Monday, April 28

A Northwest Airlines 747 cargo plane delivered 120-thousand-pounds of supplies from the Twin Cities to the Grand Forks area yesterday. Target stores collected the goods on Saturday. Residents donated more than the airplane could carry, so five semi-trucks will bring the rest in the days to come. Minnesota Public Radio's Jon Gordon reports.

The Minnesota Senate Taxes Committee considers a bill this week to increase the state's gas tax. Supporters says the increase is necessary to finance road repairs and upgrades. Many of the state's residents agree the roads need fixing but their reaction to paying for it is mixed. Minnesota Public Radio's Holly Nelson reports.

High school classes are scheduled to resume this morning in Ada, where students were displaced by floodwaters for three weeks. The Department of Children, Families and Learning says 20 Minnesota school districts closed at least oneday due to flooding. East Grand Forks was forced to end the school more than a month early. Hundreds of students, teachers and administrators are working to reclaim their waterlogged schools and get back in business. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.

In any play or film, dialect is crucial to establishing time and place. The Park Square Theater in St. Paul is putting on a production of Irish playwright Oscar Wilde's "Lady Windermere's Fan." The play skewers 19th century England's high society, and champions its outcasts. Wilde is known for his brilliant dialogue, and a dialect coach must be hired to help the actors with their lines. In today's Odd Jobs, Sasha Aslanian caught up with dialect coach Fiacre Douglas at a rehearsal.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is providing additional funding to expand mental health counseling services in the Dakotas and Minnesota. Officials in Fargo are calling for licensed psychologists and psychatrists to volunteer services to help people deal with stress. Minnesota Public Radio's Cara Hetland reports on counseling services available to victims of severe weather.

Last month, archaeologists unearthed several foundations which were once part of St. Paul's red light district. The revelation that the bordello of Nina Clifford, an infamous St. Paul madam, was among the findings stirred particular excitement. The excavation may finally prove or put to rest legends of hidden diamonds and rumors of a secret tunnel leading to the upper-crust Minnesota Club... Charles Maynes reports.

Bob Kelleher gives an update on last ditch efforts to reach a compromise over truck portages in the BWCA. Mediators hold their final session today before sending a list of recommendations to Minnesota's Congressional delegation.

Lobbyist Bob Renner critiques the property tax bills passed by both houses of the legislature and shares his thoughts on the likelihood of a gax tax surviving the last three weeks of the session.

Chris Farrell thinks Fed chairman Alan Greenspan will call for a small hike in interest rates if this week's numbers show the economy is thriving... and that inflation is a remote possibility.

Tuesday, April 29

A sweeping Welfare Reform bill has passed both houses of the Minnesota legislature, and now travels to the Governor's desk for his signature. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports.

Minnesota drivers would pay an extra four cents for a gallon of gas under a bill approved by the Senate Taxes committee last night. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports.

Federal Mediation over the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness has ended without any settlement on the use of trucks to pull boats between lakes in the wilderness. But Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone may now support re-opening two of the former truck portages, based on a plan that was narrowly defeated in mediation. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Kelleher reports from Duluth.

Members of the Minnesota House last night debated the merits of a measure banning same-sex marriage and voted overwhelmingly to keep it as amended to the omnibus health and human services bill. The amendment bans the state from legally recognizing marriages between persons of the same sex. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports.

Minnesota food shelves are kicking in supplies to aid flood victims in the state... which may put a strain on their resources. We talk to Minnesota Food Bank executive director Dian Mack.

The Zoning Planning Committee of the Minneapolis City Council votes today on whether seven old library buildings in Minneapolis should be given special historic designation. Five still function as libraries... but they differ from more recent structures in the beauty and detail of their design. Bob Potter tours Sumner Library with Grace Belton, Sumner's head librarian since 1975. We also hear from Bob Roscoe, with the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission and Amy Ryan, interim chief of community libraries for the Minneapolis Public Library system about the pros and cons of historic designation.

And on Future Tense: Technology is making the job of providing relief to victims of natural disasters a little easier. We hear from Major David Dahlberg who is in charge of flood relief efforts for the Salvation Army.

Wednesday, April 30

The scenes and stories of the devastating flood are prompting people across the state to contribute to what is now a steady stream of cash, food and supplies. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes has a look at what the city of Rochester is doing to help.

The Minnesota Timberwolves got a taste of the National Basketball Association playoffs this year, but failed to earn a post-season victory. Last night's five-point loss to the Houston Rockets ended the Timberwolves' season. Houston won the first-round playoff series three games to none ... but the Timberwolves say they're proud of their performance this year and look forward to next season. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports.

For seven years a group of tribes -- led by the Mille Lacs Ojibway -- have worked through the courts to restore fishing and hunting rights given them by treaty in the 19th century. It appeared the tribes would finally exercise those rights this spring. But a group of local landowners won an injunction earlier this month -- halting the Indians' plans, at least for now. The ruling came as a surprise because the state, not the landowner group, has been the most visible treaty-rights challenger. Leif Enger of Mainstreet Radio spoke with some of the landowners.

The Red River has receded in Breckenridge Minnesota..leaving behind lots of mud and millions of dollars of destruction. City officials are beginning to tabulate the damage and people are moving back into flood damaged homes. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Gunderson reports.

And on Future Tense: A computer hard drive containing personal and financial information about 20-thousand employees of Levi Strauss & Co. is missing from company headquarters. It's being called an act of corporate espionage. WE hear from Ira Winkler, author of a new book on corporate espionage.

Thursday, May 1

Major League Baseball's acting commissioner told state lawmakers Wednesday the league wouldn't prevent the Twins from leaving Minnesota. Bud Selig says the team needs a new stadium to remain financially healthy. But Selig failed to fully endorse two elements many stadium supporters hope to see in a ballpark bill -- financing with gaming revenues...and partial state ownership of the team. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Wareham reports.

A bipartisan deal to regularly test the progress of Minnesota schools and students could be in trouble at the state capitol. Two months ago, the Governor and legislative leaders agreed to set up a new standardized testing system in the public schools, but last night the final negotiations hit a wall. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports.

As homeowners return to flooded homes....they face some complex financial decisions on repairing the damage. It's likely that even those with flood insurance will find that not all their losses are covered. Some will fix their homes...others may decide its not worth the money. Mark Steil of Mainstreet Radio reports.

While flood recovery is just beginning in Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, to the southeast the small community of Ada is further along. School reopened this week for high school students in the town of 1700, and emergency meals will only be served by the Salvation Army until the end of the week. Leif Enger of Mainstreet Radio reports.

And on Future Tense: Part 2 of the interview with Ira Winkler on corporate espionage.

Friday, May 2

There's alot of concern up and down the Red River Valley about the future of hundreds of small businesses hit hard by the flood. Will they rebuild? Can they afford to rebuild? What if they don't? Traditionally government backed low interest loans follow natural disasters to help businesses recover. But many business owners hurt by the flood, say they need outright grants to make it, NOT more debt. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.

Employees of Cargill Corportion are working with students at a Minneapolis middle school as part of a unique mentoring project. Educators say many of their students need the influence of caring adults. But many potential mentors do not have the time to develop a face to face relationship with a child. Project organizers say the use of electronic-mail appears to be an effective alternative to traditional mentoring. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.

Norwest Corporation chief economist Sung Wohn Sohn says the flood will have negative impact on the state... but that while the damage will be concentrated in local communities, other parts of the state may actually benefit from business created by the cleanup.

Mark Seeley gives us an update on the outlook for spring planting and says April was the latest in a string of colder-than-normal months.

Fannie Mae, the country's largets provider of money for home mortgages, is kicking off a national campaign to give loans to homeowners and homebuyers in the Twin Cities who want to renovate their homes. We talk to Gloria Bostrom, director of Fannie Mae's Minnesota Partnership Office.

MPR's Chris Farrell takes a look at the unemployment report released this morning that provides more evidence the economy is strong without any signs of inflation.

Carleton College political scientist Steven Schier talks about the budget negotiations in Washington. While the White House and Republican leaders have compromised on some important points, they still don't appear willing to fix the long-term problems contributing to the deficit.

Fargo resident Trina Berg is back at home after evacuating two weeks ago because of the flood. Her house, which sits on the banks of the Red River, was spared from significant damage thanks to the efforts of her neighbors... many of whom had already given up on their own homes.

And on Future Tense: I-B-M says its chess-playing supercomputer "Deep Blue" is better than it was last year, when it lost to world champion Gary Kasparov. Kasparov says he's better, too. And he's confidently predicting victory in a rematch that begins TOMORROW in New York. Chessmaster James Eade, author of "Chess for Dummies," says the computer is not imitating human thought...it is merely crunching numbers.

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