Monday, September 29

On Future Tense, the "Web Development Fund" says it is looking for ideas that promote "the potential of the world wide web as a social, democratic medium capable of catalyzing new perspectives, new thinking and new relatinships between people." It's giving grants of up to 50-thousand dollars for such ideas. The Fund was created by PBS and the creator of the PBS series "P.O.V." Marc Weiss now heads up the show's internet arm, POV interactive.

MPR's Chris Farrell previews an exciting week of economic news.

Jan Durbahn, President of the Upper Midwest Chapter of the American Society of Travel Agents, discusses the impact of airlines reducing the commissions that agents receive for booking flights.

MPR's Martin Kaste reports from Charlotte, N.C. on the prospects for moving the Twins to that area.

Tuesday, September 30

On Future Tense, Netcentives Corporation of San Mateo, Cailfornia wants to reward you for surfing the web. The Internet marketing firm is offering frequent flyer miles on Northwest and other major airlines for visitng selected web sites. When you register at sites such as CNET and YAHOO, or buy products from sites like GolfWeb, you earn digital points you can use for frequent flyer miles.

Naturalist Kathy Heidel shows us where owls like to nest and does her own owl call.

Writer Brit Robson discusses the Kevin Garnett contract situation and what he means to the NBA and the Timberwolves.

Laura Kadwell, who directs the child support enforcement division of the MN Department of Human Services, discusses a new national computer network which will track new hires and check to see if they owe back child support.

Wednesday, October 1

On Future Tense... electric cars are closer to the mainstream market than you might think. Most major auto companies are now leasing or selling EV's as they're called. In Alameda, California, more than 10 companies are manufacturing EV's or EV technology.And the non-profit alternative transportation group CALSTART operates a business incubator program at the decommissioned Naval Air Station. John Huetter directs that program. He says today's electric vehicles are good for urban commuting.

Like it or not, ethanol blended gasoline is Minnesota's number one fuel for cars and trucks. A state law takes effect today which virtually mandates the ethanol blend as the only fuel you can buy in areas outside the Twin Cities. The ethanol blend has been required in the metro area since 1995. Mark Steil of Mainstreet Radio reports.

Supporters of a new baseball stadium are getting little solace from a meeting of Members of the Minnesota House D-F-L Caucus the prospects of public funding package. With time running out before a proposed special session, and with an offer to move the Twins out of state expected soon, the DFL-ers could not agree on what to do. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports.

Automobile columnist Paul Brand discusses ethanol and its effect on cars.

Minnesota WINS lobbyist Larry Redmond discusses the latest developments in the stadium saga.

Thursday, October 1

On Future Tense... Alameda, California - an island city in the San Francisco Bay- thinks it has what it takes to be a major center for electric vehicles. Already, about a dozen Alameda companies are building electric cars, trucks and components on the recently de-commissioned Naval Air Station. The city uses some EV's in its fleet. In Alameda, you can rent a cute two-seat car called the CitiBee, just to buzz around town. Jim Baak heads up the Electric Vehicle program for the municipal utility company. He says Alameda is an ideal place for manufacturing, testing and marketing electric cars.

The accounts of torture and murder being heard by South Africa's Reconciliation Commision are a grim reminder of past life under the country's white minority government. The end of apartheit brings hope, but also a new set of problems. A South African singing group called "The Christian Explainers" is on a U.S. tour to call attention to the rise of drug violence that is afflicting the country. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson has more.

One of the latest attempts to end the decades-long controversy over the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is a plan to increase its size, in exchange for allowing more motors in it. The bill, sponsored by Senator Paul Wellstone, has gained little support, but the move to set aside more wilderness HAS focused new attention on timber cutting around the BWCA. Environmental groups say forests that haven't been cut since the early part of this century are now being logged all around the border of the million acre wilderness. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed Kevin Garnett to a contract extension. The deal reached last night ends the possibility of Garnett leaving Minnesota and joining another basketball team through the free agent market after the upcoming season. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports.

Ballet of the Dolls, the Minneapolis avant garde dance troupe, opens its new season tonight with a production called "Lady M: In The Spotlight." It's the first of five productions under the umbrella title "The Lipstick Ballets." The choreographer told Minnesota Public Radio's John Rabe he's continuing the troupe's TRADITION of ballet SEDITION.

Bird-expert Bud Tordoff discusses St. Paul's downtown pigeon problem and how to solve it.

Joann Hanson, MN Assistant Commisioner of Telecommunications, discusses the deregulation of the pay phone industry.

Friday, October 3

A state senate committee conducts the first of two public hearings today on the impact of special interest money in politics. One of the topics that is likely to be discussed is a recent ruling by the state Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board. That ruling MAY pave the way for a big wave of spending by candidates for governor in Minnesota over the next year. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports.

State and Federal wildlife managers have increased the number of ducks hunters can kill this fall. In Minnesota this year's bag limit will be the highest its been since the end of World War Two . The Department of Natural Resources says the higher limits are justifiable. Officials say wet weather over the past several years has helped the duck population to boom. But some environmentalists think the new bag limits are too liberal and they're worried other new waterfowl regulations could threaten the thriving duck populations. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.

17 year-old Jenny Deye of Cambridge didn't join her classmates this Fall for her first year of college...instead she's taking what her family calls a "kids sabbatical." She's in Alaska training and exploring the life of the full-time sled dog racer. Jenny is out on the trail, running her in preparation for a run in the Junior Iditarod this February. Minnesota Public Radio's Gretchen Lehmann caught up with Jenny and her family as they made final preparations for Jenny's trip to Alaska.

On Future Tense... Apple Computer may not be completely out of the woods yet, but co-founder and interim CEO Steve Jobs says things will turn around. During a speech in San Francisco yesterday, Jobs spoke about Apple's new "Think Different" ad campaign.

Davis Helberg, Director of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, discusses the future of cruises into Duluth, as a ship full of German tourists is about to dock in Duluth.

Noreen Thomas, who farms near Moorhead, talks about this year's wheat and sugar beet crops and getting prepared for next year.

Meteorologist Mark Seeley talks about warm weather, soil conservation and the exact date of the equinox.

For more Morning Edition listings: