Monday, June 9

Today is the 25th anniversary of one of the most deadly flash floods in US history. The Rapid City, South Dakota, flood killed 238 people and four additional bodies have never been found. In this first of two reports - Minnesota Public Radio's Cara Hetland talks with several people who lost their homes and neighbors in the flood.

Truckers can be a lonely bunch. Long hours on the road transporting goods back and forth across the country mean time spent away from friends and family. In the Twin Cities, an organization called Transport for Christ hopes to lighten their burden with counseling and worship. Their pulpit? A 1973 Kenworth semi. For this installment of the Odd Jobs series, Charles Maynes visits with a truck stop chaplain at the depot just over the border in Hudson, Wisconsin.

The rate of murders, rapes and robberies dropped in Minnesota in 1996, according to new figures released by the State Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. While the trend for the most violent crimes mirrored those in other states, property crimes in Minnesota rose bucking the national trend. Auto thefts jumped the most - by 15 percent. We talk to Sgt. John Ballis, auto theft investigator for the St. Paul Police Department.

Stocks open for trading within the hour, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average is at another all time record high. The popular average soared 105 points last week, and begins the day at 7436. Mn Public Radio's Chris Farrell says the economy is powering the rally.

Over the weekend truckers from around the state were in the Twin Cities to compete in the State Truck Driving Championships. Drivers navigate an obstacle course and take oral and written exams to win top honors. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Potter has always dreamed of getting behind the wheel of a semi. He finally got the chance last week when he met truck driver Keith Logging of North Star Transport and safety instructor Dean Wadool.

And on Future Tense: Two years ago this month the Star Tribune featured a landmark series called "On the Edge of the Digital Age." It focused on the transition from the industrial age to the digital age - and how digital technology might shape our lives in the years to come. Bill Loving served as editor of the series. He says one thing the series did not forsee is the growth of the World Wide Web.

Tuesday, June 10

The 25th Anniversary of one of the most deadly flash floods in U-S history is being remembered today as a successful recovery effort - NOT for the devastation. In Rapid City South Dakota 238 people died in June of 1972 in a matter of hours as water rose to as high as 10 feet in places. Minnesota Public Radio's Cara Hetland has more on the recovery efforts.

Governor Carlson announced the release of 10 million dollars in state money to help flood-damaged communities until Congress and President Clinton work out a federal plan. The money will come out of the 25 million dollars the legislature approved for flood recovery. So far, more than 50 million dollars has been allocated or spent on flood relief in Minnesota. The legislature will have to meet in a special session later this summer to set aside even more money. We talk to Jim Franklin, Minnesota's director of emergency management, about how the money is being spent.

This week the Army Corps of Engineers is expected to decide if more logs can be pulled up from the bottom of Lake Superior and, if so, who gets to keep them. Many of the logs have been in the lake since they sank while being transported during the 19th century. They have been preserved by the cold water and are coveted by a wide range of wood artisans. We talk to Brian Gardner of Burger Jewel Limited in Chicago, who has been using the logs to make high-end wood flooring.

Wednesday, June 11

A new Minnesota Public Radio, Pioneer Press and KARE-11 poll shows a majority of Minnesotans favor Governor Carlson's proposal for Education tax credits and deductions that parents could use for private school education. MPR's Karen-Louise Boothe reports.

At a time when anti-immigrant sentiment is growing, the stories of yesterday's newcomers are worth remembering. The Finns who came to northeastern Minnesota's iron range at the turn of the century struggled against poverty, prejudice and economic exploitation. They were leaders in the strikes and radical political movements of their time. A new Minnesota Public Radio documentary produced by Mary Losure and Dan Olson tells their story. Here's an excerpt of the documentary called "Finland Was a Poor Country."

Despite the federal delay, relief has poured into flood ravaged Grand Forks... bottled water and cleaning supplies by the truck load... mountains of clothes.... and much needed cash. But at this point, a month and a half after the flood, one of the most precious commodities is musclepower.......people willing to pitch in and help residents put their houses and lives back in order. Some of that brute-strength is coming from an unlikely source..... Minnesota prison inmates. Rachel Reabe of our Mainstreet Radio team has the story.

The battle continues in Washington over the flood relief package. Overnight Democratic Senators staged an unofficial fillibuster in the halls outside the Senate. The event was intended to protest non-flood related items that were tacked onto the relief bill by the Republican majority...which President Clinton then vetoed. We talk to South Dakota Senator Tom Daschle who did his filibustering this morning from two to five a.m.

And on Future Tense: Two years ago this month, the Star Tribune series called "on the edge of the digital age" predicted digital techology would dramatically alter the economy. Bill Loving was the editor on that series. He talks with Jon Gordon about the digital economy of today, compared with what he envisioned in 1995.

Thursday, June 12

A federal appeals court today hears arguments on one of Minnesota's most contentious legal questions--whether the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe has the right to hunt and fish off its reservation free from State regulation. Federal Judge Diana Murphy ruled three years ago the Band DID retain those rights. Now, eight landowners, nine counties and the State have taken the case to a higher court in hopes Murphy's ruling will be overturned. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.

The only children's theatre in outstate Minnesota going on the road. The Saint Cloud-based Central Minnesota Children's Theatre is without a home for the next year while the historic Paramount Theatre is being renovated. Staff and supporters say they'll use this time to gauge the need for children's theatre in rural communities. MPR's Laura McCallum reports.

A new poll shows State Attorney General Skip Humphrey has the greatest name recognition and the best image out of a field of eight potential Gubernatorial candidates. The Pioneer Press, KARE-11, Minnesota Public Radio poll shows Humprhey with 49 percent favorable name recognition. In a statistical tie for second place are Lieutenant Govenor Joanne Benson and St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman, both republicans, and DFL State Senator Ted Mondale. We hear from Steven Schier, chair of the political science department at Carelton College.

And on Future Tense: The Federal Trade Commission, yesterday, held another hearing to help it decide whether to recommend congress limit the type of information gathered about you online. The target of quesitons yesterday focused on "cookies"....nuts of information that a web site plants in your computer's hard drive...that help track which web sites you visit and what pages you looked at. Used improperly, that information can be sold...and you'd never know it happened. Deidre Mulligan, staff counsel for the Center for Democracy and Technology, says that concern is reflected in a survey that shows people are going offline.

Friday, June 13

When President Clinton declared major portions of Minnesota and North Dakota disaster areas two months ago, hundreds of federal disaster assistance employees poured into the flood stricken areas from all over the country. In addition to lining up temporary housing and writing checks, disaster assistance employees have served up reassurance and compassion to people who feel like they've lost everything. Rachel Reabe of our Mainstreet Radio team prepared this profile of a federal worker assigned to the flood relief effort in East Grand Forks.

On Future Tense Bob Collins discusses censorship on the Internet.

This Sunday is Fathers Day... Traditionally, of course, dads have played the role of disciplinarian and family breadwinner. But in many cases these days, fathers are choosing - or being forced - to become more involved in all aspects of child rearing. Michael Bratt works for the Children, Youth and Families Consortium at the University of Minnesota and is resource director of Father to Father, a national network for supporting and teaching fathers. (He himself is also dad to a 5 month old...)

Grand Forks mayor Pat Owens discusses how glad she is that the federal government has finally passed a bill that will send disaster rleif money to the Red River Valley.

Katherine Lovic of the Minnesota Telephone Association discusses the need for a new area code in the 612 area.

Meterologist Mark Seeley discusses the weather and dry conidtions around the state.

Former Miss Minnesota and Miss America Dorothy Benhem talks about how contestants are preparing for this Saturday's Miss Minnesota Pageant.

Michael Bratt of the Children, Youth and families Consortium discusses the changing role of fathers and the importance of mothers and fathers cooperating in the upbringing of children.

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