Monday, May 26

For nearly 200 years, the nation's first defense against flooding has been levees and dams. But this spring's massive flooding has renewed the debate over another alternative---restoring some of the wetlands that used to hold back floodwaters in the days before European settlement. The idea's gradually winning acceptance, but still has a long way to go. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.

The ancient Japanese art of Ikebana flower arranging is on display in a new series of installations at the University of Minnesota's Weisman Art Museum. But those expecting simple, cleanly sculpted flower arrangements in vases which strictly adhere to Japanese traditions have a surprise in store. The creator of the installations is a Japanese Ikebana master who has taken the artform to new, much larger dimensions. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts reports.

The Twins won 7-6 last evening in extra innings, taking 2 of the 3 games with the Oakland A's, and bringing to an end the special Kirby Puckett weekend. Minnesota Public Radio's Robin Gehl was at the Metrodome. She reports on the tribute to Puckett paid by fans and fellow athletes.

Minnesota's waters have long been known as prime territory for catching the prized but elusive Walleye. Fishermen also come here from far and near to land northern pike, lake trout, bass... and then, of course, there's the excellent carp fishing. Yes, carp. While you might not think much of carp, believe it or not, this humble fish has long supported a commercial fishing industry on the Mississippi River... according to Mike Davis, Mississippi River biologist for the Minnesota DNR.

In observance of Memorial Day there will be many special programs all over the state today... including a parade at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Fort Snelling is one of 114 National Cemeteries where veterans and their dependents can be buried. Cemetery director Steve Muro and Gordy Carlson, a volunteer member of the Memorial Rifle Squad, talk about the ceremonies conducted at the cemetery.

Tuesday, May 27

Many small school districts across the region are facing declining student enrollment. One solution some districts choose is to consolidate with a bigger district nearby. State officials say there are 78 fewer school districts in Minnesota this year than in 1989 because of some form of consolidation or combination with other districts. The Elmore School District in southern Minnesota is consolidating this year. Minnesota Public Radio's Holly Nelson reports.

This spring's disastrous flooding has given new life to plans by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to build millions of dollars worth of levees and other permanent flood control structures in the Red River Valley. Plans that have been on the books for years---or were rejected years ago because of their high cost--- are now getting a second look, as cities try to avoid a repeat of this spring's devastation. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.

MPR's Chris Farrell talks about the continuing bull market and the significance of a possible 50-billion dollar merger between A-T-and-T, the nation's largest telecommunications carrier, and S-B-C Communications, the owner of the local phone systems Southwestern Bell and Pacific Telesis.

Gary Selnow, a professor of communications at San Francisco State University, says it's a bit early to gauge just how the Internet is going to affect American politics. But he says the benefits of more direct communication between people and their representatives could be offset by the danger of public fragmentation as everyone begins using the Internet to pursue their own narrow interests.

Wednesday, May 28

Minnesota's first Mexican-American school principal is out of a job. The St. Paul Board of Education last night voted to fire Humboldt High School principal Larry Lucio. The move came after several hours of testimony from Lucio's supporters - mostly Hispanics from St. Paul's West Side. Minnesota Public Radio's Jon Gordon reports.

While the flood waters have receded significantly in the northwest part of the region, many farm fields within two miles of the Red River are still under water. If the water doesn't drain soon, farmers may not be able to plant anything this year. But in the rest of the state spring planting is going very well. We get an update from Tom Rothman of the Minnesota Farm Network.

Minnesota Twins owner Carl Pohlad says he plans to ask major league baseball officials for permission to relocate or sell his team. In a news conference yesterday, Pohlad withdrew all proposals he had made during the legislative session to contribute to a stadium or offer the state a stake in the team. House speaker Phil Carruthers says a stadium deal is still possible... but only if more support comes from Minneapolis, the Metro Sports Facilities Commission, the Pohlads and the public.

Negotiators from the Governor's office and the Legislature are expected to meet again today to try and work out a compromise on the K-12 education funding package. The main point of contention is whether the bill should include tax credits for educational expenses such as private school tuition. Lobbyist Bob Renner says capitol watchers are pessimistic a deal will be reached anytime soon.

And on Future Tense: The world wide web service of the Star Tribune is expanding. We hear about the plans from Bob Schaeffer, publisher of Star Tribune online.

Thursday, May 29

Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone will tour several towns in the Mississippi Delta today in the first part of what he's billing as a nationwide poverty tour. Over the coming weeks, Wellstone plans to retrace the steps of Robert Kennedy... who visited some of the country's poorest regions in 1967 and '68. Minnesota Public Radio's John Biewen reports on how poverty has... or has not... changed... in the past thirty years.

The nation's prisons are home to an increasing number of senior citizens. The number of Minnesota inmates over age 55 more than tripled in the last dozen years -- due in large part to some of the toughest prison sentences in the country. At the correctional facility in Faribault, secure behind high chain link fences topped with coiled razor wire, the oldest prisoners in the system live out their remaining years. Rachel Reabe of our Mainstreet Radio team has the story.

This morning Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton will be providing details of a new aggressive anti-crime strategy that will be tried this summer in the Twin Cities. The strategy is borrowed from Boston where the police and community have reduced the crime rate by targetting gangs and guns. The man who instituted Boston's crime prevention program and then went to New York City and did the same thing is William Bratton, who served as Police Commissioner in both cities. He says the key is getting police to prevent crime rather than react to it.

Pitcher Ila Borders has made the roster of the St. Paul Saints. When she makes her first appearance, she will become the first woman to pitch in a regular season minor league game baseball game. Borders, who played college baseball, will be used as a relief pitcher by the Saints. We talk to her about her accomplishment.

And on Future Tense: Intel Corporation is firing back at Digital Equipment Corp by suing the computer maker for copyright infringment and threatening to cut off the supply of its Pentium chips. Those chips are critical components for Digital's $2.2 billion personal computer business. Intel filed the lawsuit in response to a Digital Equipment suit filed earlier this month alleging Intel stole key technologies from Digital's Alpha chip and used them in the popular Pentium chips. But Intel is escalating the battle beyond the courtroom. Intel spokesman Mack Malloy says his company will honor all existing contracts but may be unwilling to do business with digital in the future.

Friday, May 30

Leaders of St. Paul's Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party will endorse a candidate for Mayor at their city convention tomorrow. St. Paul's incumbent Mayor, Norm Coleman, was elected as a D-F-Ler four years ago but since then as switched his allegiance to the Republican Party. D-F-L convention delegates will select either state Senator Sandy Pappas or City Council member Bobbi Megard to challenge Coleman. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports. Joining us now is Monica Walsh, the chair of the PTA at Minneapolis South High School. Walsh has two children enrolled in the Minneapolis Public Schools. A form of education popular in Scandinavia could be catching on in Minnesota. Folk High Schools, created by a Danish minister more than a century ago, place value on lifelong learning in a non-competitive setting. A group of residents in north-eastern Minnesota has set up the "North House Folk School" in Grand Marais. It's first season opens this weekend. Minnesota Public Radio's Todd Moe visited a recent open house for the school...to find out about the Folk School philosophy and the courses North House will offer -- including canoe building, weaving and reindeer training.

It looks like it should be a good weekend for getting out in the yard and digging and planting. And despite yesterday's rain, you should also consider watering. Deb Brown is a horticulturalist with the U of M Extension Service.

Coming up with a great new piece of software or hardware is the easy part. Now, you have to NAME your company. But it seems all the good, clever names are taken. Heck, even the bad, dimwitted names are taken. Naseem Javed of the consulting from ABC Namebank warns against overused concepts in the names of internet and computer companies. He found more than 800,000 variatons of "web" such as "webtron," "usweb," and "webtech." Other trite names: anything with "net," "micro," "tech," "data," and "media." corporate names that look or sound alike make it difficult for customers and investors to tell them apart. Javed says a concise, descriptive and original name is crucial, but difficult to find.

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