Monday, August 25

Beltrami County recently appointed an official piper...apparently the only offical piper in the country. The retired school teacher from Florida lives on a lake near Bemidji. Nearly everyday he practices the bagpipes on his dock...with his dog and the loons for an audience. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Gunderson visited him for todays odd jobs segment.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation is testing a new traffic control system that's a bit more sophisticated than your average ramp meter. The Guidestar Trilogy Project uses electronic sensors, global positioning satellites and dashboard computers to help drivers steer clear of traffic jams on Twin Cities highways. MnDOT is testing the system to work out bugs and to figure out how much people are willing to pay for it. Minnesota Public Radio's John Bischoff reports.

Chris Farrell discusses the big swings in the Dow which become commonplace.

Naturalist Kathy Heidel takes us to a stretch of prairie that is being restored.

Tuesday, August 26

Minnesota lawmakers are considering additional restrictions on the use of watercraft commonly known as "jet ski's." The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says the number of jet skis in Minnesota is at an all time high...and complaints and accidents are increasing. the D-N-R says jet skis make up three percent of registered boats in the state...but are involved in 30-percent of reported accidents. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Gunderson reports.

Blois Olson discusses the mission of his group "People for Progress" which intends to oppose the Mpls Stadium referendum.

Michael Kremer is superintendent of Hopkins public schools. He alsoco-chairs the School-to-Career initiative that is holding a conference on preparing students for work right out of high school.

"Farm crops aren't just for eating anymore." That would be an appropriate slogan for Agri-land, a new exhibit at the State Fair that illustrates new uses for old crops. Dan Lempke is with the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, an organization that develops new uses and new markets for commodities grown in Minnesota.

Representative Ann Rest discusses the status of stadium legislation with MPR's Bill Catlin.

Thursday, August 28

The home improvement industry is one of the fastest growing areas in retailing and the nation's largest and fastest growing home store is aggressively expanding in the Twin Cities. Less than a year and a half ago Home Depot didn't even have ONE of its giant warehouse-like stores in the Minneapolis St. Paul area. Now it has seven with plans to open three more by the beginning of next year. Minnesota Public radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.

The legislative task force considering state funding of a new Twin Cities baseball stadium heard testimony yesterday about several possible ways to pay for such a stadium. Most proposals involve using money from some form of gambling. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen has more.

Virgina Knox of the Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation in New York discusses her study of MFIP which shows that so far it is getting more long-term welfare recipients into the workforce.

Jim Mangan chair of the Progressive Minnesota party discusses his group's successful petition drive to get a referendum item on the ballot in Minneapolis which, if passed, will require a vote whenever the city wants to spend more than 10 million dollars on a professional sports project.

Friday, August 29

Mark Seeley from Winnepeg on weekend weather.

Political Science Professor Stephen Schier on Dayton, Mondale and Humphrey not pursuing the DFL endorsement.

Anna Donaldson talks about Goldie the Gopher

Sam Grabarski of the downtown council about downtown business's reaction to the petition on the stadium. Businesses want the stadium and feel it wold benefit downtown.

Kids in Grand Forks return to school. Tim Pugmire reports.

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