents never imagined they'd be scrambling to protect their homes from overland flooding. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

The 16 member Met Council's budget - $291 million this year - is third largest government budget in the state... behind Hennepin County and the state of Minnesota. But few people know what it does... much less who represents them on the Council. Proponents of electing rather than appointing council members say that would change if a bill before lawmakers is approved this session. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson has more.

Mark Seeley comments on theories and rumors being used to explain the flood of '97... and also has a somewhat frustrating long-term forecast for the next three months.

Lieutenant Byron Sieberg discusses how Grand Forks is coping with saturated dikes and rising flood waters.

Dan Wilson, the state's well program director, discusses the threat of contamination to wells in flooded areas and how to disinfect them.

Minnesota farmers grow soybeans mainly for cattle feed, but a growing body of research suggests people may want to include the beans in their daily diet. Nutritionist, Mark Messina has studied the health benefits of soybeans for the National Institutes of Health. He's in town to discuss the health virtues of soybeans.

And on Future Tense: The new Stix and Mud internet cafe in Spring Lake Park is trying out a new cybercafe business model. Many of the painfully trendy cafes emphasize the drinks and food, luring customers with a couple of machines hooked up to the internet. But Stix and Mud owner Frank Smith says he's doing just the opposite - selling internet access and other services, throwing in the coffee and storefront as a nice bonus.

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