Monday, September 1

Classes start tomorrow at Edison High School in Minneapolis. A summer flood did millions of dollars in damage to the northeast Minneapolis facility. But school officials say an around-the-clock repair effort and an outpouring of help from volunteers will allow the district to open the doors on schedule. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson has more.

Say the word "archeology" and some people think of Indiana Jones racing through a jungle while clutching a priceless artifact. Amateur archeologists in southwest Wisconsin are finding that image isn't usually accurate. Students and teachers working along-side professional archeologists at a University of Wisconsin--La Crosse field school learned archeology is a bit more low-key--often more about braving mosquitoes and mud. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.

The Duluth Dukes of the Northern League are in Thunder Bay this morning to play the Whisky Jacks. It's the last game of the regular season for the Dukes and their most famous player, Ila Borders. On May 31st of this year Borders became the first woman to pitch in a men's professional minor league baseball game. Since then she has been traded from the Saints to the Dukes and seen her opportunities to pitch dwindle. Her earned run average is nearly ten runs per game. Ila Borders joins us now by phone from Thunder Bay.

An estimated one million legal immigrants in America are losing federal food stamp benefits under the welfare reform law enacted a year ago. In Minnesota those cuts take effect today and are expected to affect more than 10-thousand people. Local organizations are trying to soften the blow to immigrants who rely on food stamps. Lee Pao Xiong directs the State Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans.

Tuesday, September 2

As the new school year begins, Latino/Chicano parents in Saint Paul are pressuring school district officials to do a better job educating their children. Many of those raising concerns are the same parents who sued the district 21 years ago over learning inequities. They claim there's been little improvement for Latino students since the case was settled. School district officials say they remain committed to their court-ordered obligations to Latino students, and that the special programs are helping. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.

Researchers at the Minnesota Agriculture Department say the Gypsy Moth has been found across a wide area of southeastern Minnesota this summer. While the number of moths found is low in most places, state officials say it's the first time they've found Gypsy moths over such a large area, and this could signal a serious threat to some favorite species of Minnesota trees. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Gunderson reports.

As students and teachers head back to class today, one of the state's best-known teachers will be staying home. Jon Hassler, the author of novels like The Dean's List and Staggerford has retired after 42 years teaching high school and college. Hassler recently spoke with Mainstreet Radio's Leif Enger about teaching -- and being taught.

Financial educator Ruth Hayden talks with Bob Potter about how parents can budget back-to-school shopping sprees for their kids, while also teaching them how to manage their own money.

Chris Farrell says the debate continues over whether the Fed should act to put the brakes on the economy.

Naturalist Kathy Heidel talks about efforts to keep a non-native plant - purple loosestrife - from taking over the ecosystems of Minnesota's marshes.

And on Future Tense: The long-running Silicon Valley soap opera that is Apple Computer is in the middle of another drama: the search for a white knight to rescue the company from the goblins of disappointing sales, eroding market share and negative publicity. In July Apple's board of directors fired CEO Gil Amelio for failing to make a profit. Apple Co-founder Steve Jobs is essentially running the company as an adviser. Jon Gordon reports that many Apple Macintosh users say everything is riding on the company's search for a new leader.

Wednesday, September 3

Minneapolis school officials say the first day of new schedules went smoother than expected. The state's largest school district changed start times for all high schools and middle schools and many elementary schools. Elementary schools are starting earlier than last year and high schools start later. Supporters of the new start times say students will learn better, but some students say they want their old schedule back. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.

Officials in Minneapolis are taking some credit for keeping the homicide rate down over the summer. So far this year, the city's murder rate is tracking significantly lower than last year and it's lagging far behind the record 97 homicides recorded in 1995. Police Chief Robert Olson discusses how well anti-crime programs are working.

The chairmen of a special legislative stadium task force want Twins owner Carl Pohlad to put a new offer on the table. The legislators met with team officials and Pohlad yesterday. We talk to Representative Loren Jennings, co-chairman of the task force.

And on Future Tense: Apple computer is effectively ending its foray into licensing its Macintosh system to so-called clone makers. Apple yesterday agreed to buy the core assets of Power Computing, the biggest clone maker, for 100 million dollars. Jon Gordon talks with Apple chief financial officer Fred Anderson who says when Apple started licensing its Macintosh system to clone vendors, it expected to win new customers to the Mac operating system. Instead, Apple quickly discovered the clone makers were cutting into Apple's sales.

Thursday, September 4

Almost a quarter-million Americans suffer from narcolepsy, a chronic and often debilitating sleep disorder. Doctors say the peculiar features of narcolepsy are actually quite normal--if you're asleep. But in narcoleptics, the brain's sleep machinery somehow confuses day for night. In the second of two reports on narcolepsy, Minnesota Public Radio's Stephen Smith explains that scientists are closing in on the potential genetic causes of the disease. Their findings may help explain how all of us sleep.

Negotiations between Japan and the United States over aviation treaties have pitted most U.S. airlines AGAINST Twin Cities-based Northwest Airlines. Post World War II netted Northwest valuable air routes to Japan. Now as Northwest celebrates the 50th anniversary of its sucessful service to Asia, there's talk about amending the treaties that have greatly benefited Northwest. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.

On Future Tense: By some counts hundreds of new websites about Princess Diana have popped up since her death. Many of them let Internet users express their sense of grief and loss. Ken Doka, Professor of gerontology at the College of New Rochelle in New York, says people leave flowers at Kensington Palace, or visit a British consulate to leave condolences, are practicing what he calls "spontaneous memorialization." And he says the same thing is happening on the Internet, but on a larger scale.

Rep. Jim Ramstad discusses legislation that he is co-sponsering with Senator Paul Wellstone that would make insurance comapnies treat alcoholism and drug addiction like any other illness.

Rep. Collin Peterson and Rep. Jim Ramstad preview the upcoming session of Congress.

Friday, September 5

In 1907, a founding member of the Minneapolis Symphony named William MacPhail opened a downtown violin school with two studios and four teachers. It quickly grew into college of music, granting degrees to teachers and performers...including one young conductor named Lawrence Welk. In later years, the school became part of the University of Minnesota. This year, the MacPhail Center of the Arts is celebrating it's 90th anniversary as the second largest community music school in the country, offering classes to students of all ages and abilities. Cliff and Thelma Johnson both credit MacPhail for success in their careers.

On Future Tense: Jon Gordon chats with Dan Hildreth, the Iowa webmaster behind a popular site called "Viking Underground," an unofficial web site devoted to the Minnesota Vikings. "Netguide Magazine" called it one of the best personal web sites of the year.

Mark Seeley discusses the weather including the last day of the State Fair, one of the stickiest days of the summer.

Gail Marks-Jarvis of the St. Paul Pioneer Press discusses the implications of a possible sale of the Star Tribune.

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